Frequently Asked Questions

Child Abuse is defined as an action against a child, an act of commission. The three types of abuse are: physical, sexual, and emotional/verbal.

• Physical Abuse: A non-accidental injury involving a child as a result of excessive discipline or inappropriate behaviors of a parent including kicking, punching, burning, biting, shaking, or throwing.
• Excessive Discipline: Discipline that results in physical injury that is inconsistent and inappropriate to the age of the child. Also, the caretaker normally loses control during discipline and the punishment is due to unreasonable expectations or demands and is not designed to educate but instill fear in the child.
• Sexual Abuse: The inappropriate use of using a child for sexual gratification. This abuse does not only include sexual intercourse, but can also pertain to the fondling of the child or making the child touch an adult's genitals. Also, the use of children in pornographic films or as prostitution is considered sexual abuse.
• Emotional/Verbal Abuse: This is the hardest type of abuse to define and prove. It includes the lack of praise, nurture, love, and security from a parent or guardian. Usually, emotional abuse occurs with another type of abuse or neglect.

Neglect can be defined as a failure to act on a child's behalf. There are three categories: physical, emotional, and educational.

• Physical Neglect: Failure to meet the basic requirements of a child including supervision, housing, proper nutrition, and medical treatment.
• Emotional Neglect: Failure to provide support and appropriate attention that is necessary for the child's development both psychologically and socially.

Dependency can be defined as the lack of appropriate parenting and nurturing at no fault of the parent or guardian. This includes children who are homeless or destitute. Also, a child can be dependent because of a parent who has a mental or physical condition that prevents them from caring for the child.

A child who has been abused can have physical bruises or marks. But usually, the signs of abuse are not as clear-cut. Other signs of abuse include reluctance to change clothes in front of others, unexplained absences to either school or other activities, alienation from peers, acts hyper or has excessive behavior, complains of pain or injury without any explainable cause, acts out sexually, and has medical needs that are not treated.

Mandated reporters are any person required by law to report suspected child abuse and neglect.

These Persons Include:

• Attorneys / Lawyers
• Clergy
• Counselors / Social Workers
• Daycare Professionals
• Doctors / Hospital Staff
• School Employees

Mandated reporters who fail to report suspected abuse or neglect, can face a possible misdemeanor of the fourth-degree criminal charge and civil damages

To make a report, Monday through Friday between 8 and 4:30, call 419-424-7022 and ask for a children's services intake worker. For after-hours emergencies, call 419-422-2424 ask for a Children Services Worker to be paged.

• Report any suspected abuse or neglect
• Learn nurturing and positive ways to raise your child and influence the children around you
• Become a Foster or Adoptive Parent

Volunteer in an organization dedicated to children and teens

If you need more information about child abuse and neglect, try these sites

• Child Welfare Information Gateway
• Public Children Services Information of Ohio
• Ohio Department of Job and Family Services