RECOGNIZING THE SIGNS OF CHILD ABUSE "Child abuse crosses all economic, racial, and religious lines. It occurs in cities, suburbs, and rural areas, says Peggy Foster, administrative director of the Metro Regional Diagnostic and Treatment Center at Newark Beth Israel Medical Center. During April, National Child Abuse Prevention Month, child advocates and supporters underscore the importance of the public knowing what child abuse is and how to recognize it. Ms. Foster points out that there are actually four categories of child abuse. They include physical abuse, physical neglect, sexual abuse and emotional maltreatment. According to Foster, some of the signs that may indicate that a child has been physically abused is that the child is:
In physical neglect, some of the behaviors and characteristics may include:
A child that has been a victim of sexual abuse may:
Where there is emotional maltreatment, you are likely to see a child that has:
"With therapy there is hope for recovery for children who have suffered from abuse," says Ms. Foster. "By recognizing and treating child abuse, we can hope to break the pattern for the future." If you feel that a child is being abused, call 1 877-652-2873. The call may be made anonymously. The Metro Regional Diagnostic and Treatment Center is located at Newark Beth Israel Medical Center, an affiliate of the Saint Barnabas Health Care System The center is one of only four centers in the state designated to evaluate children medically and psychosocially. Date: March 22, 2006 [ top ] |
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