279 2 9 Chapter 11 Promoting Children’s Safety
parenthood, isolation from others,
and teen parenthood are other
factors. Violence between parents
can also lead to abuse of their child.
As a child care professional, you
are very concerned about the health
and safety of the children in your
care. You do everything you can to
see that the center is a safe place for
them to be. However, the children are
not in your care all the time. When
they are away from the center, some
children are abused. Because you are
with the children for several hours
a day, you may be the one to notice
signs that a child is being abused or
neglected. State law requires you to
report known or suspected cases of
child abuse. Follow your center’s
procedures for reporting.
Studies show that abused
children often become troubled
adults. Abused and neglected
children are more likely to drop
out of school, be unemployed, and
commit violent crimes. When they
are parents, they are also at high
risk for becoming child abusers.
There are four types of child
abuse: nonaccidental physical
injury, neglect, emotional abuse,
and sexual abuse. Be aware of the
signs of each type of abuse.
Nonaccidental Physical
Injury
The most visible type of child
abuse is p nonaccidental p hysical y
injury, j y 11-8. This is physical abuse
infl on purpose. Children being flicted
abused in this way often come to
school with bruises, bites, burns,
or other injuries. They may have
frequent complaints of pain.
Physically abused children
often refuse to discuss their injuries.
This may be because their abusers
threaten them with further harm if
they tell someone. Other children
may talk about harsh punishment
they have received.
Often these children come to
the center wearing clothing to hide
their injuries. Their clothing may be
unsuitable for the weather.
a case worker or Interview
social worker from your state’s s
Depar rt ment of Children and Family D
Services about o child abuse. (Some states Se rvic es
may have a different d title for the agency
responsible for o child abuse reports and
child welfare.) Ask the offi cial how child
abuse cases are handled, what strategies
are used to investigate n abuse claims, and
what happens to children in this situation.
Ask the officia al to share some cases to
give you an increased n awareness of the
impact of this s problem.
Workplace Connections Workplace Connections
Signs of Possible
Physical Abuse
Child has unexplained or repeated injuries (bruises, bites,
cuts, burns, fractures)t
Child and parent provide p illogical or conflictingfl
explanations for injuries
Child complains fre eq uently of pain
Child lacks ability t to give or seek affection
Child avoids giving g or receiving affection
Child displays fear r of adults, including parents
Child wears clothin ng that can hide injuries, even when
unsuitable for the e weather
Child can be withdrawn d or aggressive
Child appears anxious about routine activities such as
toileting, eating, and sleeping
11-8
These Th es e signs si gn s may ma y indicate in di ca te a a c c hild hi ld i i s s being be in g T T
physically abused. p