Essay - Child Abuse I. Introduction Child Abuse Is One of the...

CHILD ABUSE

I. INTRODUCTION

Child abuse is one of the most dangerous and serious problems confronting society, perhaps because of ***** helplessness and innocence of the victims. What is particularly bothersome about child ***** is that it occurs in all income, racial, religious, and ethnic groups and in urban and rural communities. Likewise, there is no uniform definition of what constitutes child abuse, making it difficult to ascertain ***** prevention ***** treatment methods are most effective. For example, in Sweden, the law prohibits any physical punishment of *****ren, including spanking. By contrast, in some countries of Asia, Africa, and the Caribbean, parents are expected to punish *****ir children by hitting them.

***** paper analyzes and examines the multitude ***** issues related to child abuse. Part II defines child *****. In Part *****I, a his*****ry of ***** abuse is offered. Part IV evaluates why child abuse exists according to control theory and a*****my theory. ***** Part V, how socialization agents such as educational/school systems, family, mass media, and peer groups may intervene to eliminate or reduce the occurrence of child abuse is outlined. Part ********** reviews the consequences for society/social institutions and future generations if child ***** is not eliminated or reduced.

II. DEFINITION OF THE PROBLEM

The primary federal legislation addressing child abuse and neglect is the Child Abuse Prevention ***** Treatment Act (CAPTA) which was origin*****y enacted in 1974 and which has been amended and reauthorized numerous times. One of the key elements of CAPTA ***** ***** it provides federal funding to states in support of assessment, investigation, *****, prosecution, and ***** activities and also ***** grants to nonprofit organizations and public agencies ***** demonstration programs ***** projects. In addition, CAPTA establishes the Office on ***** Abuse and Neglect, identifies ***** federal role in *****ing data collection activities, evaluation, research, and technical assistance, ***** mandates the National Clearinghouse on Child ***** and Neglect *****formation.

CAPTA ***** sets forth a minimum ***** of child *****buse and neglect. Under CAPTA, ***** abuse and neglect is defined as, at a minimum: (1) any recent act or failure to act on the part of a c*****retaker or parent which results in death, serious emotional or physical harm, sexual abuse or exploitation, or (2) an act or failure ***** ***** ***** presents an imminent r*****k of serious harm. There are four major types of maltreatment: physical *****, neglect, sexual abuse, and emotional *****. While State definitions may vary, the following operational ***** provide a reasonable guideline.

Physical abuse is characterized by the infliction of physical injury as a result of punching, be*****ting, kicking, biting, burning, shaking or otherwise harming a child. The c*****retaker or parent may ***** have intended to hurt the child; rather, the injury may have resulted from over-discipline or physical *****.

Child neglect is characterized by failure ***** provide f***** the child's basic needs. Neglect may be physical, educational, or emotional. Physical ***** includes refusal of, or delay in, seeking health care; abandonment; expulsion ***** ***** home or ***** to allow