KEEPING KIDS SAFE HEADERS (2)

Child Abuse Awareness

Child abuse and neglect can endanger or impair a child’s physical or emotional health or development. We have the power to stop it and understanding the issue is the first step.

TYPES OF ABUSE

  • NEGLECT: Neglecting or refusing to provide adequate food, clothing, shelter, emotional nurturing, health care, or adequate supervision in relation to a child’s age and level of development; knowingly leaving a child alone with a caregiver that is not related by blood or marriage to the child, and who is a registered sex offender; or abandoning a child.
  • PHYSICAL: Causing or threatening to cause a non-accidental physical or mental injury or having a child present during the manufacture or attempted manufacture of a controlled substance or during the unlawful sale of such substance.
  • EMOTIONAL: A pattern of verbal assaults towards a child and/or a pattern of ignoring and indifferent behavior towards a child; or constant family conflict.
  • SEXUAL: Committing or allowing to be committed any illegal sexual act, including incest, rape, indecent exposure, prostitution, or allowing a child to be used in any sexually explicit visual material.
  • BULLYING: Unwanted, aggressive behavior of a peer towards another child that involves a real or perceived power imbalance. The behavior is repeated, or has the potential to be repeated, over time.

Parents and guardians have a fundamental right to raise their children, and the YMCA and the community presume that parents will act in their children’s best interests. When parents and guardians do not protect their children from harm and put them at risk of abuse or neglect, the YMCA and the community have a right and a responsibility to intervene to protect the health and welfare of children.

ABUSE WARNING SIGNS

  • Fear of parents, other adults or others peers; fear of going to a certain place
  • Withdrawal, depression, anxiety, phobias, sleep disorders/problems
  • Emotional and behavior extremes, including acting out or aggression toward peers, pets, other animals
  • Immaturity or delays in development
  • Poor peer relationships
  • Poor self-image and self-care, lack of confidence
  • Sudden absenteeism, decline in school performance
  • Self-destructive behavior or attitudes, including suicidal thoughts, substance abuse, running away, recklessness
  • Unexplainable/unidentifiable illnesses

INTERNET SAFETY

Children and adolescents are naturally curious about sex. Adolescents questioning their sexuality are even more at risk, as they may go online with the intent of finding support and companionship. By acting as guides, predators can exploit this curiosity or vulnerability and gradually lure children into sexual activity. To prevent abuse via the internet:

  • Set limits before allowing your child to go online anywhere
  • Keep computers in a high traffic area of your home
  • View your child’s browsing history by pushing CTRL+SHIFT+H to see history or look for the History tab to Show All History
  • Set parental and safe search controls on all electronics
  • Review cell phone records for unknown numbers and late night calls/ texts
  • Become knowledgeable of which social networks, apps, instant messaging, e-mail, gaming, blogging and webcams your child is using and who your child communicates with via these portals

To learn more about these topics check out these resources: