PARENT’S BEHAVIOR • Denies the existence of or blames the children for problems in school or home. • Asks teachers or other caregivers to use harsh physical discipline if the child misbehaves. • Sees the child as entirely bad, worthless, or burdensome. • Demands a level of physical or academic performance the child cannot achieve. • Looks primarily to the child for care, attention, and satisfaction of the parent’s emotional needs. • Shows little concern for the child. PARENT AND CHILD’S BEHAVIORS • Rarely touch or look at each other. • Consider their relationships entirely negative. • State that they do not like each other. The above list may not be all the signs of abuse or neglect. It is important to pay attention to other behaviors that may seem unusual or concerning. In addition to these signs and symptoms, Child Welfare Information Gateway provides information on the risk factors and perpetrators of child abuse and neglect fatalities: https://www.childwelfare. gov/can/risk_perpetrators.cfm CONSIDER THE POSSIBILITY OF PHYSICAL ABUSE WHEN THE CHILD: • Has unexplained burns, bites, bruises, broken bones, or black eyes. • Has fading bruises or other marks noticeable after an absence from school. • Seems frightened of the parents and protests or cries when it is time to go home. • Shrinks at the approach of adults. • Reports injury by a parent or another adult caregiver. • Abuses animals or pets.
CONSIDER THE POSSIBILITY OF PHYSICAL ABUSE WHEN THE PARENT OR OTHER ADULT CAREGIVER: •Offers conflicting, unconvincing, or no explanation for the child’s injury, or provides an explanation that is not consistent with the injury. • Describes the child as “evil” or in some other very negative way. • Uses harsh physical discipline with the child. • Has a history of abuse as a child. • Has a history of abusing animals or pets. CONSIDER THE POSSIBILITY OF NEGLECT WHEN THE CHILD: • Is frequently absent from school. • Begs or steals food or money. • Lacks needed medical or dental care, immunizations, or glasses. • Is consistently dirty and has a severe body odor. • Lacks sufficient clothing for the weather. • Abuses alcohol or other drugs. • States where there is no one at home to provide care.
30
Made with FlippingBook Digital Publishing Software