| Child abuse is a major problem in our society and it | | | | children who are abused or die in foster care. There |
| assuredly contributes to other social problems such | | | | are also families that are torn apart because |
| as crime. Children are the most vulnerable members | | | | authorities have made a mistake about what is going |
| of our society because they are absolutely | | | | on. The government is no substitute for caring |
| dependent on adults for their well-being. Yet many | | | | parents, but it is the best alternative we have. |
| adults, whether parents, other family members, | | | | Unfortunately, child abuse can become cyclical in |
| teachers, neighbors, etc., betray that trust. Child | | | | families--an abused child grows up to be an abusive |
| abuse takes many forms: physical, psychological, and | | | | parent. However, it is also possible for people to |
| spiritual. Another form of child abuse is neglect, which | | | | overcome the effects of child abuse. Sometimes a |
| involves failing to care for the child adequately--failing | | | | caring teacher can make a difference or if the person |
| to provide adequate food, shelter, water, medical | | | | goes to a good counselor and gets needed help. |
| care, or for other physical needs of the child. Because | | | | Despite the seriousness of physical child abuse, |
| it is easier to identify, most laws tend to deal with | | | | non-physical forms of child abuse such as emotional |
| physical child abuse. Typically, when an action by an | | | | abuse and spiritual abuse, are more devastating in the |
| adult leaves a mark on a child, that is defined as child | | | | long run. Because of their lack of experience, children |
| abuse. When other adults see such marks, they are | | | | don't know that what is happening is wrong. When |
| morally obligated to contact the authorities; teachers | | | | an adult tells them they are stupid or worthless, they |
| and other school officials are mandated by law to call | | | | believe that adult and the psychological results of |
| the authorities on child abuse. Another major problem | | | | believing this sort of message will last well into |
| with the whole issue of child abuse is that there is no | | | | adulthood. A major problem is that family dynamics |
| guarantee that government workers can do a better | | | | are complex. There is no way to make a hard and |
| job of childcare than can a family. The majority of | | | | fast rule about what emotional abuse consists of. For |
| social workers and foster families who deal with | | | | example, we might say that name-calling is emotional |
| children want to do a good job, however, they are | | | | abuse--but a family member can use a bad name in a |
| often poorly paid and have too many children to | | | | joking, non-hurtful way while another person could |
| keep track of. Also, it is impossible to require social | | | | say a nice name in a nasty way. It is for this reason |
| workers and foster care families to have the wisdom | | | | that non-physical forms of child abuse are much more |
| to discern the more subtle aspects of what is going | | | | difficult to challenge and prove in a court of law. |
| on in a family. Finally, there are social workers who | | | | For a deeper look into the mechanics of Child Abuse |
| are burned out and foster parents who are in the job | | | | - with pointers on what to look out for, please visit |
| for the wrong reasons. The result is that there are | | | | the VideoJug Website today. |