Each state defines what constitutes child abuse; there is no federal law or standard that applies throughout the country. In Iowa, the Legislature defines child abuse as several types of harm suffered as the result of the acts or omissions of someone who is responsible for the care of a child.
Resmiye Oral, MD, clinical director of the Child Protection Program at University of Iowa Children's Hospital, talks about child abuse:
What are the 'several types of harm' as defined by the state of Iowa that are considered forms of child abuse?
Iowa code recognizes nine categories of abuse and neglect.
- Neglect
- Physical abuse
- Sexual abuse
- Emotional abuse
- Exposing a child to illegal drugs,
- Possessing or manufacturing an illegal drugs in the presence of a child
- Engaging a child in prostitution or bestiality
- Cohabiting with a known sex offender in the presence of a child
How does the economy play a role in the number of child abuse cases reported every year?
Poverty or economic stress is associated with many risk factors of abuse, but mostly with stress levels in family life. Increased stress levels may cause anxiety and depression, increase tension between partners, all of which are known risk factors for abuse and neglect.
Is Iowa seeing an increase in reported cases of child abuse?
Definitely! The number of patients admitted to University of Iowa Children's Hospital at least doubled—if not tripled— within the last four months, mostly for physical abuse and neglect.
Are there simple prevention tools that anyone who has contact with a child should know?
Every category of abuse has a different prevention strategy.
For shaken baby syndrome prevention, for instance, professionals should educate the person in terms of knowledge of child development to prevent unrealistic expectations, teach young parents and babysitters how to recognize frustration and keep the baby safe when they are frustrated.
The good news is that the Iowa legislature passed a shaken-baby prevention bill and designated the Iowa Department of Public Health the role of working with professionals to establish a statewide shaken baby prevention program.
In general prevention, to prevent physical abuse and neglect, I recommend every parent or parent-to-be to attend a parenting class and read books on child rearing and development.
Are there signs or symptoms of abuse a child may present that any one of us might notice?
Certainly! Multiple bruises of the upper arms, thighs, trunk, palms, ears, black eyes, bruises of various stages of healing, deformities of extremities with no explanation, blood stained pants or underwear with no explanation, a child with frequent reportedly accidental injuries, or an unkempt child are some of the observations one can make in an abused and neglected child.
If child abuse is suspected, what steps should be taken for the well being of that child?
First of all, the person who suspects abuse must report it to Department of Human Services (DHS) if they are a mandatory reporter. If not, lay people are welcomed to report the situation to DHS as a permissive reporter. The reporter's identity will be kept confidential by DHS.
Following a report, a DHS worker visits the family and assesses social circumstances and the family needs in order to make it more functional. If circumstances are deemed detrimental to the child's well being, the child may be removed and placed in safe alternative care. The family is then offered services in preparation for reunification.
Now, many counties use the family conference system, which involves family members and their support systems working together with DHS to develop a recovery plan. The family's progress is assessed every six months to determine whether reunification is feasible. If not, at the end of a 1 2 to 18 month period, DHS may request termination of parental rights to put the child up for adoption. |
