The system’s guidelines for recognizing indicators of abuse and neglect:

Physical Abuse: Any act which results in non-accidental injury.

  • INDICATORS:
    •

  • Abrasions

  • Bruises

  • Fractures
  • Lacerations
  • Bites
  • Burns
  • Head Injuries

Neglect: Neglectful treatment or maltreatment of a child by parents or caregiver under circumstances indicating harm or threatening harm to the child's health or welfare.

Severe Neglect: Failure of parent or caregiver to protect a child from severe malnutrition or a medically diagnosed failure to thrive. Failure to provide adequate food, clothing or medical care.

General Neglect indicators: (These are actually signs of POVERTY and this family needs HELP, not crucifixion by CPS)

  • Child appears malnourished
  • Child often dirty or inadequately dressed
  • Child often sleepy or hungry
  • Evidence of poor supervision
  • Lacking medical and dental care

Sexual Abuse: Any activity between an adult, or older child, and a child which results in sexual arousal or satisfaction of the adult or older child.

INDICATORS: (Obviously, several of these “indicators” are incredible)

  • Age inappropriate sexual behavior
  • Disclosure
  • Eating disorders
  • Injury/trauma unusual for age
  • Sexually transmitted disease
  • Stained/soiled/bloody underclothing
  • Compulsive masturbation
  • Drastic behavior changes
  • Enuresis/encopresis
  • Pregnancy
  • Sleeping disorders

Emotional Abuse: Completely subjective and anything anybody wants it to be.

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