What is Child Abuse?
Child Sexual Abuse. Child Sexual Abuse is defined as the engagement of a child in sexual activities for which the child is developmentally unprepared or cannot legally give informed consent. The abuse may include but is not limited to: rape, incest, lewd acts or indecent proposals made to a child. Sexual exploitation includes allowing the child to engage in prostitution or in the production of child pornography.
Child Physical Abuse. Physical Abuse means any non accidental physical injuries (for example, bruises and fractures) resulting from but not limited to: punching, beating, kicking, biting, burning, or otherwise harming a child. Physical abuse also including acts of circumstance that threaten the child with harm or create a substantial risk of harm to the child’s health or welfare.
Child Neglect. Neglect means the failure to act in a responsible manor due to an intentional act or omission or deprivation of adequate food, clothing, shelter, medical care or supervisions and in some cases education, by the person responsible for the child’s health, safety and welfare of the child; that has caused, or over time would cause, serious harm to the child.
If your child makes a disclosure of sexual abuse:
- Stay Calm
- Listen to your child without asking questions
- Comfort your child and let them know that it is not their fault
- Make sure that your child is safe
- Do not make your child repeat the disclosure to other family members or to the alleged perpetrator
- Don't confront the alleged perpetrator
- Call local police or the DHS- see number in reporting section of this site.
- If the molestation occured within the last 72 hours or if there are injuries take the child to the emergency room. Do not bathe the child or change his/her clothes.