How to Spot Abuse: Know the Signs and Types of Child Abuse

Young child gazing out the window; possibly exhibiting signs of child abuse or neglect

Signs of Child Abuse in Foster and adopted Children

Over 5,000 children are in the Virginia foster care system. Each foster youth will either reunite with their biological family or find an adoptive family. All these children have experienced trauma and many have been victims of child abuse.

Foster and adoptive parents, along with family members, must understand that abuse is common. They need to learn how to spot signs of abuse and seek help for the children they care for.

So, what are the different types of child abuse? What are the typical red flags for children who experience abuse? Foster and adoptive parents are on the front line to help protect children in the foster care system. The best place to start is learning the signs and symptoms to identify child abuse or neglect.

Physical Abuse

Causing intentional physical harm to another person is physical abuse. Spanking and similar actions do not always cross the line into domestic violence. However, if an action causes a physical injury to a child, courts may determine it meets the definition of abuse.

Burning, beating, choking, or throwing a child are all forms of child maltreatment that are physical abuse.

Child victims of physical abuse often have frequent hospital visits and/or sustain severe bodily injuries. Commonly, children in these cases either don't report or refuse to say how they became injured. In some cases, abusers coach children to feel the abuse is the child's fault or to report it as an accident.

Teachers, medical doctors, and social workers are often among the first professionals to notice a child's frequent minor injuries. These may take the form of cuts or bruises. Victims sometimes attempt to hide their injuries because they feel fear or shame, or seek to protect their abusers. They may hide behind makeup, sunglasses, long sleeves, and other heavy clothing, even when the temperature is hot.

Emotional ABUSE

Known also as "mental abuse," emotional abuse doesn't show on our physical selves. Rather, the pain, damage, or injury occurs inside, causing emotional and psychological harm. Too often, children and kids who are emotionally abused have a low sense of self-worth and confidence. They may have damage to their overall emotional development.

Emotional abuse can happen to kids and teens in many ways. Constant criticism, threats, rejection, and lack of love or guidance are some examples. Victims may fail to develop the ability to regulate their emotions.

Emotional abusers often blame the victim, naming a child's failures as the cause. Children may perceive their failures as tangible reasons like poor grades or may base them on aspects of themselves. These abuses cause not only suffering but long-standing fallout, such as low self-esteem and self-worth.

Sexual abuse

Incest, rape, indecent exposure, and any act that sexually exploits another person is considered to be Sexual Abuse. The spectrum covers a range of acts from molestation to human trafficking. Child sex trafficking involves enslaving a minor and profiting from exploiting them for sexual favors.

Sexual predators and profiteers prey on vulnerable youth. Data shows that foster youth who experience child sexual abuse are at a much higher risk of human trafficking.

Signs of sexual abuse may be subtle, making them harder to spot than in some cases where there is physical evidence. Seemingly simple but sudden changes in appetite, choice of clothing, or personal hygiene may be signs of sexual abuse. This is especially true when more than one sudden change is present.

More easily identified common signs of sexual abuse include regression to younger child-like behavior, including bed-wetting. In contrast, younger children may show behaviors similar to those seen in healthy young adults. Examples are behaviors exhibiting sexual acts or a more mature knowledge about sexual anatomy than similar-aged peers.

Some victims of sexual abuse may start sexual activities with other young children. They might also use stuffed toys to imitate sexual behavior they have seen or experienced.

For parents and providers, clear signs of abuse in children are pregnancy and sexually transmitted diseases.

Neglect

Child neglect is the most common type of abuse faced by foster children and those adopted from foster care. Neglect happens when a biological parent or main caregiver does not meet a child's basic needs. These needs include physical, emotional, medical, and educational support.

Denying these basic needs in this common type of abuse can lead to physical and mental problems in children. Rising rates of parental substance abuse have caused more young children under five to enter foster care.

Physical Neglect - Children must have basic materials to survive, including food, clothing, and shelter. Kids who do not receive access may suffer from malnutrition, physical illness, and a range of emotional harm.

Medical Neglect - Children may need emergency care for injury or a chronic health condition. Many have medical issues that require ongoing care such as physical therapy or prescription medicine. Negligent parents deny their children the basic medical attention and care they need. This can cause short-term harm and often leads to long-term or life-threatening health issues.

Educational Neglect - The United States entitles all children to an education. Parents or caregivers who do not enroll their children in school or provide homeschooling are neglecting them. Abusive neglect also includes not meeting a child's special learning needs, such as an IEP. The need for special attention itself puts vulnerable kids at greater risk of abuse, as well.

Emotional Neglect - Children may enter a state of emotional crisis that requires personal or professional intervention. When primary caregivers fail to properly attend to a child's emotional needs, it may constitute Emotional neglect. Examples include denying a youth needed support during a mental health crisis. It can also mean letting them use drugs or alcohol.

Know the Warning Signs of Abuse

Abuse takes many forms and victims may show many signs that their safety is at risk.

Child victims in foster or pre-adoptive foster care might show hypervigilant behavior after making perceived mistakes. No matter how minor, they may appear disproportionally fearful or anxious.

Child abuse victims may confide about a fear of a particular adult or fear of going home. More broadly, they may grow depressed, anxious, or show signs of other mental health concerns.

Emotional extremes are another red flag of child abuse or neglect. These may appear as extremely demanding or compliant behavior, acting aggressively or by contrast, passively. Children who are experiencing emotional abuse often have delays in emotional -- and sometimes physical -- development.

Children who are suffering at home often have difficulty concentrating in class. They may act out or recede in the classroom, often resulting in declining grades.

When Child Protective Services becomes aware of abuse, they place children into foster care. Even those in a safe home environment may have persistent issues, thought they are out of reach of their abusers.

Patience is an important quality for foster parents. They need to support and advocate for their foster or foster-to-adopt child. Sometimes, this means keeping a respectful distance. Foster youth need patience and care as they learn to trust foster and adoptive parents with confidence they are safe.

Notify local Child Protective Services (CPS) about abuse concerns.

Help A Child Who Needs a Loving Adult

Parents caring for foster youth or a future adopted child should learn about their child's history. They also need to get to know them well. This is particularly vital when children enter the foster care system because of known cases of abuse or neglect.

The foster care system aims to provide safe family spaces for youth in need. However, children and teens in foster care often feel scared, confused, and out of control. Feelings of fear or anger can make kids act out in unusual or unexpected ways.

Foster and adoptive parent training focuses on understanding childhood trauma. It also helps develop skills to meet the needs that arise from it.

Your foster or foster-to-adopt agency helps parents on their journey. They provide training and state approval. They also support parents as they welcome each child. Often, they help families become loving and lasting adoptive homes.

More Virginia foster children need homes than we have foster homes to take them in. For many children, returning to their biological families is not an option. These kids need loving forever families through foster-to-adoption. If you are a caring adult in Virginia who wants to raise a foster child, please learn more.