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What Is Abuse
Abuse: an act which seriously endangers the physical, mental or emotional health of a child.
Types of abuse:
PHYSICAL
The physical handling of a child in a manner that serves to discharge the parent's (or other adult's) anger. Includes any use of excessive force which threatens the health or well-being of the child, even if the person considers the acts appropriate discipline. Results in broken bones, bruises, welts, scars, internal injuries.
Examples: beatings, burns, human bites, strangulation, immersion in scalding water, Shaken Baby Syndrome
EMOTIONAL
A pattern of behavior that attacks a child's emotional development and sense of self-worth.
Examples: withholding love and affection, constant criticizing, belittling, insulting, rejection, parental demands for perfection, conflicting or erratic demands, unfavorable comparisons to other siblings and use of shaming to punish.
SEXUAL
Denotes the exploitation of a child for sexual gratification of a perpetrator. Sexual abuse may range from exposure and fondling to intercourse.
Physical: fondling, inappropriate touching, rape or attempted rape, making child pornography.
Non-physical: indecent exposure, talk about sex designed to shock or interest the child, allowing child to watch or hear sexual acts or materials.
Examples: incest, child prostitution, child pornography
NEGLECT
The failure of a caretaker to provide the child with the basic necessities of life.
Examples:
Physical: lack of food, clothing, shelter, medical care and education
Emotion: failure to provide love, support and guidance.
VERBAL
Use of insulting, belittling language to scold or harshly revile the child; Unkind words that are aimed at tearing down or destroying a child's self-image.
Examples: unkind words aimed at tearing down or destroying a child's self-worth.
It is the policy of the Gingerbread House Children's Advocacy Center to provide employment, recruitment and training of volunteers, and services to clients without discrimination because of race, color, religion, sex, age, national origin, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, or any other protected characteristic as established by applicable federal, state, or local laws. Any grievance may be reported to Gingerbread House CAC at info@gingerbreadhousecac.org or 318-674-2900, to the Louisiana Commission on Law Enforcement at lcle.la.gov, or to the Office of Civil Rights at https://www.ojp.gov/program/civil-rights. Contact the Louisiana Legislative Auditor Hotline if you suspect theft, fraud, waste, or abuse of public funds by anyone at 1-844-50-FRAUD (1-844-503-7283) or https://www.lla.la.gov/report-fraud to complete an online report.
