Child Abuse

CHILD ABUSE

Child abuse is the physical or psychological maltreatment of a child, often synonymous with the term child maltreatment or the term child abuse and neglect. Some definitions also include the abuse of children by other children or by themselves. However, in the United States, abuse of a child by another child is not reportable as child abuse, except to the extent that it can be reported as improper supervision by the abused child's parents. While most child abuse happens in the child's home, large numbers of cases of child abuse have been identified within some organizations involving children, such as churches, schools, child care businesses, and in particular native residential schools, or in government agencies.

According to a recent UNICEF report on child well-being the United States and the United Kingdom ranked lowest among rich nations with respect to the well being of their children. This study also found that child neglect and child abuse are far more common in single-parent families than in families where both parents are present.

There are many forms of abuse and neglect and many governments have developed their own legal definition of what constitutes child maltreatment for the purposes of removing a child and/or prosecuting a criminal charge. In the United States, the Federal Government puts out a full definition of child abuse and neglect and creates a summary of each State definition. To view, go to Definitions of Child Abuse and Neglect: Summary of State Laws that is part of the 2005 State Statute series by the Child Welfare Information Gateway.

INDEX

1 Effects of child abuse on the child and development
2 Causes of child abuse
3 Prevention
Primary prevention
Secondary prevention
Tertiary prevention
4 Treatment
5 Child abuse prevention organizations
Child help USA
ISPCAN (International Society for Prevention of Child Abuse and Neglect)
Children of the Underground
6 Reporting of child abuse
Authorities