Recognizing Abuse

Child abuse occurs most often in families where parents are caught in stressful life situations beyond their control. Illness, job loss, and alcohol and drug abuse are only a few of the events that cause parents to feel isolated and unable to solve their problems. Coping skills are short-circuited. This is when child abuse or neglect is most likely to happen. Family Outreach helps families work through their problems.

Prevention is the best solution. Treatment of child abuse after it occurs is more costly and less effective. Family Outreach has always focused on prevention. New programs have been developed to prevent the lasting damage of child abuse. Expanded services have been added in existing centers and additional communities.

No one sign speaks of abuse, however, two or more should be considered as an indication of possible abuse.

Physical Abuse
Physical Indicators:
- Surface Area Indicators
- Non-accidental bruising patterns
- Loop or wrap around injuries
- Injuries in various stages of healing
- Complications from old injuries
- Imprint of instrument on skin
- Cigarette burns
- Signs of overall poor health

Behavioral Indicators:
- Unable to explain injury or explanation inconsistent with injury
- Unusually fearful, non-spontaneous
- Overly eager to please adults
- Discomfort about undressing in front of peers

Sexual Abuse
Physical Indicators:
- Headaches, stomach aches, and overall not feeling well
- Pain in anal or genital area
- Recurring vaginal or bladder infections
- Sexually transmitted disease
- Oral, genital, or anal bleeding
- Redness, swelling, itching, or trauma to the genital or anal area
- Pregnancy

Behavioral Indicators:
- Sudden change in behavior
- Fears and phobias, retreat to fantasy
- Disturbed sleeping patterns
- Changes in relationships to adults (avoidance or clinging)
- Problems in schools
- Withdrawal from friends and family
- Running away
- Inappropriate and obsessive sexual awareness, promiscuity
- Depression, low self-esteem, self critical
- Appearance of retardation
- Child states that an adult is bothering him or her
- Discomfort or extreme sensitivity to physical contact
- Discomfort about undressing in front of peers
- Having friends who are several years older
- Acquisition of unexplainable toys, money, or clothes
- Regression to more childish behavior
- Delinquent acts
- Suicidal gestures or attempts
- Plays parental role