Child Abuse Education and Awareness

What comes to mind when you think of childhood? If you're lucky, right now you might be thinking of your favorite game or story as a child, the cookies your mom baked, your best friend at school, or the hopeful, innocent outlook you had on life. However, this is most likely not the case for the thousands of children whose cases are reported to Child Welfare Services in Placer, Nevada, and Washoe Counties. In 2005, the three counties combined reported over 3,000 investigations of child abuse.

Child abuse, as defined by the law, takes many forms that some may not realize. According to Penal Code Section 11165.7,

Child abuse includes:

• physical injury inflicted non-accidentally on a child

• child sexual abuse (both assault and exploitation)

• willful cruelty or unjustified punishment, including mental suffering (emotional abuse)

• corporal punishment or injury resulting in a traumatic condition

• Neglect: "general" or "severe" (Failure to meet a child's emotional, physical, or educational needs.)

There are some common signs of child abuse covering each of these categories that we should be aware of as concerned community members. Physical signs may include bruises, welts, or broken bones, cuts or scrapes, burns, missing hair, etc. The child or parent may explain these injuries as accidents or give conflicting explanations. With neglect, the child may appear dirty or poorly groomed and clothing may be in poor condition or not suited to the weather. Also, the child may have an injury or medical condition that hasn't been properly treated.

Signs of abuse noticeable in the child's behavior may include aggressive or withdrawn behavior, unusual fear (of certain people, going home, etc.), craving for attention, hunger, begging for food, stealing, frequent tardiness or absence from school and unusual knowledge of sex beyond the child's years. Behavioral indicators in an adult who is abusing a child may include: harshly punishing the child in public, refer to the child as "difficult," or "bad," seem unconcerned about the child, and become defensive when asked about the child's health.

The effects of child abuse can last a lifetime. Adults who were abused as children often suffer low self-esteem, as they grew up believing that that they were bad and deserving of abuse. Abuse occurring in childhood also stunts a child's emotional growth. Later in life, the child may be unable to properly express his or her feelings or understand others' feelings. Poor emotional development and lack of trust can also make partner relationships difficult as an adult. If the effects of abuse go untreated, it is not unlikely for the child to grow up to be an adult who repeats the abuse with his or her own child.

There is no "typical" child abuser. They are "ordinary" people in the community that may suffer from low self-esteem, poor control over emotions, and may have been abused themselves as a child. Stress is a major factor in child abuse. Stressors include social isolation, marital problems, financial troubles, illness, lack of parenting skills, and abuse of alcohol or other drugs. Many of these stressors can be reduced by referring families to the social services in your community that offer help and support for community members with such issues. Some of these local resources include Tahoe Women's Services, the Kings Beach Family Resource Center in Truckee and King's Beach, The Children's Cabinet in Incline Village, Sierra Family Services, local CPS agencies, and Early Head Start. As individuals within the community, we can take action in preventing child abuse by understanding the cause and effects of child abuse, learning to identify the warning signs that a child is being abused, and reporting known or suspected cases of child abuse.

Many people fear that reporting or admitting abuse will destroy a family. In actuality, getting help can protect the child from further harm and help the family to face and overcome its problems. In some severe cases, children may be removed from their home for immediate safety. However, proper treatment can help children and their families return to happier, healthier lives together. If you suspect child abuse, please contact Child Protective Services in the county in which the incident occurred to make a report. In Placer County: 888-886-5401, in Nevada County: 888-456-9380, and in Washoe County: 775-328-2300.

The blue ribbon is the symbol of Child Abuse Prevention Month. In honor of our efforts to end child abuse in this community, the Tahoe Truckee Child Abuse Prevention Council has picked one tree in each of the three counties it serves (Placer, Nevada, & Washoe) to adorn with blue ribbons, one for each investigation made to Child Protective Services in that county during 2005. You can see these trees by Raley's in Incline Village, the conference center in Kings Beach, Albertson's in Tahoe City and Tahoe Forest Hospital in Truckee.

The Truckee Tahoe Child Abuse Prevention Council, a regional partnership of agencies and individuals, meets monthly to discuss topical issues and create opportunities for enhancing the nurture and well-being of children in the Truckee Tahoe area. Meetings are held the first Thursday of each month at the Truckee Town Hall and are open to the public. For more information about TTCAPC activities, local resources for children and families or to make a donation, please call Ruth Hall, President, at (530) 587-7499.



Casi Christiansen, Children's Program Coordinator at Tahoe Women's Services, coordinates free services to child victims of abuse which include advocacy, accompaniment, and support groups, as well as individual and group therapy. To learn more call (530) 546-7804, or the 24-Hour Community Helpline at (800) 736-1060.