Resources
WHAT DO WE DO ALSO AT
GELOFTEVOLK REPUBLIKEINE GERMANY AND WERE AND HOW CAN WE HELP TO FIGHT THESE THINGS!
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Spread the word online to prevent child sexual abuse
You can:
Link to www.parentsprotect.co.uk
If you have your own website, you could add a link to this child sexual abuse prevention website so all your whole online network knows where to find information and advice.
Post some information about Parents Protect
You could post some information about Parents Protect and your thoughts on the site.
Types of child abuse
There are several types of child abuse, but the core element that ties them together is the emotional effect on the child. Children need predictability, structure, clear boundaries, and the knowledge that their parents are looking out for their safety. Abused children cannot predict how their parents will act. Their world is an unpredictable, frightening place with no rules. Whether the abuse is a slap, a harsh comment, stony silence, or not knowing if there will be dinner on the table tonight, the end result is a child that feel unsafe, uncared for, and alone.
Emotional child abuse
Sticks and stones may break my bones but words will never hurt me? Contrary to this old saying, emotional abuse can severely damage a child’s mental health or social development, leaving lifelong psychological scars. Examples of emotional child abuse include:
- Constant belittling, shaming, and humiliating a child.
- Calling names and making negative comparisons to others.
- Telling a child he or she is “no good," "worthless," "bad," or "a mistake."
- Frequent yelling, threatening, or bullying.
- Ignoring or rejecting a child as punishment, giving him or her the silent treatment.
- Limited physical contact with the child—no hugs, kisses, or other signs of affection.
- Exposing the child to violence or the abuse of others, whether it be the abuse of a parent, a sibling, or even a pet.
Child neglect
Child neglect—a very common type of child abuse—is a pattern of failing to provide for a child's basic needs, whether it be adequate food, clothing, hygiene, or supervision. Child neglect is not always easy to spot. Sometimes, a parent might become physically or mentally unable to care for a child, such as with a serious injury, untreated depression, or anxiety. Other times, alcohol or drug abuse may seriously impair judgment and the ability to keep a child safe.
Older children might not show outward signs of neglect, becoming used to presenting a competent face to the outside world, and even taking on the role of the parent. But at the end of the day, neglected children are not getting their physical and emotional needs met.
Physical child abuse
Physical abuse involves physical harm or injury to the child. It may be the result of a deliberate attempt to hurt the child, but not always. It can also result from severe discipline, such as using a belt on a child, or physical punishment that is inappropriate to the child’s age or physical condition.
Many physically abusive parents and caregivers insist that their actions are simply forms of discipline—ways to make children learn to behave. But there is a big difference between using physical punishment to discipline and physical abuse. The point of disciplining children is to teach them right from wrong, not to make them live in fear.
Resources and references
Warning signs of child abuse
Recognizing Child Abuse: What Parents Should Know (PDF) – Lists signs and symptoms of child abuse in children and in their parents. Covering physical abuse, emotional maltreatment, neglect, and sexual abuse, this outline is useful for teachers, family friends, and relatives. (Prevent Child Abuse America)
Physical child abuse
Physical Child Abuse – Reviews the definition of physical abuse and signs of abuse, including shaken baby syndrome (Child Welfare Information Gateway)
Shaken Baby Syndrome – Clear, comprehensive description of what SBS is, how it causes brain damage and death, its signs and symptoms, and strategies for soothing a baby before the caregiver’s frustration mounts. (KidsHealth)
Sexual child abuse
Prevent Child Sexual Abuse: Facts About Those Who Might Commit It (PDF) – Offers warning signs of sexual abuse in children and in their adult abusers, along with tips on how to prevent and stop it. (Stop It Now!)
Understanding Child Sexual Abuse – A clear, objective explanation of the effects of child sexual abuse, the chances of recovery, and strategies for prevention. (American Psychological Association)
Emotional child abuse
Emotional abuse – See the “Answers to common questions” on this British site for good advice about recognizing and responding to emotional child abuse. (National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children)
Fact Sheet: Emotional child abuse (Prevent Child Abuse America)
Child neglect
Child Neglect: Definition and Scope of Neglect – Article on what constitutes child neglect, how it affects children, what causes it, and how the community can intervene. (Child Welfare Information Gateway)
Neglect – Succinct lists of physical and behavioral indicators suggesting that a child is being neglected. (Coalition for Children)
Reporting and stopping child abuse
Toll-Free Crisis Hotline Numbers – (Child Welfare Information Gateway)
Talking about abuse – Discusses what to do if either a child or a caregiver approaches you about abuse. (NSPCC)
Reporting Child Abuse – Guidance on how to find out what your responsibilities are and where to get more information. (Darkness to Light)
Child Helpline International – A global portal for children with a list of crisis lines and web resources around the world. (ChiWorld.org)
How the Child Welfare System Works – Information on the services available in the U.S. to protect the well-being of children. (U.S. Department of Health and Human Services)
Preventing child abuse
Talking to a child about abuse – Helps parents teach children how to protect themselves against abuse, including learning about touch, and that they should never keep secrets. (Childhelp)
Talking to kids about child sexual abuse – Discusses concrete tips on how to protect children against abuse, including talking to family members and avoiding tricks. (Stop it Now)
Coventry expands domestic violence and abuse services
Coventry City Council has invested additional funding of £250,000 in new domestic violence and abuse (DVA)
services which will see the specialist services provide advice, support and accommodation to more adults and
children affected by this issue.The new contract will be managed by the Council with the support of other key
agencies in the city, including the Police, the Probation Service, health agencies, social care, and key statutory
and third sector agencies in the city.The new services start next week on Monday 29 September 2014 and will
introduce improved ways of working between key agencies in the city to support people affected by DVA in
Coventry. The total annual value of the contract will be £1.2 million. It will be delivered by a range of specialist
organisations commissioned by the Council. They will be responsible for improving access and service provision
to victims, and services to children and perpetrators through the introduction of:
- A new helpline and interactive website – for victims, children and young people, perpetrators, professionals & members of the public in Coventry
- A single point of access to all victim services
- Support for victims of DVA living in the community
- Supported accommodation for victims of DVA
- A peer support service for victims of DVA
- Support for children and young people living with DVA
- A service for perpetrators to help change their behaviour
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Warning signs of child abuse and neglect
The earlier child abuse is caught, the better the chance of recovery and appropriate treatment for the child. Child abuse is not always obvious. By learning some of the common warning signs of child abuse and neglect, you can catch the problem as early as possible and get both the child and the abuser the help that they need.
Of course, just because you see a warning sign doesn’t automatically mean a child is being abused. It’s important to dig deeper, looking for a pattern of abusive behavior and warning signs, if you notice something off.
Warning signs of emotional abuse in children
- Excessively withdrawn, fearful, or anxious about doing something wrong.
- Shows extremes in behavior (extremely compliant or extremely demanding; extremely passive or extremely aggressive).
- Doesn’t seem to be attached to the parent or caregiver.
- Acts either inappropriately adult (taking care of other children) or inappropriately infantile (rocking, thumb-sucking, throwing tantrums).
Warning signs of physical abuse in children
- Frequent injuries or unexplained bruises, welts, or cuts.
- Is always watchful and “on alert,” as if waiting for something bad to happen.
- Injuries appear to have a pattern such as marks from a hand or belt.
- Shies away from touch, flinches at sudden movements, or seems afraid to go home.
- Wears inappropriate clothing to cover up injuries, such as long-sleeved shirts on hot days.
Warning signs of neglect in children
- Clothes are ill-fitting, filthy, or inappropriate for the weather.
- Hygiene is consistently bad (unbathed, matted and unwashed hair, noticeable body odor).
- Untreated illnesses and physical injuries.
- Is frequently unsupervised or left alone or allowed to play in unsafe situations and environments.
- Is frequently late or missing from school.
Warning signs of sexual abuse in children
- Trouble walking or sitting.
- Displays knowledge or interest in sexual acts inappropriate to his or her age, or even seductive behavior.
- Makes strong efforts to avoid a specific person, without an obvious reason.
- Doesn’t want to change clothes in front of others or participate in physical activities.
- An STD or pregnancy, especially under the age of 14.
- Runs away from home.
Risk factors for child abuse and neglectWhile child abuse and neglect occurs in all types of families—even in those that look happy from the outside—children are at a much greater risk in certain situations.
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“Our lives begin to end the day we become silent about the things that matter.”
How to Help Stop Cruelty Towards Animals1
Know that all animals are equal. If you are serious about helping to stop animal cruelty, then realize that you cannot exclude a species of animal just because you think they're gross or useless. Some species that are sometimes excluded include animals such as cows or mice. Cows and mice are just as good as cats and dogs.2
Donate to your local shelter! When you give money to your local shelter, the money goes to getting animals veterinary care and attention, toys, blankets, beds, food, treats, and new supplies! You could save dozens of animals lives by donating to your local shelter and/or wild life sanctuary. It doesn't even have to be for a local shelter- you can donate to animal shelters all over. Make sure that you only support clean, honest shelters. 3
Make toys! Make toys for the animals at your local shelter. Recycle plastic water bottles and sew/stitch blue soft cloth around them as a chew toy for dogs! The reason that the color blue is recommended for dogs is because dogs can only see white, black, and blue. Make little balls filled with catnip or cotton so the cats have something to bat! You could also braid together pieces of cloth for animals to play with.
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Avoid using products unless they specifically say that they were not tested on animals. Over 100 million animals are killed each year for chemical, drug, food, and cosmetics testing.5
To learn the laws about "animals," get a law book or call your local sheriff and talk it over with him/her.6
If you see an animal being abused, immediately call 911 and report what is going on! Stay near to make sure the abuser does not get away with it! It is not recommended that you try to stop the abuser if he/she is armed or looks too violent. Instead, try to distract him/her with something to get them away from the animal! If the abuser is not armed and/or does not look violent towards humans, then try to talk to them to get them to realize what they are doing. Get the animal to safety and try to keep them away from the abuser until help arrives. 7
You will have to go to court represented as a witness when the abuser is arrested. Be prepared and try to not be afraid to tell the court what you saw and send the abuser to prison! 8
Get your school or employees you work with to help you raise money to help stop animal abuse!9
Helping endangered species also helps by stopping animal abuse and saving animals lives! Every two hours, an endangered species becomes extinct because there is not enough funding to save them. 10 Related Links |
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Grown-ups are usually there to help and encourage kids, right? They take care of kids, help them learn how to do things, show them the right way to behave, and encourage the good things that kids do. Most adults treat kids well. But some adults hurt kids rather than help them. Another word for hurting someone is "abuse." Child abuse (say: ah-BYOOS) can affect all kinds of kids, no matter where they live, how much money their families have, or who they live with. A kid can be abused by a parent, a stepparent, family member, a babysitter, teacher, coach, or a bigger kid. Child abuse can happen anywhere — at home, school, childcare, or even in a church or other religious building. Tell Right AwayA kid who is being seriously hurt or harmed should tell a trusted adult right away. This can be hard because the abuser (the person who is hurting or harming someone) might have frightened the boy or girl into staying quiet. No matter what the abuser says, abuse is always wrong — and a kid can ask for and get help in a few different ways. A kid who can't think of a trusted adult to tell, or is worried about upsetting a parent or making someone angry, can call a special telephone number called a helpline, such as 1-800-4-A-CHILD. This hotline is open 24 hours a day, every day of the year. Your call is private and the people who answer the phone are trained to help. They also have a website where you can get help: www.childhelp.org/pages/help-for-kids. If you know someone else who you think might be being abused, you can help by telling your parent or another adult. |
20 Ways You Can Help Prevent Child Abuse
From the Texas Department of Family and Protective Services What You Can Do Unrealistic expectations of parenthood, differences between what we want and what we actually have, a strained relationship with our marriage partner, too much to do and too little time, financial problems, drug abuse, alcoholism, and a history of being abused as a child are examples of problems that can cause parents to take out anger and frustration on their children. Even very loving parents can lose control to the point of child abuse. Here are some actions you can take to help children and their parents.
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