It is tragic that this woman was not able to participate in a post-partum depression support group or to contact a social service agency to intervene
before she committed this horrendous crime of maternal filicide.
Why do women kill their own children? Research shows that in the US, women commit only 2 crimes as frequently as men. The first is shoplifting, the
second murder of their own children. Women commit less than 13 percent of all violent crimes in the US, yet commit about 50 percent of all parental
murders!
Children under the age of 5 in the United States are more likely to be killed by their parents than anyone else.
View the Child Fatality Data by State chart at:
child-abuse.com...
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Child abuse prevention is very important to me and I would like to share the following information with our readers:
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Recognizing Child Abuse
The following signs may indicate child abuse or neglect.
The Child:
* Shows sudden changes in behavior or school performance.
* Hasn't received help for physical or medical problems brought to the parents' attention.
* Has learning problems (or difficulty concentrating) that can't be attributed to specific physical or psychological causes.
* Is always watchful, as though preparing for something bad to happen.
* Lacks adult supervision.
* Is overly compliant, passive, or withdrawn.
* Comes to school or other activities early, stays late, and doesn't want to go home.
The Parent:
* Shows little concern for child.
* Denies existence of�or blames child�for the child's problems in school or at home.
* Asks teachers or other caretakers to use harsh physical discipline child misbehaves.
* Sees child as entirely bad, worthless, or burdensome.
* Demands a level of physical or academic performance the child can't achieve.
* Looks primarily to the child for care, attention, and satisfaction of the parent's emotional needs.
The Parent and Child:
* Rarely touch or look at each other.
* Consider their relationship entirely negative.
* State that they don't like each other.
Types of Abuse
The following are some signs associated with child abuse and neglect--physical abuse, neglect, sexual abuse, and emotional abuse. These types of
abuse are more often found in combination than alone.
Signs of Physical Abuse
Consider the possibility of physical abuse when the child:
* Has unexplained burns, bites, bruises, broken bones, or black eyes.
* Has fading bruises or other marks noticeable after an absence from school.
* Seems frightened of the parents and protests or cries when its time to go home.
* Shrinks at the approach of adults.
* Reports injury by a parent or another adult caregiver.
Consider the possibility of physical abuse when the parent or other adult caregiver:
* Offers conflicting, unconvincing, or no explanation for the child's injury.
* Describes the child as "evil," or in some other very negative way.
* Uses harsh physical discipline with the child.
* Has a history of abuse as a child.
Signs of Neglect
Consider the possibility of neglect when the child:
* Is frequently absent from school.
* Begs or steals food or money.
* Lacks needed medical or dental care, immunizations, or glasses.
* Is consistently dirty and has severe body odor.
* Lacks sufficient clothing for the weather.
* Abuses alcohol or other drugs.
* States that theres no one at home to provide care.
Consider the possibility of neglect when the parent or other adult caregiver:
* Appears to be indifferent to the child.
* Seems apathetic or depressed.
* Behaves irrationally or in a bizarre manner.
* Is abusing alcohol or other drugs.
Signs of Sexual Abuse
Consider the possibility of sexual abuse when the child:
* Has difficulty walking or sitting.
* Suddenly refuses to change for gym or to participate in physical activities.
* Reports nightmares or bedwetting.
* Experiences a sudden change in appetite.
* Demonstrates bizarre, sophisticated, or unusual sexual knowledge or behavior.
* Becomes pregnant or contracts a venereal disease, particularly if under age 14.
* Runs away.
* Reports sexual abuse by a parent or another adult caregiver.
Consider the possibility of sexual abuse when the parent or other adult caregiver:
* Is unduly protective of child or severely limits child's contact with other children, especially of the opposite sex.
* Is secretive and isolated.
* Is jealous or controlling with family members.
Signs of Emotional Maltreatment
Consider the possibility of emotional maltreatment when the child:
* Shows extremes in behavior, such as overly compliant or demanding behavior, extreme passivity, or aggression.
* Is either inappropriately adult (parenting other children, for example) or inappropriately infantile (frequently rocking or head-banging, for
example).
* Is delayed in physical or emotional development.
* Has attempted suicide.
* Reports a lack of attachment to the parent.
Consider the possibility of emotional maltreatment when the parent or other adult caregiver:
* Constantly blames, belittles, or berates child.
* Is unconcerned about child and refuses to consider offers of help for child's problems.
* Overtly rejects child.
Here are some important telephone numbers:
National Respite Locator Service
Phone: 1-800-677-1116
Who They Help: Parents, caregivers, and professionals caring for children and adults with disabilities, terminal illnesses, or those at risk of abuse
or neglect
National Domestic Violence Hotline
Phone: 1-800-799-SAFE (1-800-799-7233)
Who They Help: Children, parents, friends, offenders
Prevention of Child Sexual Abuse:
Stop It Now!
Phone: 1-888-PREVENT (1-888-773-8368)
Who They Help: Child sexual abuse victims, parents, offenders, concerned individuals
Childhelp USA
Phone: 1-800-4-A-CHILD (800-422-4453)
Who They Help: Child abuse victims, parents, concerned individuals
Youth Crisis Hotline
Phone: 1-800-HIT-HOME (1-800-448-4663)
Who They Help: Individuals reporting child abuse, youth ages 12 to 18