|
Child Abuse and Maltreatment
Texas Statutes define "Child"
or "minor" as a person under 18 years of age who is not and has not been
married or who has not had the disabilities of minority removed for general purposes (a
court order is necessary to remove the disabilities of minority).
"Abuse" is defined to include the following acts or
omissions, observable mental and emotional injury; a physical injury or the genuine threat
of substantial harm from physical injury, to include an injury that is inconsistent with
the history or explanation given for the injury (excluding an accident or reasonable
discipline measures); failure to make a reasonable effort to prevent another from causing
substantial harm or injury to the child; sexual conduct; failing to make a reasonable
effort to prevent sexual conduct; compelling or encouraging a child to engage in sexual
conduct; or causing, permitting, encouraging, engaging in, or allowing the photography,
filming or depicting of the child that the person knows or should know is obscene or
pornographic.
"Neglect" is defined as including the following acts or
omissions, leaving a child in a situation which exposes the child to a substantial risk of
harm without arranging for necessary care and with the intent to not return for the child;
placing a child in or failing to remove a child from a situation that is beyond the
child's maturity level or mental ability that results in injury or places the child at a
substantial risk of immediate harm; failing to seek, obtain or follow through with medical
care which results in, or presents a substantial risk of death, disfigurement or injury;
failing to provide a child with necessary food, clothing, or shelter (does not include
failure due to financial inability unless relief services were offered and refused);
placing a child in or failing to remove from a situation which exposes the child to a
substantial risk of sexual conduct; or failing to arrange for necessary care of the child
that has returned home after an absence for any reason, including having run away.
According to the Texas Department of Protective and Regulatory Services for Fiscal Year
1997
there were 112,766 reports of child abuse in Texas
there were 75,728 Investigations of child abuse
There were 22,598 confirmed investigations
And 34,110 Confirmed Victims.
Why child abuse
happens
There is a lack of parenting knowledge. Many
parents know very little about child development and often have unrealistic expectations
regarding their children’s behavior and abilities. This can be particularly true of
very young parents.
- A parent regards a child as special or different. Often one child is singled out as the
target for abuse. Perhaps he/she was the result of an unwanted pregnancy, or reminds the
parent of an adult the parent now dislikes. The child may have a physical or mental
handicap or illness that means extra care or additional stress.
- Parents are socially isolated with no close friends or family to offer emotional support
or to help with the heavy demands of raising a family.
- Parents have unmet emotional needs. Sometimes parents having difficulty relating to
other adults will look toward their children to provide love, understanding or
self-esteem.
- There is a crisis or series of crises such as financial, marital, or employment
problems, a major illness, etc. Children are often victims of problems not necessarily
related to them.
- Parents themselves were abused as children. This maybe the only kind of parenting they
have known and they repeat it with their own children.
- There is a drug or alcohol problem in the home. This limits a parent’s ability to
cope with or care properly for children.
|