Child Abuse: Social Problem Definition and Analysis

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Recommended: The effects of child abuse and neglect

Social Problem Definition and Analysis

INTRO:

Child abuse and neglect are a serious problem in the United States. Every day, many children’s well-being and safety are harmed by the physical, sexual, and emotional abuse and neglect that their parents and caregivers inflict upon them.

DEFINITION:

There have been and currently are numerous definitions of what constitutes child abuse and neglect and they vary across time and space. Up until the 1880’s, children were the property of their families and, as such, it was only up to the families to decide how to care for them and whether they would live or die. Today, although it is recognized that parents and caregivers have the right to raise their children according to their own views and beliefs, when those views and beliefs come in conflict with the protection of children from harm or access to basic needs, society has the right to intervene for the welfare of the minors.

In the United States, the Child Abuse Prevention and Treatment Act (CAPTA) provides the most basic and universal definition of child abuse and neglect. Under this definition, abuse is “any recent act or failure to act on the part of a parent or caretaker that results in death, serious physical or emotional harm, sexual abuse or exploitation” and neglect is “an act or failure to act that presents an imminent risk or serious harm”. Under this definition, a child is anyone under eighteen years old who is not emancipated.

Although there is a main federal definition of child abuse and neglect, other more in-depth definitions exist within states that, while having variation within them, also share some commonalities. Within these commonalities, child abuse and maltreatment is separated into 4 categories: physic...

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...Child Abuse and Neglect. (2008, April). . Child Welfare Information Gateway.

National Child Abuse Statistics | Childhelp. (n.d.). Web. 21 March 2015.

http://www.childhelp.org/pages/statistics

National Network to End Domestic Violence | Family Violence Prevention & Services Act. (n.d.). Web. 18 March 2015.

http://www.nnedv.org/policy/issues/fvpsa.html

PREVENTION AND TREATMENT OF CHILD ABUSE AND NEGLECT: POLICY DIRECTIONS FOR THE FUTURE. (2001). . Washington, DC: U.S. Government.

PROTECTING CHILDREN, STRENGTHENING FAMILIES: REAUTHORIZING CAPTA. (2008). . Washington, DC: U.S. Government.

Summary of Keeping Children and Families Safe Act of 2003 (CAPTA Reauthorization). (n.d.). Web. 12 March 2015.

http://www.naswdc.org/advocacy/issues/letters/070103_abuse.asp

The Keeping Children and Families Safe Act of 2003. (2003, June 25). . Children's Bureau.

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