Child Abuse and Child Sexual Abuse

What is child abuse?

Child abuse is when a parent or caregiver, causes injury, death, emotional harm or risk of serious harm to a child. There are many forms of child abuse:

Child physical abuse - physical abuse occurs when a parent or caregiver commits an act that results in physical injury to a child (red marks, cuts, welts, bruises, muscle sprains, or broken bones)

• Slapping
• Pulling hair
• Kicking
• Punching

Emotional child abuse - pattern of behavior that impairs a child’s emotional development or sense of self-worth

• Humiliation
• Ridicules your belief/religion/race/heritage
• Manipulations
• Intimidation

Child sexual abuse - It's sexual activity with a child

• Forces you to take off clothes
• Touches child that makes you feel uncomfortable
• Insist child dress in provocative clothing
• Forces child to perform sexual acts or have sex against their will

Know the signs of child abuse - A child who is a victim of abuse may

• Shows sudden changes in behavior-school performance decreased or developed disruptive behaviors in school
• Bruises, marks on skin
• Difficulty concentrating that cannot be attributed to specific physical or psychological causes
• Signs of Regression - potty trained child regressed to wetting the bed

What is child sexual abuse?

It's sexual activity with a child. Sexual abuse can be physical or nonphysical

Example of physical:

• Fondling or any kind of inappropriate touching
• Rape or attempted rape
• Using a child to create pornography

Example of Nonphysical:

• Indecent exposure
• Talking about sex to shock a child or spark his or her curiosity
• Allowing a child to watch or hear sexual acts or materials

Signs of sexual abuse:

• Injury to the genital area
• Painful urination or stomach-aches
• Sexually transmitted disease

How to prevent child abuse?

• Know the signs of child abuse and child sexual abuse
• Report any suspected abuse to the abuse hotline 1-800-96-ABUSE (1-800-962-2873)
• Contact your local police department
• Talk to your kids about good and bad touching
• Communication with your children

Community Resources for victims of child abuse/child sexual abuse:

Kristi House for counseling, RTC-relocation services, Miami Dade Police Department

Roxy Bolton Rape Treatment Center (Main Office) Jackson Memorial Hospital
1611 NW 12 Avenue, Miami, FL 33136
Main office 305-585-5185
24 hour hotline 305-585-RAPE (7273)

Kristi House
1265 NW 12 Avenue, Miami, FL 33136
305-547-6800

Child Protection Team
1150 NW 14 Street, Suite #212, Miami, FL 33136
305-243-7550

Miami Dade Police Department-Special Victims Bureau
Victim Advocate Assistance
305-715-3300