Child Abuse And Neglect Mother example essay topic

Child Abuse and Neglect Mother got up and strolled over to the kitchen sink. She knelt down, opened the sink cabinet and removed a bottle of ammonia. I didn't understand. She got a tablespoon and poured some ammonia into it.

My brain was too rattled to think. As much as I wanted to, I could not get my numbed brain into gear. With the spoon in her hand, Mother began to creep towards me. As some of the ammonia sloshed from the spoon, spilling onto the floor, I backed away from Mother until my head struck the counter top by the stove. I almost laughed inside. "That's all?

That's it? All she's going to do is have me swallow some of this?" I said to myself. I wasn't afraid. I was too tired.

All I could think was, "Come on, let's go. Let's get it over with". As Mother bent down, she again told me that only speed would save me. I tried to understand her puzzle, but my mind was too cloudy. Without hesitation I opened my mouth, and Mother rammed the cold spoon deep into my throat.

Again I told myself this was all too easy, but a moment later I couldn't breathe. My throat seized. I stood wobbling in front of Mother, feeling as if my eyes Batson 2 were going to pop out of my skull. I fell on the floor, on my hands and knees. "Bubble!" my brain screamed. I pounded the kitchen floor with all my strength, trying to swallow, and trying to concentrate on the bubble of air stuck in my esophagus.

Instantly I became terrified. Tears of panic streamed down my cheeks. After a few seconds, I could feel the force of my pounding fists weaken. My fingernails scraped the floor. My eyes became fixed on the floor. The colors seemed to run together.

I began to feel myself drift away. I knew I was going to die. (Pelzer 74-75). This story is a typical example of some of the things that thousands of children go through daily, abuse and neglect from parents, love-ones, and guardians. In 1994 it was reported that over three million children were abused and neglected in the United States. Of the three million cases an estimated 1,271 children were reported and confirmed by the Child Protective Service (CPS) to have died as a result of abuse and neglect.

Approximately three children died each day as a result of abuse and neglect. (National Committee to Prevent Child Abuse). What causes child abuse and neglect? There are many factors that cause child abuse and neglect. The parent factor states that parents who have been abuse physically, sexually, or emotionally or were neglected, as children will do the same to their children.

Stress plays a major role in the parent factor. Overly stressed parents often take their frustrations out on their children. Alcohol and drug abuse also play a major role in the parent factor. Another factor is the child factor. It states that some children are more vulnerable to abuse or neglect than others from parents or guardians due to their age, size, emotional stability, as well as their social Batson 3 development.

A third factor is the family factor states that the situations that occur in the family can increase the likelihood of child abuse and neglect. That was the case with young Dave from the above passage. Because his mother no longer got the attention she needed from his father she began to take out her anger and frustrations on him. Finally, the environmental factor states abuse and neglect is often caused by a combination of the previous three factors (U.S. Department of Health and Human Resources). When dealing with the issue of child abuse and neglect several questions are often raised: when does disciplining a child turn into child abuse, what happens to these children that survive the abuse and neglect, and is there a solution to stopping child abuse? Whenever the issue of child abuse and neglect is raised, the statement is often made that I have the right to discipline my child however I see fit.

Parents often feel that disciplining their children is a right that they have. My mother would often tell me, "I brought you into this world and I sure will take you out". Now days the government tells the children that if their parent or guardian put their hands on them the children have the right to call the police on the parents. This leads to the question when is it okay and how do I discipline my child? Children should only be disciplined to let them know that their actions or behavior in a certain situation was not acceptable. There are many ways to discipline a child.

One way is to put the child in time out when they have done something wrong. This method often works better with younger children. Another method is to take away something that is valuable to the child. For example, taking away a favorite toy or some type of privilege (e.g. phone calls, television, video games). These Batson 4 are two methods that have proven to be effective in disciplining children.

However, there is one method that is a little more effective, that is spanking the child. A spanking is only given to a child as a last resort to let them know that what they did was wrong and they are not to do it again. So when does spanking become abuse? Spanking becomes abuse when it is no longer used as a disciplining method, but as a way for the parent to vent out or is vital to the health of the child. When a parent begins to use their child as a punching bag or as a way to release anger, then it becomes abuse. When parents starve children because they did not finish their chores fast enough or calls them stupid and dumb, that is abuse.

Child discipline becomes abuse when the situation becomes vital to the health and well being of the child. No child should have to deal with any type of abuse from a parent or guardian, not physically, mentally or emotionally. However, parents and guardians should discipline their children in the right way. When a child is disciplined (in the right way) it teaches them right from wrong and makes them a better person, but knowing how to discipline determines the difference between discipline and abuse.

Different types of abuse have different effects on children later in life. A child that is physically abuse can suffer stunted growth of a limb, becoming handicap and brain damage. According to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, neurological disorders (problems with the neurons in the brain) are evident in children who have suffered physical abuse. It also causes problems with the cognitive functions of the brain. In other words physical abuse can cause sever brain damage in children and cause them not to function properly. When a child is emotionally abuse, (called stupid, dumb, Batson 5 worthless, no good, ect.) it plays a major role on what they do or become later on in life.

These children often grow up to feel that they are worthless and are not loved. Emotionally abuse children grow up to have low self-esteem and very little self worth. These are some of the children that have chronic depression and a high suicide rate. They often feel that they are no good and will never amount to anything. Sexually abused children are both physically and emotionally scared for life. Most of the time the child does not heal properly after the abuse and that affects their ability to reproduce.

Along with the physically pain is the emotional scars that no one will ever truly love me or the only way I can show my love is through sex. The child then feels a since of worthlessness, like used meat. The sexually abused children grow up to be the prostitutes on the street corner, or the customers of the crack houses. Another major effect abuse has on children is it prevents them from being able to develop normal relationship with others. For example, physically abuse children are often aggressive towards others, hyperactive and may wet the bed. They often experience social withdrawal, learning problems, and hyper vigilance to adult cues.

Sexually abused children often have flash backs of being raped and resist sexual contact. They also experience fear anxiety, depression, school problems and delinquency. Finally, some of the abused children grow up to become the abusers. In a case like this the abused child feels that the only way to discipline their child is through implementing the abuse they received as children.

This is called chronological abuse, when abuse and neglect is handed down from generation to Batson 6 generation. Whether a child is physically, emotionally, or sexually abused, the effect plays a major role in their life. Knowing how abuse can affect the lives of children, how do we find a solution to help prevent abuse and neglect from reoccurring? The first step in finding a solution to child abuse and neglect is being able to identify the problem.

Knowing that a child is being physically, emotionally, or sexually abused or neglected is the first step. The second step is to report anything that looks suspicious. Each state has laws that require the community to report any incidences of suspected child abuse or neglect. Professional in the field of medicine, education, mental health, childcare, social services, and law enforcement are required in each state to report any findings.

In some states clergymen (rabbis, priests, and ministers) are required to report any suspected incidences as well. There are certain procedures one must follow when filing a report. Most states require that oral reports be made to the local authorities and require a written report to follow. After the report is made the local CPS of the state receives the report. The report is to contain the name, sex, and address of the victim (s), the nature and extent of their injuries or conditions and the names and addresses of the parents or guardians responsible for the child. A failure to report an abusive situation can result in fines and jail terms or six months or less.

After reporting the situation the agency reviews the written report to make sure that it meet the guidelines and have all the necessary information. Once the report is reviewed the investigation begins. The Child Protection Services agencies along with law enforcement are each responsible for conducting investigations of the child Batson 7 abuse and neglect. After investigating the agencies then does a family assessment.

This is the phase where the child protection begins. Potential candidates are contacted to see who can and will provide the best living condition and situation for the child. Once the family assessment is completed the case is planned. The living conditions are made for the abused child. After all living conditions are made the victim is then treated.

This treatment sometimes includes a counseling, a medical review, and a behavioral assessment. Once the treatment is completed the agency then conducts a "new family evaluation" to ensure the safety and well being of the child. Reporting is a way that we can all make sure that abuse is taken care of. However, there are more positive ways to solving or preventing child abuse and neglect. One way to help prevent child abuse and neglect is to enroll in family counseling. Family counseling is an excellent way for the family to sit down with a counselor and evaluate family problems that may lead to future abuse.

Another great prevention tip could be to take some kind of anger placement class, such as karate or aerobics to help work off the anger. Knowing how to recognize and report abuse can help solve the problems of abuse. Everyday hundreds of thousand of helpless children are being abused physically, emotionally and sexually. Each act of child abuse affects our future, when a child gets hurt we may all suffer the consequences (Pelzer 174).

We must realize that the only cure to child abuse is prevention. That means we must learn how to prevent the factors that leads to child abuse. We should never ignore the signs of child abuse and neglect and say that we never knew. Batson 8 I Never Knew never knew how bad it was; I heard it did exist. I was appalled at this crime, That robbed youth of their "special" time.

I never knew how bad it hurt; The bruises and scars aren't seen. And why somewhere along life's way, the brutality of abuse has made you pay. I never knew how you felt; Your self-esteem so low. I only knew you crept away, And never let your feelings show. I never knew what I could do; That I could help somehow. That all you needed was a friend; Just someone to be your pal.

But now I know that I can help; I can make a difference, too. I'll shout with you, and All the rest can't say, "I never knew". (Pelzer 175). Child abuse and neglect is greatly affecting the lives of young children. It is a dangerous epidemic that seems to be growing by the day. Batson 9 Work Cited Landau, Elaine.

Child Abuse: An American Epidemic. New Jersey: Silver Burdett Press, Inc. 1984 National Committee to Prevent Child Abuse. Child Abuse and Neglect Statistics. April 2003. web Dave.

A Child Called "It". California: Health Communications, Inc. 1995. U.S. Department of Heath and Human Resources. National Clearinghouse on Child Abuse and Neglect Information. April 2003. web and web C. Eugene, Bonner, Barbara L., and Kaufman, Keith L. The Physically and Sexually Abused Child Evaluation and Treatment. New York: Pergamon Books, Inc.

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