Centers for Disease Control and Prevention report that children who are abused or neglected often suffer both temporary and long-term physical and emotional harm; childhood maltreatment is associated with depression, suicide, alcoholism, criminal behavior and future abuse as an adult. According to the Indiana Department of Child Services, the child abuse and neglect rate has nearly doubled in the past 10 years. In 2017, the Indiana Child Abuse and Neglect Hotline handled more than 244,000 calls and there were just under 34,000 substantiated assessments of child abuse or neglect in the state.
Individuals who have contact with children as part of their jobs (teachers, police officers, lawyers and social services staff) are the most likely to report alleged child abuse or neglect, followed by friends, relatives and neighbors who submit reports. During this presentation by Prevent Child Abuse Indiana, you will learn:
- the four types of child maltreatment;
- to better understand both behavioral and physical indicators of child maltreatment;
- Indiana’s mandatory reporting responsibilities; and
- abuse and neglect prevention strategies.