Child maltreatment refers to the lack of the quality of care a child should be receiving. Those individuals responsible for child maltreatment are those legally responsible persons who place a child in danger of harm by failure to exercise a minimum degree of parental supervision. Child maltreatment is child abuse. The failure to provide a child with food, clothing, shelter, education or medical care when financially in a position to do so also is maltreatment. Maltreatment can result from the abandonment of a child. Maltreatment can result by not providing adequate supervision of a child. A child can be maltreated if a parent engages in excess use of drugs, alcohol or such other substances that interferes with his or her ability to properly supervise a child.
Signs of Child Abuse or Maltreatment
There are common indicators of child abuse or child maltreatment. Some of these indicators are: /p>
- Destructive behavior by the child
- Passive withdrawal or emotionless behavior by the child
- When the child is in fear of going home due to fear of his or her parents
- A child having frequent injuries or bruises, cuts or burns that the child cannot provide an adequate explanation for
- In addition,scab marks, human bite marks, cigarette burns or impressions on the child’s skin can be further indications of child abuse or child maltreatment
- Injuries to the eyes or both sides of the head of a child
Indicators of Sexual Abuse of a Child:
- Injuries to the genital area
- Difficulty or pain when sitting or walking
- Sexual suggestive inappropriate or promiscuous behavior or verbalization
- Expressing age inappropriate knowledge of sexual activities
Other indicators of maltreatment of a child can include:
- Obvious malnourishment
- Stealing or begging for food
- Lack of personal care involving poor hygiene or torn or dirty clothing
- Untreated need for glasses or other medical attention
- Frequent failure to come to school
- Being late to school
- A child being left unattended or a child is left without supervision
The law office of Schlissel DeCorpo LLP are parents’ advocates and defenders of CPS and ACS investigations can be reached at 516-561-6645, 718-350-2802, 631-319-8262, or 914-998-0082 or by e-mail at info@sdnylaw.com.
