Ethical Considerations in Identifying and Reporting Child Abuse - Free Essay Example

Sample details Pages: 7 Words: 2162 Downloads: 1 Date added: 2019/04/08 Category Society Essay Level High school Tags: Child Abuse Essay Did you like this example? Child abuse is a crucial ethical issue for mental health practitioners to understand and be competent in addressing. According to Childhelp (2018), a nonprofit organization dedicated to the prevention and treatment of child abuse, child abuse occurs when a parent or caregiver, whether through action or failing to act, causes injury, death, emotional harm or risk of serious harm to a child (para. 1). In certain instances, child abuse can also be committed by peers or siblings. There are four distinct forms of child abuse, including physical abuse, sexual abuse, emotional abuse, and neglect. Physical abuse is the most common form of child abuse, with approximately 28.3% of adults reporting experiences of physical abuse in childhood (Childhelp, 2018). Physical abuse involves physical injury to a child, such as bruises, blisters, burns, cuts, scratches, broken bones, sprains, dislocation of joints, internal injuries, brain damage, or death, resulting from striking, kicking, burning, biting, hair pulling, choking, throwing, shoving, whipping or any other action that injures a child (Childhelp, 2018, para. 2). Physical abuse does not include acts of physical discipline, given that the action does not injure or impair the child. Signs of physical abuse to a child can be both physical and behavioral. Physical signs may include visible or severe injuries, any injury to a child who is not yet crawling, injuries at different stages of healing, unexplained injuries, injuries explained in a way that do not make sense, injuries with distinctives shapes, and/or patterns in frequency, timing, or history of injuries, such as after weekends, vacations, or school absences (Childhelp, 2018). Behavioral signs of physical abuse include aggression towards peers, pets, or other animals; being fearful of parents or other adults; withdrawal, depression, or anxiety; wearing long sleeves out of season; violent themes in art or fantasy; sleep disruptions such as insomnia or nightmares; reports of injury or severe discipline; immaturity, acting out, or other behavioral extremes; and/or self-destructive behavior or attitudes (Childhelp, 2018). Parents and caregivers may also show signs of committing physical abuse, including refusal or inability to explain the childs injury, explaining the injury in a way that does not make sense, aggression towards the child, appearing overly anxious about the childs behavior, delaying or preventing medical care for the child, taking the child to different doctors or hospitals, isolating the child from social activities, and/or having a hist ory of violence or abuse (Childhelp, 2018). Don’t waste time! Our writers will create an original "Ethical Considerations in Identifying and Reporting Child Abuse" essay for you Create order The second most prevalent form of child abuse is sexual abuse. Sexual abuse involves using a child in sex acts or for sexual gratification (Childhelp, 2018). This may take place in the form of non-contact or contact abuse. Non-contact abuse involves making a child view a sex act, making a child view or show sex organs, or talking to a child inappropriately about sex. Contact abuse includes fondling, oral sex, penetration, forcing the child to perform a sex act, or involving the child in prostitution or pornography. According to Childhelp (2018), one in every five adults reports being sexually abused as a child. Physical signs of sexual abuse in children may be more apparent to medical practitioners but may also be observed by mental health practitioners working in an integrative care setting. These signs include difficulty sitting or walking; bowel problems; torn, stained, or bloody undergarments; bleeding, bruising, pain, swelling, or itching of the genital area; frequent urinary tr act or yeast infections; and/or any sexually transmitted disease or related symptoms (Childhelp, 2018). Behavioral signs of sexual abuse may include not wanting to change clothes (i.e.: for P.E.); withdrawn, depressed, or anxious affect; eating disorders or preoccupation with ones body; aggression, delinquency, or poor peer relationships; poor self-image; poor self-care; lack of confidence; sudden absenteeism or decline in school performance; substance use, running away, reckless behavior, or suicide attempts; sleep disturbances, such as fear of bedtime, nightmares, or bedwetting at an advanced age; acting out sexually or excessive masturbation; unusual or repetitive self-soothing behaviors; advanced or unusual sexual behavior or knowledge; and/or reports of sexual abuse (Childhelp, 2018). Caregivers may also exhibit signs of being sexually abusive towards a child, including failing to supervise the child, acting as an unstable adult presence in the childs life, appearing jealous or possessive, having troubled or dysfunctional sexual relationships, and/or relying on the child for emotional support (Childhelp, 2018). Child maltreatment can also take place in the form of emotional abuse, which occurs when a parents or caregivers actions [harm] a childs mental and social development, or [cause] severe emotional harm (Childhelp, 2018, para. 4). This may occur as a single incident, but generally involves a pattern of behavior that causes damage over time. Emotional abuse includes rejecting or ignoring a child by telling them that they are unwanted/unloved, invalidating the childs feelings, breaking promises, interrupting the child in conversation, or not providing affection; shaming or humiliating a child by calling them names, criticizing, berating, or mocking the child, or attacking the childs sense of self-worth; terrorizing a child by accusing, threatening, manipulating, or yelling at the child, or setting the child up for failure; isolating a child by depriving them of social contact, confining them to small spaces, or depriving them of play or stimulation; and/or corrupting a child by involving them in criminal activity or encouraging misbehavior (Childhelp, 2018, para. 4). According to Childhelp (2018), 10.6% of adults report being emotionally abused in childhood. Signs that a child may be experiencing emotional abuse include developmental delays; wetting their bed or pants; speech disorders; health problems like ulcers or skin disorders; obesity and weight fluctuation; habits like sucking, biting, or rocking; learning disabilities; being overly compliant or defensive, exhibiting extreme emotions, aggression, or withdrawal; anxiety or phobias; sleep disorders; destructive or anti-social behaviors, such as violence, cruelty, vandalism, stealing, cheating, or lying; exhibiting behavior that is inappropriate for their age; and/or suicidal thoughts or actions (Childhelp, 2018). Signs that a caregiver may be emotionally abusive include routinely ignoring, criticizing, yelling at, or blaming the child; playing favorites with one sibling over another; exhibiting poor anger mana gement or emotional regulation; having unstable relationships with other adults; disrespecting authority; having a history of violence or abuse; and/or having an untreated mental illness or addiction (Childhelp, 2018). The fourth type of child maltreatment, neglect, often requires a pattern of behavior over time and can occur in the form of physical, emotional, medical, and educational neglect. Physical neglect involves depriving a child of adequate supervision, clothing, food, and shelter. This may include leaving the child with an inadequate caregiver, leaving the child in another persons custody for an extended period of time, failing to provide a child with healthy food and drink, failing to ensure adequate personal hygiene, or exposing the child to unsafe or unsanitary environments or situations (Childhelp, 2018). Emotional neglect occurs when a parent or caregiver does not provide adequate affection and attention for a child to feel loved and supported (Childhelp, 2018). This may include isolating the child from friends and loved ones, exposing the child to severe or repeated violence (especially domestic violence), allowing a child to abuse substances or engage in criminal activity, or not s eeking treatment for a child showing signs of a psychological illness (Childhelp, 2018). Medical neglect occurs when a parent does not provide a child with appropriate treatment for injuries or illness or deprives a child of basic preventive medical or dental care (Childhelp, 2018). Lastly, educational neglect occurs when a parent limits a childs opportunities for academic success by allowing the child to miss too much school, not enrolling the child in school, or preventing the child from obtaining necessary special education services. Signs that a child may be experiencing neglect include wearing clothing that is the wrong size, tattered, dirty, or not appropriate for the weather; being hungry, stockpiling and seeking food, or showing signs of malnutrition (i.e.: distended abdomen, protruding bones); having a very low body weight and height for their age; often appearing tired or listless; displaying poor hygiene; talking about caring for younger siblings or not having a caregiver at home; having untreated medical or dental problems or incomplete immunizations; and/or truancy, frequently incomplete homework, or frequent school changes (Childhelp, 2018). Caregiver signs of neglect include indifference towards the child; depression, apathy, drug or alcohol abuse, or other mental health challenges; denying having problems with the child or blaming the child for their problems; viewing the child negatively; and/or relying on the child for their own care and well-being (Childhelp, 2018). Prevalence and Outcomes According to Childhelp (2018), more than 3.6 million referrals involving more than 6.6 million children are made to child protective agencies each year, and in 2014, state agencies identified an estimated 1,580 children who died as a result of abuse and neglect. On average, this indicates that between four and five children die each day due to maltreatment, but this statistic is likely higher than this due to the underreported nature of these crimes. Of the child maltreatment fatalities that are reported, 80% of them involve at least one parent as the perpetrator (Childhelp, 2018). Research suggests that individuals who experience adverse childhood experiences, including child abuse, are at a greater risk for a variety of negative outcomes, including depression and anxiety, hallucinations, substance use, risky sexual behavior, impaired memory, obesity, sleep disturbances, somatic complains, and comorbid psychological disorders (Anda et al., 2005). Additionally, children who experience abuse and neglect are approximately nine times more likely to become involved in criminal activity and are at an increased risk for a variety of health issues, including decreased life expectancy, Ischemic heart disease (IHD), Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), and liver disease (Childhelp, 2018). Experiences of current or past child abuse are especially prevalent within the mental health care system. According to a study by Silverman, Reinherz, and Giaconia (1996), 80% of 21-year-olds who reported childhood abuse met the criteria for at least one psychological disorder . Additionally, Swan (1998) found that as many as two-thirds of those in treatment for drug abuse reported being abused or neglected as children. Researchers hypothesize that this association between childhood trauma and abuse and negative health outcomes may be explained in part by the neurobiological changes that occur as a result of these adverse experiences (Anda et al., 2005). According to Anda et al. (2005), traumatic events experienced in childhood alter both the structure and functioning of various regions of the brain, including the amygdala, hippocampus, prefrontal cortex, and hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis. This indicates that child abuse is a major risk factor for psychological challenges and that most, if not all, practitioners will likely encounter clients with experiences of current or past abuse, regardless of their population of interest. History of Child Protection Prior to 1874, parents were generally considered to have ownership and absolute authority over their children. As a result of this attitude, children were often abused, neglected, and even sold into slavery without intervention by the state (Lawrence Robinson Kurpius, 2000). Child protection first gained legal traction in 1874, when a court ruled that Mary Ellen Wilson, age 9, was afforded protection from abuse under laws related to animal cruelty. Following this ruling, the New York Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children (NYSPCC) was founded and become the first organization dedicated exclusively to child protection. Subsequently, in 1875, legislation was passed requiring police officers and courts to aid in the prevention of cruelty to children. By 1922, more than 300 non-governmental child protective entities, such as the NYSPCC, existed across the United States. However, over the next four decades this responsibility shifted to the state, and by 1967 nearly all states had laws making the government responsible for child protection. As of 1963, four states had enacted mandated reporting laws related to child abuse, and by 1968, all states had laws mandating that health care professionals report physical abuse and neglect of children. It was not until 1976 that all states also required professionals to report sexual abuse. Since the enactment of these child welfare laws, the responsibility of the state to protect children has been legally challenged. In the case of DeShaney v. Winnebago County Department of Social Service, a four-year-old boy was severely beaten after being returned to his fathers custody by Child Protective Services (CPS). The court ruled that CPS had no legal obligation to protect the boy, thereby allowing the state to abdicate its responsibility to protect minors from parental abuse (Myers, 2008). As the responsibility of child protection shifted from non-governmental agencies to the state, the federal government passed several acts related to child welfare. In 1974, Congress passed the Child Abuse Prevention and Treatment Act (CAPTA), which designated federal funds to improve the state response to child abuse, especially in the domains of investigation and reporting. Congress then passed the Indian Child Welfare ACT (ICWA) in 1978, mandating that child abuse cases regarding children permanently residing on a reservation be decided by the tribal court. It also mandated that tribes be notified of child abuse cases regarding children not living on the reservation and afforded tribes the right to intervene in these cases. The goal of this legislation was to reduce the disproportionately high number of Native American children being removed from their homes, often without sufficient cause.

Illegal Immigration Should Not Invest Or Enforce On...

Illegal immigration cases have been booming in an unprecedented rate in the U.S. since the late 1990s. To absolve this matter, border security has been enforced throughout the entire country with the objective to reduce the entry of illegal immigrants across the border, wherein such acts to do so has been initiated such as the mass deportation of illegal immigrants, increasing security in national border and screening. This whole initiative has reduced the number of immigrants living in the U.S. However, current findings have proven that increasing enforcement and investment in current method of border security has given a huge negative impact to the nation. Given the methods used to handle this immigration issue, more subtle drawbacks have emerged within the country because of this implementation. The U.S. government should not invest or enforce on current method of border security because it prevents the rapid growth of the U.S. economy, robs away illegal immigrants’ humanit arian civil rights and, surprisingly, causes an influx in the number of illegal immigrants in the country. First and foremost, the enforcement of border security reduces the U.S. rapid economic growth. The entry of immigrants has benefited the society by empowering the capital of higher-skilled workers which has led to an influx of number of jobs available that benefits both native Americans or non-natives. According to Giovanni Peri, an economist in University of California-Davis, nonnativesShow MoreRelatedThe Dream Act2876 Words   |  12 PagesThe Public Policy of Illegal Immigration? Introduction Is higher education an entitlement? As a daughter of immigrants, this question can not be answered by a simple yes or no. Every area of policy is multifaceted. Every idea about policy draws certain boundaries in the realm of politics and in the debate of social and economic legislation. â€Å"Ideas tell what or who is included or excluded in a category.†(Stone). The rationale of public policy is taking a complex agenda, situation or idea and attemptingRead MoreThe High Cost of Cheap Labor10249 Words   |  41 PagesCenter for Immigration Studies The High Cost of Cheap Labor Illegal Immigration and the Federal Budget By Steven A. Camarota August 2004 1-881290-43-3 Center for Immigration Studies 1522 K Street, N.W., Suite 820 Washington, DC 20005-1202 Phone (202) 466-8185 FAX (202) 466-8076 center@cis.org www.cis.org 1 Center for Immigration Studies About the Author Steven A. Camarota is Director of Research at the Center for Immigration Studies in Washington, D.C. He holds a master’s degreeRead MoreFRAMEWORK OF ANTI-MONEY LAUNDERING AND COMBATING OF FINANCIAL TERRORISM IN THE ECOWAS REGION11171 Words   |  45 PagesANTI-MONEY LAUNDERING AND COMBATING OF FINANCIAL TERRORISM IN THE ECOWAS REGION By Oladeji Ifeoluwa Temiloluï€ ª 1.0 Introduction Money laundering as a form of cross border crime involves the use of legal tender in a financial transaction in order to conceal the origin, source or destination of such legal tender derived through illegal means. The sole aim of every money launderer is to misrepresent to any law enforcement authority or agency that the source of the funds are clean. As such it would beRead MoreOne Significant Change That Has Occurred in the World Between 1900 and 2005. Explain the Impact This Change Has Made on Our Lives and Why It Is an Important Change.163893 Words   |  656 Pages Movement made possible the appearance of every hominid species since then, including our own some 150,000 years ago, and the spread of Homo sapiens from our African cradle to every major area of the planet since 50,000 b.p.. These migratory currents have connected all the continents since 1500 C.E., helping create the political, social, and ethnic landscapes of the world today. Premodern societies were far from static.1 But we cannot project this fact into a history of mobility that is oneRead MoreHuman Resources Management150900 Words   |  604 PagesCHAPTER 1 Changing Nature of Human Resource Management After you have read this chapter, you should be able to: ââ€"  Identify four major HR challenges currently facing organizations and managers. List and define each of the seven major categories of HR activities. Identify the three different roles of HR management. Discuss the three dimensions associated with HR management as a strategic business contributor. Explain why HR professionals and operating managers must view HR management as anRead MoreFundamentals of Hrm263904 Words   |  1056 Pageswritten permission of the Publisher, or authorization through payment of the appropriate per-copy fee to the Copyright Clearance Center, Inc. 222 Rosewood Drive, Danvers, MA 01923, website www.copyright.com. Requests to the Publisher for permission should be addressed to the Permissions Department, John Wiley Sons, Inc., 111 River Street, Hoboken, NJ 07030-5774, (201)748-6011, fax (201)748-6008, website http://www.wiley.com/go/permissions. To order books or for customer service please, call 1-800-CALLRead MoreDeveloping an Effective and Efficient Tax Sy stem in a Developing Economy - a Case Study of Ghana29843 Words   |  120 Pagesenable her finance its development agenda. This laudable intention has over the years been frustrated by low tax revenue eventhough several tax schemes have been introduced at national levels. It is therefore obvious that there is need for a change. Should there be change therefore the following questions need to be addressed and answered; †¢ what shall be the specific issues of the change, †¢ the reasons for the change, †¢ the possible consequences of the change, †¢ how the change can be adoptedRead MoreOverview of Hrm93778 Words   |  376 Pageswhich are, you must be able to communicate, think creatively, plan effectively and deal with people. Copyright  © Virtual University of Pakistan 1 Human Resource Management (MGT501) INTRODUCTION TO HRM After studying this chapter, students should be able to understand the following: Describe HRM? Explain why are we concerned about HRM? Discuss Road-map of HRM VU Lesson 1 LESSON OVERVIEW This chapter introduces the students with the basic concepts of the human resource management (HRM)Read MoreUAE Consumer Lifestyle Analysis42818 Words   |  172 PagesHome 19 Households by Annual Disposable Income 19 Households by Number of Occupants 19 Single-person Households 20 Couples Without Children 21 Couples With Children 21 Single-parent Families 21 Table 18 Annual Disposable Income per Household (Current Value): 2005-2009 22 Table 19 Annual Disposable Income per Household (Constant 2009 Value): 2010-2020 22 Table 20 Households by Number of Persons: 2005-2009 22 Table 21 Households by Number of Persons: 2010-2020 23 Home Ownership 23 Running CostsRead MoreMedicare Policy Analysis447966 Words   |  1792 PagesAdministration Subtitle D—Community Living Assistance Services and Supports Subtitle E—Miscellaneous DIVISION D—INDIAN HEALTH CARE IMPROVEMENT TITLE I—AMENDMENTS TO INDIAN LAWS TITLE II—IMPROVEMENT OF INDIAN HEALTH CARE PROVIDED UNDER THE SOCIAL SECURITY ACT 2 DIVISION A—AFFORDABLE HEALTH CARE CHOICES 3 SEC. 100. PURPOSE; TABLE OF CONTENTS OF DIVISION; 1 4 GENERAL DEFINITIONS. rmajette on DSK29S0YB1PROD with BILLS 5 (a) PURPOSE.— 6 (1) IN 7 GENERAL.—The

Human cloning Persuasive Essay Example For Students

Human cloning Persuasive Essay Early in 1997 Dr. Ian Wilmont a Scottish scientist revealed to the world that he had completed a clone of an adult sheep named Dolly. With this huge step in science the world realized that cloning was no longer the plot of a science fiction movie but rather a realistic look into the future of science and medicine. Have you ever imagined what life would be like if we could eliminate human problems and diseases such as AIDs, cancer and human organ shortages? This is the question that arises when the subject of cloning is brought up and I believe that cloning is the next generation of medicine and can be beneficial to humanity for years to come. One of the strongest reasons to support that cloning is worthwhile to humanity is that it there would be a solution to organ limitation. One of the greatest problems in medicine today is that there has not been enough organs to go around to all of the patients that are in need of them. This in turn creates a lot of unnecessary deaths, and problems for patients. Currently in the U.S. only 2,300 of 40,000 Americans who needed a new heart received one. That means close to 94% of the patients did not receive one and this is only one organ in one country that were talking about. Statistics show that nearly one third of the patients on the waiting list for organs will die and even if they do receive an organ the human body has the tendency to reject organs which can cause serious illness or death. If we cloned human organs we would be eliminating a major killer of humans and if the organ was rejected by the patients body we could simply make another one to suit the patient. This would mean fewer complications, little or no waiting lists and almost no deaths because of organ shortages. Another great reason to clone human cells is that it has the potential to cure diseases. As of now we have not been able to solve the problems in many of the worlds deadliest diseases such as cancer and AIDS. There is also studies that show cloning can be used to stop hereditary diseases by getting rid of defective genes and replacing them with new ones that do not carry the disease. One of the newest advances in the field of cloning is the theory of immortality. Dr. Richard seed one of the leading scientists in the field of cloning says that it can be possible to reverse the aging process by allowing us to set are age back to say 20 or 30. This is possible because when a cell is cloned its age then becomes zero. Therefore older people could have new copies of their old cells implanted into them making them feel as if they were 20 instead of 70. This would allow humans to live to any age they want and they could choose when they want to die. Some people believe that this immoral or unethical, but imagine what life would be like in your elder years when you feel as if you are 20 years old and you don’t have to live with the fear of old age or death. Human cloning is beneficial to our existence on earth. It can help solve the problem of organ limitation, cure diseases and take a step toward immortality. Overall the whole issue of cloning is a great idea and in my opinion has only positive side effects. Cloning has the power to answer many medical questions, and the power to improve the quality of life.