Reportable Types of Abuse
Child abuse and neglect are defined by Federal and State laws as "any recent act, or failure to act, on the part of a parent or caretaker, which results in death, serious physical or emotional harm, sexual abuse, or exploitation, or an act, or failure to act, which presents an imminent risk of serious harm."
The definitions of specific types of abuse are derived from the Welfare and Institutions Codes and Penal Codes.
Physical Abuse
Physical abuse means the child has suffered, or there is a substantial risk that the child will suffer, serious physical harm inflicted non-accidentally upon the child by the child's parent or guardian. This can also include the fact the child's parent or guardian caused the death of another child through abuse or neglect. Additionally, it can include a child who has been subjected to an act, or acts, of cruelty by the parent or guardian or member of his or her household, or the parent or guardian has failed to adequately protect the child from an act or acts of cruelty when the parent or guardian knew, or reasonably should have known that the child was in danger of being subjected to an act, or acts, of cruelty.
Severe Physical Abuse
Severe physical abuse means any single act of abuse that causes physical trauma of sufficient severity that, if left untreated, would cause permanent physical disfigurement, permanent physical disability, or death. It also includes any single act of sexual abuse that causes significant bleeding, deep bruising, or significant external or internal swelling. Severe physical abuse also includes More than one act of physical abuse, each of which causes bleeding, deep bruising, significant external or internal swelling, bone fracture or unconsciousness. It also includes the willful, prolonged failure to provide adequate food.
Neglect
Neglect means the child has suffered, or there is a substantial risk that the child will suffer, serious physical harm or illness as a result of the failure or inability of the parent or guardian to adequately supervise or protect the child, the willful or negligent failure of the parent or guardian to adequately supervise or protect the child from the conduct of the custodian with whom the child has been left, the willful or negligent failure of the parent or guardian to provide the child with adequate food, clothing, shelter or medical treatment and the inability of the parent or guardian to provide regular care for the child due to the parent's or guardian's mental illness, developmental disability, or substance abuse. This also includes the fact the child's sibling has been abused or neglected, and there is a substantial risk that the child will be abused or neglected.
Sexual Abuse/Exploitation
Sexual abuse means sexual assault including rape, incest, sodomy, lewd or lascivious acts upon a child or child molestation. Sexual exploitation refers to depicting a minor engaged in obscene acts. Preparing, selling, or distributing obscene matter that depicts minors or employing minors to perform obscene acts. It also refers to knowingly permitting or encouraging a child to engage in, or assisting others to engage in, prostitution or a live performance involving obscene sexual conduct, or to either pose or model alone or with others for the purposes of preparing a film, photograph, negative, slide, drawing, painting, or other pictorial depiction involving obscene sexual content. Additionally, it can include depicting a child in, or knowingly developing, duplicating, printing, or exchanging any film, photograph, videotape, negative, or slide in which a child is engaged in an act of obscene sexual conduct. A child could be made a dependent if he or she were sexually abuse, or there is a substantial risk that the child would be sexually abused by his or her parent, guardian, or a household member, or the parent or guardian failed to adequately protect the child from sexual abuse when the parent or guardian knew or reasonably should have known that the child was in danger of sexual abuse.
Emotional Abuse
Emotional abuse is the suffering serious emotional damage, or the substantial risk of suffering serious emotional damage, as evidenced by severe anxiety, depression, withdrawal or aggressive behavior toward self or others, as a result of the conduct of the parent or guardian.
Abandonment
Abandonment is when the child has been left without any provision for support, physical custody of the child has been voluntarily surrendered, the child's parent has been incarcerated or institutionalized and cannot arrange for the care of the child, a relative or other adult custodian with whom the child resides or has been left is unwilling or unable to provide care or support for the child, the whereabouts of the parents are unknown, and reasonable efforts to locate the parents have been unsuccessful.
Child abuse and neglect are defined by Federal and State laws as "any recent act, or failure to act, on the part of a parent or caretaker, which results in death, serious physical or emotional harm, sexual abuse, or exploitation, or an act, or failure to act, which presents an imminent risk of serious harm."
The definitions of specific types of abuse are derived from the Welfare and Institutions Codes and Penal Codes.
Physical Abuse
Physical abuse means the child has suffered, or there is a substantial risk that the child will suffer, serious physical harm inflicted non-accidentally upon the child by the child's parent or guardian. This can also include the fact the child's parent or guardian caused the death of another child through abuse or neglect. Additionally, it can include a child who has been subjected to an act, or acts, of cruelty by the parent or guardian or member of his or her household, or the parent or guardian has failed to adequately protect the child from an act or acts of cruelty when the parent or guardian knew, or reasonably should have known that the child was in danger of being subjected to an act, or acts, of cruelty.
Severe Physical Abuse
Severe physical abuse means any single act of abuse that causes physical trauma of sufficient severity that, if left untreated, would cause permanent physical disfigurement, permanent physical disability, or death. It also includes any single act of sexual abuse that causes significant bleeding, deep bruising, or significant external or internal swelling. Severe physical abuse also includes More than one act of physical abuse, each of which causes bleeding, deep bruising, significant external or internal swelling, bone fracture or unconsciousness. It also includes the willful, prolonged failure to provide adequate food.
Neglect
Neglect means the child has suffered, or there is a substantial risk that the child will suffer, serious physical harm or illness as a result of the failure or inability of the parent or guardian to adequately supervise or protect the child, the willful or negligent failure of the parent or guardian to adequately supervise or protect the child from the conduct of the custodian with whom the child has been left, the willful or negligent failure of the parent or guardian to provide the child with adequate food, clothing, shelter or medical treatment and the inability of the parent or guardian to provide regular care for the child due to the parent's or guardian's mental illness, developmental disability, or substance abuse. This also includes the fact the child's sibling has been abused or neglected, and there is a substantial risk that the child will be abused or neglected.
Sexual Abuse/Exploitation
Sexual abuse means sexual assault including rape, incest, sodomy, lewd or lascivious acts upon a child or child molestation. Sexual exploitation refers to depicting a minor engaged in obscene acts. Preparing, selling, or distributing obscene matter that depicts minors or employing minors to perform obscene acts. It also refers to knowingly permitting or encouraging a child to engage in, or assisting others to engage in, prostitution or a live performance involving obscene sexual conduct, or to either pose or model alone or with others for the purposes of preparing a film, photograph, negative, slide, drawing, painting, or other pictorial depiction involving obscene sexual content. Additionally, it can include depicting a child in, or knowingly developing, duplicating, printing, or exchanging any film, photograph, videotape, negative, or slide in which a child is engaged in an act of obscene sexual conduct. A child could be made a dependent if he or she were sexually abuse, or there is a substantial risk that the child would be sexually abused by his or her parent, guardian, or a household member, or the parent or guardian failed to adequately protect the child from sexual abuse when the parent or guardian knew or reasonably should have known that the child was in danger of sexual abuse.
Emotional Abuse
Emotional abuse is the suffering serious emotional damage, or the substantial risk of suffering serious emotional damage, as evidenced by severe anxiety, depression, withdrawal or aggressive behavior toward self or others, as a result of the conduct of the parent or guardian.
Abandonment
Abandonment is when the child has been left without any provision for support, physical custody of the child has been voluntarily surrendered, the child's parent has been incarcerated or institutionalized and cannot arrange for the care of the child, a relative or other adult custodian with whom the child resides or has been left is unwilling or unable to provide care or support for the child, the whereabouts of the parents are unknown, and reasonable efforts to locate the parents have been unsuccessful.
Warning Signs of Emotional Abuse in Children
Warning Signs of Physical Abuse in Children
Warning Signs of Neglect in Children
Warning Signs of Sexual Abuse in Children
- Excessively withdrawn, fearful, or anxious about doing something wrong.
- Shows extremes in behavior (extremely compliant or extremely demanding; extremely passive or extremely aggressive).
- Doesn’t seem to be attached to the parent or caregiver.
- Acts either inappropriately adult-like (taking care of other children) or inappropriately infantile (rocking, thumb-sucking, throwing tantrums).
Warning Signs of Physical Abuse in Children
- Frequent injuries or unexplained bruises, welts, or cuts.
- Is always watchful and “on alert” as if waiting for something bad to happen.
- Injuries appear to have a pattern such as marks from a hand or belt.
- Shies away from touch, flinches at sudden movements, or seems afraid to go home.
- Wears inappropriate clothing to cover up injuries, such as long-sleeved shirts on hot days.
Warning Signs of Neglect in Children
- Clothes are ill-fitting, filthy, or inappropriate for the weather.
- Hygiene is consistently bad (unbathed, matted and unwashed hair, noticeable body odor).
- Untreated illnesses and physical injuries.
- Is frequently unsupervised or left alone or allowed to play in unsafe situations and environments.
- Is frequently late or missing from school.
Warning Signs of Sexual Abuse in Children
- Trouble walking or sitting.
- Displays knowledge or interest in sexual acts inappropriate to his or her age, or even seductive behavior.
- Makes strong efforts to avoid a specific person, without an obvious reason.
- Doesn’t want to change clothes in front of others or participate in physical activities.
- A sexually transmitted disease (STD) or pregnancy, especially under the age of fourteen.
- Runs away from home.
