What is Child Abuse?
Child abuse is mental, emotional, physical or sexual injury to a child or failure to prevent such an injury. It includes neglect, the failure to provide a child with food, clothing, shelter and/or medical care, as well as leaving a child in a situation where the child is at risk or harm.
Child abuse is a crime that thrives in secrecy because it is often times difficult to talk about. That’s why conversation—openly discussing this issue—is the most effective tool we have to eradicate child abuse.
Signs of child abuse can be subtle, and in many cases, nonexistent. Changes in a child’s routine or new unexplained behaviors are worth a second look. A few signs to look for include unexplained injuries, changes in behavior, changes in eating or sleeping, changes in school performance or attendance, and fear of certain places or people.
Child Abuse Articles
When A Child Says #MeToo
For decades, we at HCWC have stressed the importance of believing survivors of sexual assault or relationship violence when they open up and tell their story. Talking to someone about abuse or trauma can be an overwhelming and incredibly vulnerable act, which is why it is so crucial not to shut someone down by offering suggestions about what a survivor could have done to avoid the situation or [...]
Listen. Believe. Support.
On October 15, 2017, actress Alyssa Milano tweeted, “If you’ve been sexually harassed or assaulted write ‘me too’ as a reply to this tweet.” This tweet started a ripple effect of an infinite number of survivors and victims of sexual assault coming forward and sharing that they too had experienced sexual violence. Since then, the #MeToo movement has continuously grown and awareness has spread. While [...]
April is Child Abuse Prevention Month
April is Child Abuse Prevention Month, an annual campaign dedicated to raising public awareness and prevention of child abuse. This month is about engaging individuals and communities on how we can keep children safe. Nearly 700,000 children are abused in the U.S. annually. 1 in 4 girls and 1 in 6 boys will be sexually abused before they turn 18 years old. Help prevent child [...]
Did You Know You Are a Mandated Reporter of Child Abuse?
Have you ever seen a situation involving a child that made you feel uncomfortable? Perhaps you suspected a child is in danger. Maybe you wondered, what should I do? What can I do? The purpose of mandated reporting is to identify suspected abuse or neglect of a child as quickly as possible to prevent further harm. If you suspect a child is being abused, then you [...]
