The following working definitions are derived from the legal definitions in the state laws. The language has been simplified in order to increase knowledge and understanding of the Law.
Any behavior that results in the touching of the sexual or other intimate parts of a child for the purpose of sexual gratification of the child and/or adult. It includes touching by the child and/or adult without or with clothing. Often, the sexual abuse occurs over time and may not be painful or cause physical injury to the child. The adult gets the child to participate by using rewards, threats, bribes and lying, and takes advantage of the child’s trust. This type of coercion by an adult, whom the child often loves, can result in long-term emotional trauma that can last into adulthood.
Working Definition:
Sexual abuse occurs when a parent (or person legally responsible) commits or allows to be committed, a sexual act with a child:
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Physical Abuse:
Physical abuse occurs when a parent (or person legally responsible) commits a physical act (i.e. punching, beating, shaking, throwing, kicking, biting, burning) that causes serious physical injury to a child. Serious physical harm is more than scrapes, bumps, or bruises, but is injury that causes serious disfigurement, protracted impairment of health, loss or impairment of a bodily function or organ, or creates a substantial risk of death.
Working Definition:
Physical abuse occurs when a parent (or person legally responsible) inflicts or allows to be inflicted a serious physical injury. These are limited to:
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Neglect:
Different kinds of neglect may result from things that a parent/caretaker does, as well as things that a parent/caretaker doesn’t do.
- Things that a parent does: Neglect occurs when a parent/caretaker does something to the child that results in physical, mental, or emotional harm; when a parent causes physical injuries which are harmful to the child, but are not as medically serious as those that would meet the definition of physical abuse; and when a parent misuses drugs or alcohol in a way that harms the child physically or emotionally.
- Things that a parent doesn’t do: Neglect occurs when a child is harmed physically, mentally or emotionally because a parent/caretaker fails to provide a minimal level of care for the child’s basic needs. Poverty, however, is not the same as neglect.
Working Definition:
Neglect occurs when a parent (or person legally responsible) fails to provide a minimum level of care by doing something that inflicts harm, allows harm to be inflicted, or creates an imminent danger of harm. It may involve allegations related to domestic violence, lack of supervision, parental drug or alcohol misuse, lacerations/bruises/welts, educational neglect, lack of medical care, as well as additional allegations. Neglect is overwhelmingly more prevalent than physical or sexual abuse of a child.
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