Child abuse is one of the most dangerous and serious problems confronting society, perhaps because of the helplessness and innocence of the victims. What is particularly bothersome about child abuse is that it occurs in all income, racial, religious, and ethnic groups and in urban and rural communities. Likewise, there is no uniform definition of what constitutes child abuse, making it difficult to ascertain what prevention and treatment methods are most effective. For example, in Sweden, the law prohibits any physical punishment of children, including spanking. By contrast, in some countries of Asia, Africa, and the Caribbean, parents are expected to punish their children by hitting them.
This paper analyzes and examines the multitude of issues related to child abuse. Part II defines child abuse. In Part III, a history of child abuse is offered. Part IV evaluates why child abuse exists according to control theory and anomy theory. In Part V, how socialization agents such as educational/school systems, family, mass media, and peer groups may intervene to eliminate or reduce the occurrence of child abuse is outlined. Part VI reviews the consequences for society/social institutions and future generations if child abuse is not eliminated or reduced.
II. DEFINITION OF THE PROBLEM
The primary federal legislation addressing child abuse and neglect is the Child Abuse Prevention and Treatment Act (CAPTA) which was originally enacted in 1974 and which has been amended and reauthorized numerous times. One of the key elements of CAPTA is that it provides federal funding to states in support of assessment, investigation, prevention, prosecution, and treatment activities and also provides grants to nonprofit organizations and public agencies for demonstration programs and projects. In addition, CAPTA establishes the Office on Child Abuse and Neglect, identifies the federal role in supporting data collection activities, evaluation, research, and technical assistance, and mandates the National Clearinghouse on Child Abuse and Neglect Information.
CAPTA also sets forth a minimum definition of child abuse and neglect. Under CAPTA, child abuse and neglect is defined as, at a minimum: (1) any recent act or failure to act on the part of a caretaker or parent which results in death, serious emotional or physical harm, sexual abuse or exploitation, or (2) an act or failure to act...
Child Abuse in Literature Child Maltreatment Child maltreatment entails all types of neglect and abuse of a child below eighteen years by caregivers, parents or any other person (Crosson-Tower, 2006). Child abuse encompasses all forms of physical abuse, emotional abuse, sexual abuse, neglect or child exploitation that causes potential or actual harm to a child's well-being, dignity and development (Smith & Fong, 2004). According to Scannapieco & Connell-Carrick (2005), child maltreatment is
Child abuse can be referred to as a physical, sexual or an emotional state of harm that is inflicted upon the child. There are various types and forms that can be undertaken by the abuser which may involve hitting, shaking, beating, burning or even biting the child in the physical form, Sexual forms of child abuse may involve incest, molestation, touching and exposing the child to sexual acts that may
Child and Elder Abuse Child Abuse The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) publishes a website called healthychildren.org. -- and the section called "What do I need to know about child abuse?" provides excellent information on the particulars of child abuse. The Healthy Children site points out that child abuse "…is common," and hence, with all the reports on television and in the newspapers about children being mistreated, it should cause parents, guardians,
Child Abuse This research investigates the connection amongst childhood abuse as well as neglect and sexual risk conduct in middle adult years and whether psychosocial aspects (risky romances, affective signs and symptoms, alcohol and drug use, along with delinquent as well as illegal conduct) mediate this connection (Wilson and Widom, 2011). I was attracted to this article because it offered definitive proof about how child abuse and neglect can cause HIV
Child Abuse and Neglect Analysis The placement agency that I am personally affiliated with is Operation Safehouse which is a transitional living facility for at risk homeless youth ages eighteen to twenty one. There are two primary locations. One is in Riverside, CA and the other is in Thousand Palms, CA (SafeHouse, N.d.). Both locations offer services that include offer education, employment, case management, therapy, and life skills for our clients
First, briefly define the Resiliency Model. Then, using this video as your case study: What concepts from the Resiliency Model can you identify that were illustrated in their stories? Describe and explain. Considerations include: Did you hear any recurring themes mentioned by more than one of these young adults? What did they describe as being most valuable to them during their foster care experiences? Consider some of their recommendations:
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