The International Child Abuse Network (Yes ICAN) takes their definition of child abuse and neglect from the Child Abuse Prevention and Treatment Act (CAPTA)*, Public Law 104-235), as it has been amended and reauthorized in October 1996.
CAPTA defines child abuse and neglect as: "at a minimum, any recent act or failure to act on the part of a parent or caretaker, which results in death, serious physical or emotional harm, sexual abuse or exploitation, or an act or failure to act which presents an imminent risk of serious harm."
For CAPTA, the term child is someone who has not reached the age of 18; or (except in the case of sexual abuse) the age specified by the child protection law of the State in which the child resides;
CAPTA defines the term "sexual abuse" as: "the employment, use, persuasion, inducement, enticement, or coercion of any child to engage in, or assist any other person to engage in, any sexually explicit conduct or simulation of such conduct for the purpose of producing a visual depiction of such conduct; or the rape, and in cases of caretaker or inter-familial relationships, statutory rape, molestation, prostitution, or other form of sexual exploitation of children, or incest with children."
There are four forms of child maltreatment: emotional abuse, neglect, physical abuse and sexual abuse.
Emotional Abuse: (also known as: verbal abuse, mental abuse, and psychological maltreatment) Includes acts or the failures to act by parents or caretakers that have caused or could cause, serious behavioral, cognitive, emotional, or mental disorders. This can include parents/caretakers using extreme and/or bizarre forms of punishment, such as confinement in a closet or dark room or being tied to a chair for long periods of time or threatening or terrorizing a child. Less severe acts, but no less damaging are belittling or rejecting treatment, using derogatory terms to describe the child, habitual scapegoating or blaming.
Neglect: The failure to provide for the child’s basic needs. Neglect can be physical, educational, or emotional. Physical neglect can include not providing adequate food or clothing, appropriate medical care, supervision, or proper weather protection (heat or coats). It may include abandonment. Educational neglect includes failure to provide appropriate schooling or special educational needs, allowing excessive truancies. Psychological neglect includes the lack of any emotional support and love, never attending to the child, spousal abuse, drug and alcohol abuse including allowing the child to participate in drug and alcohol use.
Physical Abuse: The inflicting of physical injury upon a child. This may include, burning, hitting, punching, shaking, kicking, beating, or otherwise harming a child. The parent or caretaker may not have intended to hurt the child, the injury is not an accident. It may, however, been the result of over-discipline or physical punishment that is inappropriate to the child’s age.
Sexual Abuse: The inappropriate sexual behavior with a child. It includes fondling a child’s genitals, making the child fondle the adult’s genitals, intercourse, incest, rape, sodomy, exhibitionism and sexual exploitation. To be considered child abuse these acts have to be committed by a person responsible for the care of a child (for example a baby-sitter, a parent, or a daycare provider) or related to the child. If a stranger commits these acts, it would be considered sexual assault and handled solely be the police and criminal courts.
* To obtain a free copy of the Child Abuse Prevention and Treatment Act (CAPTA) or the definitions of child abuse and neglect, contact:
National Clearinghouse on Child Abuse and Neglect
P.O. Box 1182 Washington, DC 20013-1182
(800) FYI-3366
(703) 385-7565
This is a page that is very near and dear to my heart and I am hoping that in some small way it will make a difference.The subject is,"Child Abuse".I am sure you all are aware of this most damaging of all childhood occurences.
I am a victim of Child Abuse and I do not seek pity for that.My purpose here is to show you that you can survive it.Child Abuse is a pattern in most families that could have started many generations back and unless we get involved,it will go on in these families for generations to come.For we teach what we learn and if that is all we know then that is all we teach.
Abuse takes many forms with the physical abuse being the most obvious.But the not so obvious,which is the mental abuse,can be every bit as painful and sometimes even more damaging as the physical abuse.Alot of times,the scars from the mental abuse remain open and are left unattended until we reach our adulthood.It is also necessary to note that this form of abuse does not end upon reaching your adulthood.I am 33 years old and my parents mental abuse of me continues,that is the sad truth of it,because sometimes we cannot FIX the problems of our parents,but what we can do is seek help,support,and guidance to help with these problems.
One of the things I implore all of you to do is to become involved.I have seen it from both sides and I understand what it means to silently scream for help.Below is a list of links that will be ever expanding to help children,young and old,who deal with this problem.There is also a guestbook that I wish to be used for input and support for all who suffer.For one of the biggest fears of an abused child is the feeling of being alone and helpless.
So I dedicate this page to show you that you are not alone and that you are worthy of all the love and the beauty that life has to offer.
For those of you who ARE the abusers,please get help from somewhere,for these are the children that will rule the world,and they are more apt to run a better,more peaceful world if we provide them with the love and confidence to do so.Please do not be afraid to admit you are an abuser,for these are the people will continue the pattern and the ones to suffer will be our kids.It is not your fault but the fault of those who continue to do nothing to stop this from happening.They are precious souls and we are responsible for their well being.We brought them here and let us not make them wish that we had not.May God be with you and his strength guide you to get the help you need.
