Child Abuse and Neglect

Child abuse is any act that endangers a child’s physical or emotional health and development. Child abuse and neglect can take place anywhere. The child often knows the abuser well a parent, relative, babysitter, or friend of the family. Child abuse and neglect crosses all ethnic, racial, social, and economic lines This book talks and expresses the examinations of child neglect in families and its relevance to research, policy and practice in the field of services to children and their families. The authors chose to explore this subject because child neglect is an over looked area of child welfare practice.

Families neglect their children almost twice as frequently as they abuse their children. The four major types of maltreatment are physical abuse, neglect, sexual abuse and emotional abuse. Some states also specify substance abuse or abandonment by the caretaker as an element of abuse or neglect. Although any of the forms of child maltreatment may be found separately, they often occur in combination. The most recent statements and research indicate that 860,000 children were victims of abuse and neglect in the year 2006. The consequences of neglect to children are at least as serious as the consequences of abuse.

Referring back to the article statement “In 2003 1,200 children died of abuse and neglect”. These fatalities were most often the result of neglect only. According to the article 685 of child fatalities due to maltreatment involved child neglect, as compared to 50% that involved. The focus of those working in the field like Child Protective Services, affiliated agencies that can take full custody and etc. In addition because of lack of information and investigations children are maltreatment have been on abuse, due to neglected children and their families and even fatal.

It is the intention of the authors to present a comprehensive view of the current state regarding child neglect issues and to offer a rationale for directing focus to this overlooked and disregarded aspect of family relationships. It is time to refocus on these families, both to assist in healing these families and given the relationship between neglect and poverty. Author Cynthia Crosson-Tower, Ph. D My Thoughts I think child abuse is worst thing a child can experience because it scars them for life. Children should be protected and loved. Sadly, this is not lways the case, millions of children are abused every year thousands will die from the abuse. The various types of abuse and neglect are never ceasing, only growing. Just like in the article families are neglecting their children twice as much as the abuse. This very shocking and shameless. Many end up being abusers themselves, or try to kill the pain with drugs and alcohol. How many kids need to commit suicide before this country finally stands up and says enough. The number of children sexually abused physically abused neglected or murdered is astounding. I read couple of more articles about child abuse and online sexual predators.

Whether it is physical or mental, abuse is wrong. Parents who abuse children should stop and take the time to get help because the child will suffer in the end. Many children in this world die or become emotionally unstable because of abuse in the home. Only half of the victims report the abuse to authorities or family members. After all, who will stand up for those who cannot stand up for themselves? We should all report any case of child abuse that we witness this way we can be saving lives. It is our responsibility to put an end to child abuse because child abuse is simply wrong, unethical, and should not be done.