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.
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
IN NEW JERSEY: http://www.state.nj.us/dcf/index.shtml
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:
| State | Organization | Phone |
|---|---|---|
| Alabama | Dept. of Human Resources | 334 242-9500 |
| Alaska | 24-hr hotline: | 800 478-4444 |
| Arizona | Phoenix hotline: | 800 541-5781 |
| Arkansas | Dept. of Human Services | 800 482-5964 |
| California | Dept. of Social Services Office of Child Protective Services | 916 445-2771 |
| Colorado | Denver County: 24 hr. hotline | 303 727-3000 |
| Connecticut | Reporting 24 hrs: | 800 842-2599 |
| Delaware | Reporting 24 hrs in-state: | 800 292-9582 |
| District of Columbia | Report child abuse Report child neglect | 202 576-6762 202 727-0995 |
| Florida | Abuse Registry | 800 962-2873 |
| Georgia | Dept. of Human Resources Child Protective and Placement Services Unit: | 404 657-3408 |
| Hawaii | Dept. of Human Services 24hr hotline: | 808 832-5300 |
| Idaho | For information and referral to regional office: | 208 334-0808 |
| Illinois | In-State Parents under stress and Reporting 24 hrs: | 800 252-2873 |
| Indiana | Reporting: | 800 562-2407 |
| Iowa | In-state hotline: | 800 362-2178 |
| Kansas | Reporting 24 hr hotline: | 800 922-5330 |
| Kentucky | Local Dept. for Social Services or statewide hotline: | 800 752-6200 |
| Louisiana | 24 hr hotline: | 504 925-4571 |
| Maine | Reporting 24 hrs: | 800 452-1999 |
| Maryland | County office of Dept. of Human Resources: Child Protective Services. | Click here for Phone Listings |
| Massachusetts | 24 hr hotline: | 800 792-5200 |
| Michigan | 24 hr. hotline: | 800 942-4357 |
| Minnesota | County office of Dept. of Social Services. | Click here for Phone Listings |
| Mississippi | 24 hr hotline: | 800 222-8000 |
| Missouri | Reporting: | 800 392-3738 |
| Montana | 24 hr. hotline: | 800 332-6100 |
| Nebraska | Reporting 24 hrs: | 800 471-5128 |
| Nevada | 24 hr. hotline: | 800 992-5757 |
| New York | Reporting 24 hrs: | 800 342-3720 |
| New Mexico | 24 hr. hotline: | 800 432-2075 |
| New Jersey | 24 hr. hotline: | 877 652-2873 |
| New Hampshire | In-state hotline: | 800 894-5533 |
| North Dakota | Reporting: County Social Services or: | 701 328-4806 |
| North Carolina | 24 hr. hotline: | 800 662-7030 |
| Ohio | Dept. of Human Services Child Protective | 614 466-0995 |
| Oklahoma | 24 hr. hotline: | 800 522-3511 |
| Oregon | Dept. of Human Resources Childrens' Services Division | 503 945-5651 |
| Pennsylvania | 24 hr. hotline in-state: | 800 932-0313 |
| Puerto Rico | 24 hr. hotline: | 800 981-8333 |
| Rhode Island | 24 hr. hotline: | 800 742-4453 |
| South Carolina | Dept. of Social Services Division of Child Protective and Preventive Services | 803 734-5670 |
| South Dakota | Child Protective Services | 605 773-3227 |
| Tennessee | Dept. of Human Services Child Protective Services | 615 313-4746 |
| Texas | 24 hr. hotline: | 800 252-5400 |
| Utah | 24 hr. hotline: | 800 678-9399 |
| Vermont | Dept. of Social and Rehabilitation Services | 802 241-2131 |
| Virginia | 24 hr. in state hotline: | 800 552-7096 |
| Washington | 24 hr. hotline: | 800 562-5624 |
| West Virginia | 24 hr. hotline: | 800 352-6513 |
| Wisconsin | Dept. of Health and Social Services | 608 266-3036 |
| Wyoming | In-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
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