NCJ Number
150889
Journal
Mississippi Voices for Children & Youth Volume: 9 Issue: 4 Dated: (July-August 1994) Pages: 10-12
Date Published
1994
Length
3 pages
Annotation
This article explores the problem of child abuse and neglect and stresses the need for prevention and intervention efforts; attention is paid to physical abuse, child neglect, sexual abuse, and mental or emotional injury.
Abstract
A national incidence study estimates that nearly 1 million children nationwide experienced demonstrable harm due to maltreatment in 1986: 311,500 children were physically abused, 188,100 children were emotionally abused, 133,600 were sexually abused, 507,700 children were physically neglected, 285,900 children were educationally neglected, and 203,000 children were emotionally neglected. The number of children reported to child protection services increased by nearly 57 percent between 1980 and 1986. In recognition of the problem, every State has a child abuse and neglect reporting law that requires certain categories of professionals, such as social workers, medical personnel, educators, and child care staff, to report suspected child abuse and neglect. Factors that contribute to child abuse and neglect include individual characteristics of parents and children, family interaction, environmental conditions, age, gender, family income, family size, race, and geographic location. Guidelines to aid in recognizing and reporting child abuse are offered, and ways of helping abused and neglected children and their families through appropriate intervention and prevention programs are discussed.