Possible link between foreclosure rates, child abuse

6:58 PM, Jul 27, 2012 | comments

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The following are some signs often associated with particular types of child abuse and neglect: physical abuse, neglect, sexual abuse, and emotional abuse. It is important to note, however, that these types of abuse are more typically found in combination than alone. A physically abused child, for example, is often emotionally abused as well, and a sexually abused child also may be neglected.

Signs of Physical Abuse

Consider the possibility of physical abuse when the child:

Has unexplained burns, bites, bruises, broken bones, or black eyes

Has fading bruises or other marks noticeable after an absence from school

Seems frightened of the parents and protests or cries when it is time to go home

Shrinks at the approach of adults

Reports injury by a parent or another adult caregiver

Consider the possibility of physical abuse when the parent or other adult caregiver:

Offers conflicting, unconvincing, or no explanation for the child's injury

Describes the child as "evil," or in some other very negative way

Uses harsh physical discipline with the child

Has a history of abuse as a child

Signs of Neglect

Consider the possibility of neglect when the child:

Is frequently absent from school

Begs or steals food or money

Lacks needed medical or dental care, immunizations, or glasses

Is consistently dirty and has severe body odor

Lacks sufficient clothing for the weather

Abuses alcohol or other drugs

States that there is no one at home to provide care

Consider the possibility of neglect when the parent or other adult caregiver:Appears to be indifferent to the child

Seems apathetic or depressed

Behaves irrationally or in a bizarre manner

Is abusing alcohol or other drugs

Signs of Sexual Abuse

Consider the possibility of sexual abuse when the child:

Has difficulty walking or sitting

Suddenly refuses to change for gym or to participate in physical activities

Reports nightmares or bedwetting

Experiences a sudden change in appetite

Demonstrates bizarre, sophisticated, or unusual sexual knowledge or behavior

Becomes pregnant or contracts a venereal disease, particularly if under age 14

Runs away

Reports sexual abuse by a parent or another adult caregiver

Consider the possibility of sexual abuse when the parent or other adult caregiver:

Is unduly protective of the child or severely limits the child's contact with other children, especially of the opposite sex

Is secretive and isolated

Is jealous or controlling with family members

Signs of Emotional Maltreatment

Consider the possibility of emotional maltreatment when the child:

Shows extremes in behavior, such as overly compliant or demanding behavior, extreme passivity, or aggression

Is either inappropriately adult (parenting other children, for example) or inappropriately infantile (frequently rocking or head-banging, for example)

Is delayed in physical or emotional development

Has attempted suicide

Reports a lack of attachment to the parent

Consider the possibility of emotional maltreatment when the parent or other adult caregiver:

Constantly blames, belittles, or berates the child

Is unconcerned about the child and refuses to consider offers of help for the child's problems

Overtly rejects the child

Information comes from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Administration for Children and Families.

LITTLE ROCK, Ark. (KTHV) - A study by the policy lab of Children's Hospital of Philadelphia links increases in physical child abuse to the mortgage foreclosures.

Arkansas Children's Hospital is in the same network of hosptials as Children's Hospital of Philadelphia.

"When people are impacted by a hardship, the risk of child abuse does go up," says Pediatrician Karen Farst of Arkansas Children's Hospital.

Farst specializes in treating child abuse and she tends to victims nearly every day. She says the number of cases coming through the hospital remains steady and much of the abuse stems from stress.

"So if we're talking about an economic stress, it could be somebody that's recently lost their job. They may be dealing with some of their own depression or some of their own feelings that things just aren't going well. So they have a little bit lower threshold for something like a crying child," says Farst.

In the policy lab report, data gathered from 38 children's hospitals across the country show for every 1 percent increase in mortgages overdue 90 days, physical child abuse went up three percent.
And five percent more children suffered traumatic brain injuries.

"It can cause a parent to act poorly to a child and ultimately do something that they're going to regret," says Amy Webb of Arkansas DHS.

Webb says of Arkansas' 33-thousand reports of child abuse last year, they deemed about a quarter legitimate. That total volume is up by around 3-thousand from the previous year.

"Hopefully we're in before a child is already in the hospital, you know already suffering from an injury related to child abuse," says Webb.

Dr. Farst says she noticed an increase in severity of child abuse cases during the peak of the recession.

"They can be injured by a caregiver shaking them, which would give them a head injury. They could be injured by being struck or thrown which could give them a fracture or bad bruising or even an injury inside of their abdomen," says Farst.

The following signs may signal the presence of child abuse or neglect from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.

The Child:
- Shows sudden changes in behavior or school performance
- Has not received help for physical or medical problems brought to the parents' attention
- Has learning problems (or difficulty concentrating) that cannot be attributed to specific physical or psychological causes
- Is always watchful, as though preparing for something bad to happen
- Lacks adult supervision
- Is overly compliant, passive, or withdrawn
- Comes to school or other activities early, stays late, and does not want to go home

The Parent:
- Shows little concern for the child
- Denies the existence of-or blames the child for-the child's problems in school or at home
- Asks teachers or other caregivers to use harsh physical discipline if the child misbehaves
- Sees the child as entirely bad, worthless, or burdensome
- Demands a level of physical or academic performance the child cannot achieve
- Looks primarily to the child for care, attention, and satisfaction of emotional needs

The Parent and Child:
- Rarely touch or look at each other
- Consider their relationship entirely negative
- State that they do not like each other