Child Abuse and Child Care

Child Abuse
and Child Care
hile the vast majority of child care is
Making Reports
provided by warm, capable individuals
Child abuse is against the law. Every state has
W
intent on providing a safe, secure, and
mandatory reporting laws that require professionals
healthy place for children, there are occasional
who teach or care for children to report suspected
incidents of child abuse in child care. Child care
abuse. Registered family and group child care
providers also occasionally discover a child who has
providers and all employees of licensed child care
been abused by a parent or other caregiver.
centers are required by lowa law to report suspected
child abuse. Parents, although not mandatory
Listen to Children
reporters, should report any suspected abuse
When a young child spontaneously makes comments
occurring in child care to their local office of the
or statements that relate to possible abuse, it is
Department of Human Services.
important to listen to what the child is saying. Often
Children rely on adults to report suspected abuse. If
such statements are made by the child in a
you know or suspect child abuse or neglect, you have
comfortable setting and usually to parents or other
a social and legal responsibility to report it to your
trusted adults. Listen calmly and respectfully.
local child protection agency. Remember that a
Many children mistakenly believe they deserve the
person who in good faith reports a suspected case of
abuse. If adults show shock, horror, or disbelief, the
child abuse has legal immunity from liability. The
child may withhold information and keep it secret for
source of child abuse information is kept
a long time. Generally, it should be assumed that
confidential, if at all possible.
children, especially preschoolers, do not make up
stories about this topic.
Definitions of Child Abuse
Do not try to force words or images on a child in an
Generally, legal definitions of child abuse include
effort to get more information. Make careful note of
physical abuse, denial of critical care (neglect), or
what the child tells you in his or her own words. As
sexual abuse. The three types of child abuse are
soon as possible, write down what you heard and
defined as follows:
record your observations so that you can report
Physical abuse Any nonaccidental physical injury
things as accurately as possible.
or injury that is inconsistent with the explanation
If you report suspected abuse, you do not need to
given for it suffered by a child as the result of an act
prove that it occurred. A report is a request for an
or omission by the person responsible for the care of
investigation. Child protection workers are trained to
the child. This includes fractures, burns, bruises, welts,
assess abusive situations, identify potential problems,
cuts, and internal injuries. Physical abuse often occurs
and ensure the child’s safety.
in the name of discipline or punishment, and ranges
from a slap of the hand to use of objects such as
straps, belts, kitchen utensils, electrical cords, and pipes.
PM 1810 December 1999

---

Denial of critical care (neglect) The failure on the
is important to understand the basis for changes. Be
part of a person responsible for the care of a child to
observant and try to determine the cause. The
provide for the adequate food, shelter, clothing,
following are possible signs.
emotional support, or other care necessary for the
child’s health and welfare that places the child in a life-
Physical abuse
or health-threatening situation.
• Wariness of adult contact
Sexual abuse The commission of a sexual offense
• Behavioral extremes—aggressiveness or withdrawal
with or to a child through the acts or omissions of the
• Inappropriate or precocious maturity
person responsible for the care of the child. Sexual
• Vacant or frozen stare
offenses include sexual abuse in the first, second, and
• Poor self-concept
third degree, detention in a brothel, lascivious acts,
• Apprehension when other children cry
indecent exposure, indecent contact, incest, sexual
• Indiscriminate seeking of affection
exploitation, assault with intent to commit sexual abuse,
or child prostitution.
Neglect (denial of critical care)
• Fatigue or listlessness
Close observation of a child will generally uncover
• Whispering speech
signals that abuse has occurred. These signals can
• Expressionless face
include physical signs and behavior changes.
Sexual abuse
Physical Signs of Possible Child Abuse
• Frequent touching or fondling of genitals or
Physical abuse
masturbation
• Abrasions, bruises, lacerations, welts
• Burns, scalds
• Inappropriate sexual expression with trusted adults
• Reddening of surface tissue lasting more than 24 hours
• “Clinginess,” fear of separation
• Excessive bathing
Neglect (denial of critical care)
• Reenactment of abuse using dolls, drawings, or
• Underweight appearance, poor growth pattern,
friends
e.g., small in stature, failure to thrive
• Avoidance of certain staff, relatives, or friends
• Consistent hunger, poor hygiene, inappropriate dress
• Neglected appearance
• Consistent lack of supervision, especially in
dangerous activities or for long periods
What to Do
• Unattended physical problems or medical needs
If you think a child may have been abused, call the
• Abandonment
lowa Child Abuse Hotline, 1-800-362-2178, and
• Abdominal distention
cooperate fully with the investigation. If an investi-
gation discloses that your child has been mistreated,
• Bald patches on the scalp
follow through on recommendations for treatment.
Sexual abuse
• Difficulty in walking or sitting
Prepared by Lesia Oesterreich, ISU Extension specialist in
• Torn, stained, or bloody underclothing
human development and family life.
• Pain, swelling, or itching in genital area
File: Family Life 2
• Pain on urination
• Bruises, bleeding, or lacerations in external
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) prohibits discrimination in
genitalia, vaginal, or anal areas
all its programs and activities on the basis of race, color, national origin,
gender, religion, age, disability, political beliefs, sexual orientation, and
• Vaginal/penile discharge
marital or family status. (Not all prohibited bases apply to all programs.)
Many materials can be made available in alternative formats for ADA
clients. To file a complaint of discrimination, write USDA, Office of Civil
Possible Behavioral Changes
Rights, Room 326-W, Whitten Building, 14th and Independence Avenue,
SW, Washington, DC 20250-9410, or call 202-720-5964.
Children who have been abused sometimes show
Issued in furtherance of Cooperative Extension work, Acts of May 8 and
changes in their attitudes or behaviors. However,
June 30, 1914, in cooperation with the U.S. Department of Agriculture.
Stanley R. Johnson, director, Cooperative Extension Service, Iowa State
changes in behavior can be caused by other factors. It
University of Science and Technology, Ames, Iowa.

---