Child abuse is no joke

The other day I heard about Danny, a five-year-old, who will not be promoted from kindergarten. He failed to attend almost half his classes. His father is in jail on drug charges and his mother is an alcoholic. Danny has no one to care for him. What is Danny’s future? Who will speak out against the dastardly crimes being committed on Danny? Who will speak out against child abuse?

The following discussion is intended to awaken in us a sense of outrage against the monstrous crimes committed towards helpless children by sick adults and especially by parents. Many of my points are taken from handbooks published by the Division of Youth Services under Director Eloise A. Furey.
Eloise is a very dedicated woman to helping you and your children achieve a closer relationship.

Call the Division of Youth Services at 6642550/2551 and get free copies of informative booklets concerning child abuse. The Division of Youth Services also offers guidance with delinquent children if you are having problems. The DYS is quite active in helping parents and children to achieve a more harmonious relationship. It offers all types of counseling. One of its most popular courses is called “Parenting.” DYS is a community service agency that can improve your and your children’s life. For your children’s sake, take advantage of their assistance.

Let’s examine exactly what child abuse is and how you can help prevent this sick action against children. Maltreatment of children usually falls into one or more of the four general areas: Physical abuse.
Neglect. Emotional maltreatment. and Sexual abuse. Although some forms of abuse are more difficult to detect than others, there are always signs or indicators which, singly or together, suggest that a child may be in need of help.

Physical abuse may be defined as any act resulting in a nonaccidental physical injury to a child (under the age of 18) such injury resulting from punishment clearly beyond the scope of reasonable corporal punishment. Inflicted physical injury most often represents unreasonably severe corporal punishment, but may also include intentional, deliberate assault, such as biting, burning, shaking or throwing, and twisting of limbs.

Become suspicious if you see any child with unexplained bruises and welts on any parts of his body, unexplained burns or unexplained fractures/dislocations or unexplained lacerations or abrasions.
These are all indications of possible child abuse. Please don’t walk away. Become involved and ask questions.

Physical neglect may be defined as the failure to provide for a child’s physical survival needs to the extent that there is harm or risk of harm to the child’s health, safety or well-being. Physical neglect may include, but is not limited to abandonment, lack of supervision, lack of personal cleanliness and good hygiene, lack of adequate shelter, lack of medical or dental care, lack of adequate nutrition/ shelter.

Emotional maltreatment can permanently cripple a child emotionally, behaviorally, and intellectually. It can be more damaging and devastating than physical abuse. Constantly shouting, nagging, swearing at a child can destroy all selfimage. This continual abuse deprives children of the nourishment they need for sound mental and emotional growth. As children need food, so it is they also need love and affection Emotional abuse, because it cannot be seen, can affect children for the remainder of their lives and may be passed on to their children.

Tomorrow we will discuss sexual abuse of children. I hope you will become interested in doing something to stop child abuse. Ever wonder why so many adults have problems? Think back to your own childhood. What would you wish to have been different?