WHAT IS CHILD ABUSE?

In Alabama, a child is anyone younger than 18. The 4 types of abuse are classified as:

• Emotional abuse
• Neglect
• Physical abuse
• Sexual abuse

Child abuse is a cruel, pain-filled cycle, passed from generation to generation. Parents who abuse were usually abused as children. Experts agree that the most effective way to combat this problem and break the cycle is to stop it before it starts. Studies show that 9 out of 10 child abusers can be helped with professional intervention like counseling and education.

CHILD ABUSE IN JACKSON COUNTY

In FY 2006 there were 324 reports of child abuse (on 477 children) to the Jackson County Department of Human Resources.

After a report of suspected abuse is made to DHR, social workers investigate the report to see what action needs to be taken for the child’s safety. After abuse was substantiated, 53% involved neglect, 21% physical abuse, and 25% sexual abuse (October 2006 - March 2007).

TEEN PREGNANCY AND CHILD ABUSE

Becoming a parent forever changes a teenager’s future. The stress of becoming a parent without wanting to and expecting to, combined with inexperience, immaturity, and lack of parenting skills, result in teenage parents being at high risk for abusing their child.

Approximately 1 out of 7 babies born in Alabama has a teenage mother.

In Jackson County in 2005, 88 babies were born to teen moms.

In 2005 in Alabama, 543 babies died before they were a year old. Since 2003, the infant mortality rate in Alabama for babies born to teen mothers continues to be more than twice the rate of that for babies born to moms in their 20s and 30s.

WHO WOULD ABUSE A CHILD?

All families live under a certain amount of stress and often have problems communicating and getting along with each other. Stress can become severe enough to lead to abuse or neglect of children.

Child abusers are found in all types of families, socio-economic, and racial groups. Parents or other adults who abuse children have many of the following characteristics: (not ranked)

• Impulsiveness (acting without thinking)
• A low frustration level, or “short fuse”
• Immaturity
• Insecurity
• Mental instability
• Depression
• Alcoholism
• Drug addiction
• Hyper-sensitivity
• Social isolation (having no one to turn to for help)
• Having been abused or neglected themselves as children
• Experiencing frequent crises – major or minor
• Feeling unworthy, inadequate, or having unmet emotional needs
• Having little knowledge of “good parenting” skills
• Overwhelmed by the demands of parenting
• Having unrealistic expectations of a child (expecting a child to behave on an adult level)
• Young (teenage parents are more likely to become abusers because of the many frustrations that result from being a parent while they are still growing up themselves)

THE EFFECTS OF CHILD ABUSE

• An abused child does not quickly “get over” the abuse.
• Abused children are at high risk of becoming abusive parents and spouses.
• Everyone pays for child abuse. 90% of all prison inmates were abused as children. So were 75% of teen runaways, and half of all child abusers and prostitutes.
• Abused children often have intense anger that is either turned inward as depression on outward in disruptive behaviors.
• Abused children have problems trusting others that may last for years.
• Abused children find it very hard to establish close friendships.
• Abuse can affect a child’s personal growth and developments for years.

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