Sunday, September 18, 2011

CHILD MALTREATMENT FATALITY RISK FACTORS


This is way off topic for my blog, but it is what I think about everyday at work.  The rate at which children are dying at the hands of family members in this country is shameful and so unbelievable sad. The BBC just did a special about it here: BBC Special Report [http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-15288865].  

So I thought I would share a guide I developed.   This isn't a pleasant topic, I know, but it is an important one. 

Below are some risk factors associated with higher rates of child deaths from abuse or neglect.  These were drawn from a survey of literature regarding child maltreatment fatalities.    The link above is to the report itself, which you should read.  The points below summarizes some of the information the report contains.  All credit goes to the Academy for Professional Excellence who put out the report. Who knows, blogging this might raise someone's red flag some day and lead to a timely report for a child at risk, or encourage a struggling parent to ask for help. 

 If any parents out there are worried about themselves and their children,  and see these attributes as fitting their own circumstances, please seek the support and assistance you need right away. There are a lot of good folks and organizations who are ready to help. See the list of resources below.

(Note to others: Please don't report a family based only on the fact they have some of these attributes.  That would be wrong and maybe even harmful.  Reports, generally speaking, should be bases on a reasonable suspicion that a caregiver's actions or inactions have, or could have significantly harmed a child.)

RISK FACTORS:

Child Attributes:
-         There is a new born infant in the home
-          A child is under three-years-old (children 3 and under account for over 75% of all fatalities.)
-         A child has medical, behavioral, or developmental problems
-         A child is ill or handicapped
-         A child was born premature
-         An infant has colic
-         A child is hostile, aggressive or excessively fussy
-         A child has disturbed or unusual behaviors
-         A child has a recent history of vomiting, reoccurring medical concerns or multiple hospitalizations

Family Attributes:
-         There are two or more children under 3 years old
-         Family lacks suitable child care availability
-         Family is financially poor
-         Children have different biological fathers
-         Unrelated adults are living in the home
-         Family has a history of severe or repeated instances of maltreatment
-         There are multiple father figures in and out of the home
-         The family has frequent moves

Caregiver Attributes:
-         Lives near or below the poverty line
-         Has a low education level (no high school diploma0
-         Has poor stress coping abilities
-         Has a history of abuse as a child
-         Has had his/her parental rights terminated in the past
-         Is a victim or perpetrator of domestic violence
-         Has a history of violence or criminality
-         Has a problem with substance abuse
-          Has a deficit of skills related to parenting (including ineffective or inconsistent discipline)
-         Has unrealistic expectations about children’s behavior and capabilities
-         Lacks emotional attachment to the child
-         Has mental health problems (e.g. depression)
-         Is socially isolated, without a healthy support system
-         Is a teenage mother, particularly for the second or subsequent child
-         Is a mother who never pursued prenatal care

http://theacademy.sdsu.edu/programs/SACHS/literature/SACHS-Child%20Fatalities%20Literature%20Review-Feb%202010.pdf




NATIONAL RESOURCES: 


Childhelp USA®
National Child Abuse Hotline
1-800-4-A-CHILD
24 Hours a Day

Child Abuse National Hotline
1-800-252-2873, 1-800-25ABUSE

National Youth Crisis Hotline
National Youth Development
1-800-HIT-HOME (1-800-448-4663)

National Runaway Switchboard
This hot-line is a referral service for youths in personal crisis.
1-800-621-4000

State-by-State Listings:

StateOrganizationPhone
AlabamaDept. of Human Resources334 242-9500
Alaska24-hr hotline:800 478-4444
ArizonaPhoenix hotline:800 541-5781
ArkansasDept. of Human Services800 482-5964
CaliforniaDept. of Social Services Office of Child Protective Services916 445-2771
ColoradoDenver County: 24 hr. hotline303 727-3000
ConnecticutReporting 24 hrs:800 842-2599
DelawareReporting 24 hrs in-state:800 292-9582
District of ColumbiaReport child abuse
Report child neglect
202 576-6762
202 727-0995
FloridaAbuse Registry800 962-2873
GeorgiaDept. of Human Resources Child Protective and Placement Services Unit:404 657-3408
HawaiiDept. of Human Services 24hr hotline:808 832-5300
IdahoFor information and referral to regional office:208 334-0808
IllinoisIn-State Parents under stress and Reporting 24 hrs:800 252-2873
IndianaReporting:800 562-2407
IowaIn-state hotline:800 362-2178
KansasReporting 24 hr hotline:800 922-5330
KentuckyLocal Dept. for Social Services or statewide hotline:800 752-6200
Louisiana24 hr hotline:504 925-4571
MaineReporting 24 hrs:800 452-1999
MarylandCounty office of Dept. of Human Resources: Child Protective Services.Click here for Phone Listings
Massachusetts24 hr hotline:800 792-5200
Michigan24 hr. hotline:800 942-4357
MinnesotaCounty office of Dept. of Social Services.Click here for Phone Listings
Mississippi24 hr hotline:800 222-8000
MissouriReporting:800 392-3738
Montana24 hr. hotline:800 332-6100
NebraskaReporting 24 hrs:800 471-5128
Nevada24 hr. hotline:800 992-5757
New YorkReporting 24 hrs:800 342-3720
New Mexico24 hr. hotline:800 432-2075
New Jersey24 hr. hotline:877 652-2873
New HampshireIn-state hotline:800 894-5533
North DakotaReporting: County Social Services or:701 328-4806
North Carolina24 hr. hotline:800 662-7030
OhioDept. of Human Services Child Protective614 466-0995
Oklahoma24 hr. hotline:800 522-3511
OregonDept. of Human Resources Childrens' Services Division503 945-5651
Pennsylvania24 hr. hotline in-state:800 932-0313
Puerto Rico24 hr. hotline:800 981-8333
Rhode Island24 hr. hotline:800 742-4453
South CarolinaDept. of Social Services Division of Child Protective and Preventive Services803 734-5670
South DakotaChild Protective Services605 773-3227
TennesseeDept. of Human Services Child Protective Services615 313-4746
Texas24 hr. hotline:800 252-5400
Utah24 hr. hotline:800 678-9399
VermontDept. of Social and Rehabilitation Services802 241-2131
Virginia24 hr. in state hotline:800 552-7096
Washington24 hr. hotline:800 562-5624
West Virginia24 hr. hotline:800 352-6513
WisconsinDept. of Health and Social Services608 266-3036
WyomingIn-State Reporting:307 777-7922


Child Abuse: Just One Story
Child Abuse Introduction   |   Signs of Child Abuse
Child Abuse Statistics   |   It's Under Reported
Effects of Child Abuse on Children: Abuse General
Effects of Child Abuse on Children: Child Sexual Abuse
Injuries to Children: Physical and Sexual Abuse
Effects of Child Abuse on Adults: Childhood Abuse
Effects of Child Abuse on Adults: Childhood Sexual Abuse
Definition of Physical Abuse   |   Signs of Physical Abuse
Definition of Sexual Abuse   |   Signs of Sexual Abuse
Definition of Child Neglect   |   Signs of Child Neglect
Definition of Emotional Abuse   |   Signs of Emotional Abuse
Abusers   |   Pedophiles
Child Physical Abuse and Corporal Punishment
Treatment for Child Abuse
Costs to Society
Conclusions
References
State Child Abuse Laws
Nationwide Crisis Line and Hotline Directory
National Non-Governmental Organizations and Links
U.S. Government Organizations and Links

No comments:

Post a Comment

Please feel free to comment or make suggestions

Counter