Child Abuse and Neglect
Child abuse and neglect happens in every community. Child abuse can come in the form of physical abuse, which are physical acts that cause or could cause physical injury to the child.
Another form of child abuse is sexual abuse. Sexual abuse occurs when there is involvement of a child in sexual activity to provide sexual gratification or financial benefit to the perpetrator, including contacts for sexual purposes, prostitution, pornography or other sexually explicit actions.
Child abuse also includes psychological or emotional abuse. These are acts or omissions that cause or could have cause significant harm, including conduct, cognitive, affective or other mental disorders.
Finally, child abuse can also take the form of neglect. Neglect is the failure to provide needed, age-appropriate care. It may be physical (not providing adequate food or clothing, appropriate medical care, supervision, etc.) or psychological (the lack of emotional support and love, chronic inattention to the child, exposure to domestic violence, or to the effects drug and/or alcohol abuse).
