What is Child Abuse?
Source: Prevent Child Abuse Virginia
Under the law, an abused or neglected child is any child under 18 whose parent, or any other person responsible for the care of the child:
More About Sexual Abuse...
Sexual abuse includes any sexual act between an adult and a minor or between two minors when one exerts power over the other. Forcing, coercing or persuading a child to engage in any type of sexual act, including sexual contact. It also includes non-contact acts such as exhibitionism, exposure to pornography, voyeurism, and communicating in a sexual manner by phone or Internet.
More About Emotional Abuse...
“Emotional/mental maltreatment of children can include patterns of: verbal assaults (e.g., screaming, intimidating, rejecting, ridiculing, blaming, sarcasm); ignoring and indifferent behavior to children; or constant family conflict." - Virginia Department of Social Services
Click here to visit our partner website, Words Hurt, Too.
If a child discloses abuse to you or you suspect or have reason to believe a child is being abused, contact the local police or social services.
Source: Prevent Child Abuse Virginia
Under the law, an abused or neglected child is any child under 18 whose parent, or any other person responsible for the care of the child:
- causes, or threatens to cause, a physical or mental injury except for an accident.
- fails to provide adequate food, clothing, shelter, medical care, or caring support.
- abandons the child.
- fails to provide the kind of supervision necessary for a child’s age or level of development.
- commits, or allows to be committed, any illegal sexual act involving the child — including incest, rape, fondling, indecent exposure, prostitution — or allows the child to be used in any sexually explicit visual material.
More About Sexual Abuse...
Sexual abuse includes any sexual act between an adult and a minor or between two minors when one exerts power over the other. Forcing, coercing or persuading a child to engage in any type of sexual act, including sexual contact. It also includes non-contact acts such as exhibitionism, exposure to pornography, voyeurism, and communicating in a sexual manner by phone or Internet.
More About Emotional Abuse...
“Emotional/mental maltreatment of children can include patterns of: verbal assaults (e.g., screaming, intimidating, rejecting, ridiculing, blaming, sarcasm); ignoring and indifferent behavior to children; or constant family conflict." - Virginia Department of Social Services
Click here to visit our partner website, Words Hurt, Too.
If a child discloses abuse to you or you suspect or have reason to believe a child is being abused, contact the local police or social services.