CULLMAN, Ala. – Cullman Mayor Woody Jacobs on Wednesday, March 22, proclaimed April Child Abuse Prevention and Awareness Month in the city of Cullman. The proclamation was presented to Cullman Caring for Kids (CCK) Executive Director Steven Sutter and Senior Director Javon Daniel. CCK is a local nonprofit whose mission is to see that “no child will ever be abused, no child will go to bed hungry, no infants will ever be shaken in anger, and the cycle of abuse will be stopped.”
“We are thankful for all that Cullman Caring for Kids does to bring awareness to the issue of child abuse and neglect,” said Jacobs. “We also appreciate the work they do, along with other local agencies, to help families in crisis.”
What is child abuse and neglect?
Alabama law defines child abuse and neglect (also referred to as child maltreatment) as follows:
- Child abuse: “…harm or threatened harm to a child’s health or welfare which can occur through nonaccidental physical or mental injury, sexual abuse or attempted sexual abuse, sexual exploitation or attempted sexual exploitation.”
- Child neglect: “…negligent treatment or maltreatment of a child, including the failure to provide adequate food, medical treatment, clothing or shelter.”
The Child Abuse Prevention and Treatment Act (CAPTA) defines child abuse and neglect as “any recent act or failure to act on the part of the parent or caretaker which results in death, serious physical or emotional harm, sexual abuse or exploitation … or an act or failure to act which presents an imminent risk of serious harm.” More specifically, definitions include (from www.childwelfare.gov):
- Physical abuse: Nonaccidental physical injury to a child caused by a parent or caregiver including punching, beating, kicking, biting, shaking, throwing, stabbing, choking, hitting, burning or otherwise causing physical harm
- Neglect: Failure of a parent or caregiver to provide for basic needs such as food or shelter, medical treatment, education needs, or emotional needs
- Sexual abuse: Activities by a parent or caregiver such as fondling a child’s genitals, penetration, incest, rape, sodomy, indecent exposure or exploitation through prostitution or production of pornographic materials
- Emotional (psychological) abuse: Pattern of behavior that impairs a child’s emotional development or sense of self-worth. This can include constant criticism, threats, rejection or the withholding of love, support or guidance.
- Abandonment: A child is considered abandoned when the parent’s identity or whereabouts are unknown, the child has been left alone in circumstances where the child suffers serious harm, the child has been deserted with no regard for his or her health or safety or the parent has failed to maintain contact with the child or provide reasonable support for a specified period of time.
- Parental substance use: Related circumstances include exposing a child to harm prenatally due to the mother’s use of legal or illegal drugs or other substances; manufacturing methamphetamine in the presence of a child; selling, distributing or giving illegal drugs or alcohol to a child; or using a controlled substance that impairs the caregiver’s ability to adequately care for the child
- Human trafficking: Recruiting, harboring, transporting, providing or obtaining someone for a commercial sex act such as prostitution, pornography or stripping
How many children are maltreated each year?
The Children’s Bureau (CB) – an Office of the Administration for Children & Families (ACYF) administered by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) – reports that in FFY 2021:
- 588,229 children were maltreated (estimated total, to include missing data from one non-reporting state, is 600,000)
- 1,820 children died due to maltreatment
Of those cases:
- 76% involved neglect
- 16% involved physical abuse
- 10.1% involved sexual abuse
- 0.2% involved sex trafficking
Data also shows:
- Children 2 years of age and younger have the highest victimization rate, with 15.1% of all victims being 1 year of age or younger
- Girls (52.2%) have higher rates of maltreatment than boys (47.5%)
- 42.8% of victims are White, 24.0% are Hispanic and 21.5% are African American
- American Indian or Alaska Native children have the highest rate of victimization at 15.2 per 1,000 children of the same race/nationality. African American children have the second highest rate at 13.1 per 1,000 children of the same race/nationality.
In Alabama, the Department of Public Health lists child abuse and neglect as the no. 9 health concern. Rates have been increasing in recent years. In 2021, there were 26,116 cases of child abuse or neglect investigated in Alabama. However, many cases are never reported.
How do I know if a child is being maltreated?
Signs that a child may be being abused or neglected may include:
General maltreatment
- Exhibiting a sudden change in behavior or school performance
- Having difficulty concentrating not attributed to physical or psychological causes
- Lacking adult supervision
- Being watchful, as though preparing for something bad to happen
- Being overly compliant, passive or withdrawn
- Seeming reluctant to be around a particular person
- Coming to school or other activities early, staying late and not wanting to go home
- Telling someone he/she is being maltreated
Physical abuse
- Having unexplained injuries (burns, bites, bruises, broken bones, black eyes, etc.)
- Having fading bruises or other noticeable marks after an absence from school
- Seeming scared, anxious, depressed, withdrawn or aggressive
- Seeming frightened of parents and protesting or crying when it’s time to go home
- Showing changes in eating and sleeping habits
- Abusing animals or pets
- Shrinking at the approach of adults
- Reporting injuries by a parent or other adult caregiver
Neglect
- Being frequently absent from school
- Begging or stealing food or money
- Being consistently dirty or having severe body odor
- Not receiving help for known physical or medical problems or lacking medical care (i.e.: immunizations, dental care, glasses, etc.)
- Lacking sufficient clothing for the weather
- Abusing alcohol or other drugs
- Stating that there is no one at home to provide care
Sexual abuse
- Having difficulty walking or sitting
- Experiencing bleeding, bruising or swelling in the genitals
- Suddenly refusing to go to school
- Reporting nighttime bedwetting
- Experiencing a sudden change in appetite
- Demonstrating bizarre, sophisticated, or unusual sexual knowledge or behavior
- Becoming pregnant or contracting a sexually transmitted disease (especially if younger than 14)
- Running away from home
- Attaching very quickly to strangers or new adults
- Reporting sexual abuse by a parent or another adult caregiver
Emotional abuse
- Showing extremes in behavior (overly compliant or demanding, extremely passive or aggressive, etc.)
- Being either inappropriately adult (parenting other children, etc.) or inappropriately infantile (rocking, head-banging, etc.)
- Exhibiting delays in physical or emotional development
- Showing signs of depression or suicidal thoughts
- Reporting an inability to develop emotional bonds with others
Signs that a parent or caregiver may be abusive or neglectful include:
- Showing little concern for, or indifference towards, the child and refusing to consider offers of help for the child’s problems
- Denying the existence of problems at school or home, or blaming the child for those problems
- Asking teachers or caregivers to use harsh physical discipline if the child misbehaves
- Seeing the child as entirely bad, worthless or burdensome
- Demanding a level of physical or academic performance the child cannot achieve
- Looking primarily to the child for care, attention and satisfaction of emotional needs
- Constantly blaming, belittling, or berating the child
- Overtly rejecting the child
- Seeming apathetic or depressed
- Behaving irrationally or in a bizarre manner
- Abusing alcohol or other drugs
- Being unduly protective of the child or severely limiting the child’s contact with other children, especially if the child is of the opposite sex
- Being secretive and isolated
- Being jealous or controlling with family members
How do I report suspected child abuse or neglect?
If you suspect a child is being harmed, reporting your suspicions may protect the child and get help for the family. If you suspect a child is being maltreated, contact your local Department of Human Resources or law enforcement agency. In Cullman County those numbers include:
- Cullman County DHR (256-737-5300)
- Cullman Police Department (256-734-1434)
- Cullman County Sheriff’s Office (256-775-4700)
- Hanceville Police Department (256-352-9811)
What can be done to prevent child maltreatment?
The Childhelp Alabama Hotline – 𝟭-𝟴𝟬𝟬-𝟰𝗔𝗖𝗛𝗜𝗟𝗗 (𝟭-𝟴𝟬𝟬-𝟰𝟮𝟮-𝟰𝟰𝟱𝟯) – is staffed with professional crisis counselors with access to a huge database of emergency, social service and support resources. They are available 24 hours a day, seven days a week, to children who are confused, parents who are in despair and need help and adults (including mandatory reports) who are uncertain about the next best step when faced with questions related to child maltreatment. All calls to this hotline are anonymous.
Supportive communities can help build strong families which, in turn, can help lower the risk of child abuse and neglect. In Cullman we help build strong families by providing or supporting:
- Parks and recreational facilities that are safe, accessible and inviting places for families
- Resources to help families in need access food, jobs, medical care and other resources
- Early education programs that are easily accessible and welcoming
- Safe, affordable housing available to all families
- Clean air and water
And the main thing that everyone can do – and the true purpose of Child Abuse Prevention and Awareness Month – is to help parents obtain the knowledge, skills and resources they need to properly love and care for their children.
“Cullman is fortunate to have people and organizations who help children and families dealing with abuse and neglect,” said Jacobs. “Cullman Caring for Kids, Brooks’ Place – Child Advocacy Center of Cullman, AL, Inc., Cullman County CASA, DHR and others provide these services in Cullman and throughout Cullman County, and we appreciate them all!”
For more information on these agencies, you can visit:
Cullman Caring for Kids: www.cullmancaringforkids.com
Child Advocacy Center (Brooks’ Place): www.cullmancac.com
Cullman County CASA: www.cullmancaringforkids.com/casa.html
Cullman County DHR: https://dhr.alabama.gov
For more information about National Child Abuse Awareness Month visit www.childwelfare.gov/topics/preventing/preventionmonth.
