Second segment can in ok 2009 for otac
- 1. Child Abuse and Neglect Training for Educators, Part 2 Child Abuse and Neglect: Signs and Symptoms Fran Roberson, LCSW, LMFT Center for Children and Families, Inc. Norman, Oklahoma
- 3. Child maltreatment includes: neglect, physical and emotional abuse, and sexual abuse.
- 4. Signs and symptoms may include Child’s Behavior Caregiver’s Behavior
- 5. Neglect is failure to provide for a child’s basic needs.
- 6. Children’s behaviors may include: Lack of confidence, concentration, and social skills. Little to no expectations of care from caregivers. Expect to fail at tasks. Apathetic, demonstrating little hope in getting needs met. May be needy and dependent, clingy at times. Used to taking care of self and siblings. Hungry, and often hoards food for self or siblings.
- 7. Caregiver’s behavior may include: Little to no supervision of children observable. Little attention to child’s needs, i.e., clothing, food, attention. Apathetic and emotionally unavailable. May demonstrate victim posture. Communicates sense of hopelessness.
- 8. 84% of child abuse and neglect cases are NEGLECT (Oklahoma 2008) Substance abuse by a caregiver has been the greatest contributing factor to neglect in Oklahoma.
- 9. Neglect is also the result of: Threat of harm Failure to provide Failure to protect adequate nutrition. Abandonment Exposure to domestic violence Failure to obtain medical attention. Inadequate or Educational dangerous shelter Failure to obtain Lack of supervision psychiatric attention. Inadequate physical Inadequate clothing care Failure to thrive
- 10. Physical abuse is defined as inflicting a non- accidental physical injury upon a child.
- 11. Children’s behavior may include: Wary of physical contact with adults. Apprehensive when other children cry. Demonstrates extremes in behavior (aggressiveness or withdrawal). Seems frightened of parents. Reports injury by parents or appears to be using adult language to explain and injury. Exhibits “frozen watchfulness”. Developmental delays in language, social skills, physical skills, and/or cognitive skills. May wear inappropriate clothing for the weather, i.e., long sleeves or coat in warm weather.
- 12. Caregiver’s behavior may include: Responds harshly and applies discipline inappropriate to child’s age, transgression, and condition. Offers illogical, unconvincing, contradictory, or no explanation of child’s injury. Significantly misperceives child and intention of child’s behaviors. Has excessively high expectations of child. Demonstrates lack of empathy for child.
- 13. Emotional abuse is any pattern of behavior that impairs a child’s emotional development or sense of self-worth.
- 14. Children’s behaviors may include: Appears overly compliant, passive, undemanding. Is extremely aggressive, demanding, or rageful Show overly adaptive behaviors, either inappropriately adult or inappropriately infantile.
- 15. Caregiver’s behavior may include: Blames or belittles child. Is cold and rejecting. Withholds love. Treats siblings unequally. Seems unconcerned about child’s problems.
- 16. Emotional abuse co-exists with others abuses. Emotional abuse is difficult to confirm in isolation.
- 17. Suspicion of abuse or neglect of children requires a report to the Child Welfare hotline or office in your county. As teachers, counselors, or administrators, we only have to have “suspicion” based on our best observations and interactions. We do not have to confirm the abuse . .that is the state’s job!
- 18. Sexual abuse is inappropriate adolescent or adult sexual behavior with a child.
- 19. Children’s behaviors may include: Appears withdrawn or engages in fantasy or infantile behavior. Has poor peer relationships. Is unwilling to participate in physical activities. Has recurrent nightmares or disturbed sleep patterns and fear of the dark. Displays unusual interest or knowledge of sexual matters, expresses affection in ways inappropriate for a child of that age.
- 20. Children’s behaviors may include: Fear of a person or an intense dislike at being left somewhere or with someone. Other behavioral signals such as loss of appetite, aggressive or disruptive behavior, withdrawal, running away, or delinquent behavior, failing in school. Approaches adults in a sexual manner. Demonstrates poor boundaries with adults, known and unknown to them. May wear many clothing layers.
- 21. Caregiver’s behavior may include: Extremely protective or jealous of child. Demonstrates favoritism of one child over another. Inappropriate boundaries with children. Evidence of role reversals. Cautious and concerned about what child has said to others.
- 22. Suspicion of abuse or neglect of children requires a report to the Child Welfare hotline or office in your county. As teachers, counselors, or administrators, we only have to have “suspicion” based on our best observations and interactions. We do not have to confirm the abuse . .that is the state’s job!
- 23. Domestic Violence Domestic violence hurts kids . . . whether they see it, hear it, or sense it.
- 24. Children’s behaviors may include: Playing out of domestic conflicts repeatedly. Anxious when any disagreement occurs in their presence. Exhibits “frozen watchfulness”.
- 25. Caregiver’s behavior may include: One parent exhibiting controlling behaviors of other parent. One parent exhibiting fear behaviors toward the other parent.
- 27. Contact Fran Roberson at the Center for Children and Families, Inc. for further questions or concerns. froberson@ccfinorman.org 405.364.1420