Child Abuse & Neglect - Recognizing Signs and Symptoms

By the time you’re finished reading this article, you should be able to:

• Identify and define the four major types of maltreatment
• Discuss how and why state laws may differ from Federal law and how this ultimately affects children and their caregivers
• Examine and reflect upon the larger costs of abuse for children, families, and society at large
• Provide examples of how and why social services may not be able to react to abuse — even when there’s legitimate concern
• Give specific signs and symptoms of the different types of abuse
• Name the organizations that can assist those who suspect child abuse and describe their main purpose
• State which organization you’re expected to call if you suspect abuse
• Understand the general characteristics and stressors of families and parents that may engage in child abuse
• Talk about the education and skills that caseworkers need in order to follow-up and investigate claims