Child Abuse Prevention

Our mission: Strengthening area families and preventing child abuse through family support and parent education programs.

All of us still need to be vigilant to protect children from abuse. By knowing the signs and definitions of abuse, you can help a child by responding to any suspicions you might have.

TO PREVENT ABUSE AND NEGLECT, you can:

• Be a nurturing parent!
• Help a friend, neighbor, or relative who is having trouble with family.
• Educate parents you know about healthy child development and healthy parenting.
• Get involved – advocate for services that help families.
• Volunteer at a local child maltreatment prevention program.
• Help develop parenting resources at your local library.
• Ask for help for yourself.
• Tell parents in your community that parenting is hard.
• Offer your support to parents in your community.

YOUR ROLE IN PROTECTING CHILDREN

North Carolina law requires all adults to report suspected child maltreatment. You do not need proof that maltreatment has occurred; you only need reasonable cause to suspect maltreatment. You do not need anyone’s permission to file a report. You can report anonymously; even if you give your name, it will not be revealed. Remember, it is your job as an adult to help protect children.

WHAT IS CHILD MALTREATMENT?

Maltreatment comes in four forms: physical abuse, sexual abuse, emotional abuse and neglect.

PHYSICAL ABUSE:

Physical Abuse is defined as serious injury inflicted by or allowed by a parent/caregiver or substantial risk to a child by non-accidental means. Some signs of possible physical maltreatment include:

• Unexplained bruises in various states of healing.
• Welts, bite marks, bald spots.
• Unexplained fractures, abrasions, or wounds.
• Expression of unusual fear of parent/caregiver.

EMOTIONAL ABUSE:

Emotional abuse is the expression of attitudes or behaviors toward a child that may create serious emotional or psychological damage. Some signs of possible emotional abuse include:

• Speech disorders, development delays.
• Habit disorders including thumb sucking or rocking.
• Very low self-esteem, antisocial or destructive actions.

SEXUAL ABUSE

Sexual abuse is any behavior of a sexual nature imposed on a child. Some signs of possible sexual abuse include:

• Engagement in sexual behaviors that are not developmentally appropriate.
• A detailed and sophisticated understanding of sexual behaviors.
• Regression to behaviors such as thumb sucking or limited speech.
• Pain, itching, bruising, or bleeding in the genital area.

NEGLECT

Neglect is any serious disregard for a child’s supervision, care or discipline. Some signs of possible neglect include:

• Reported abandonment by parent/caregiver.
• Unattended medical needs, lack of supervision.
• Consistent hunger, inappropriate dress, poor hygiene.
• Lice, distended stomach, poor social skills, begging or stealing food.
• Frequent absence or tardiness at school.
• Extreme fatigue or falling to sleep in class.

WHO SHOULD YOU CALL?

Call you local county department of Social Services and ask to speak with a social worker. Share any information you have about the child – name, age, address and parent or caregiver name – and what makes you suspect abuse.