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What is child abuse?

Child abuse and neglect are serious public health problems and adverse childhood experiences (ACEs). They can have long-term impacts on health, opportunity, and wellbeing. This issue includes all types of abuse and neglect of a child under the age of 18 by a parent, caregiver, another minor, or another person in a custodial role (such as a religious leader, a coach, a teacher) that results in harm, the potential for harm, or threat of harm to a child.

There are four common types of abuse & neglect:

Physical abuse is the intentional use of physical force that can result in physical injury. Examples include hitting, kicking, shaking, burning, or other shows of force against a child.

Sexual abuse can involve exposing a child to sexual material, forcing them to watch or listen to sex acts, or any contact with the genitals intended for sexual gratification or humiliation. It includes behaviors such as fondling, penetration, and exposing a child to other sexual activities.

Emotional abuse refers to behaviors that harm a child’s self-worth or emotional well-being. Examples include name-calling, shaming, rejecting, withholding love, and threatening.

Neglect is the failure to meet a child’s basic physical and emotional needs due to reasons other than poverty. These needs include housing, food, clothing, education, access to medical care, education, and having feelings validated and appropriately responded to.

Signs & Symptoms of Child Abuse

Signs that a child is being abused are often present, but they can be indistinguishable from other signs of child stress, distress, or trauma. Knowing what to look for can help.

Signs of child abuse can be physical and/or emotional, with physical signs being less common. Emotional signs can range from “too perfect” behavior to withdrawal, depression, or unexplained anger. It’s important to remember that some children may show no signs at all. There is also red flag behaviors you can identify if you know what to look for to help intervene in the sexual abuse 'grooming' process.

Emotional Signs

Emotional and behavioral signs or changes are more common than physical signs and can include:

  • Anxiety and depression

  • Sleep disturbances, including nightmares or night terrors

  • Change in eating habits

  • Unusual fear of certain people or places; reluctance to be alone with a certain person

  • Changes in mood that could including anger, aggressiveness towards parents, siblings, friends, pets

  • Rebellion or withdrawal; runaway behavior

  • Change in attitude towards school or academic performance; lack of interest in friends, sports, or other activities

  • Unexplained or frequent health problems like headaches or stomach aches

  • Poor self-esteem; avoidance of relationships

  • Self-mutilation or change in body perception, like thinking of self or body as dirty or bad; suicidal thoughts

  • Regression to previously outgrown behaviors, for example, bedwetting or thumb sucking

  • Abnormal sexual behaviors or knowledge of advanced sexual language and behaviors

  • Too “perfect” behavior or overly compliant behavior

Physical Signs

Direct physical signs of sexual abuse are not common. However, when physical signs are present, they may include bruising, bleeding, redness and bumps, or scabs around the mouth, genital, or anus. Urinary tract infections, sexually transmitted diseases, and abnormal vaginal or penile discharge are also warning signs. There are other indirect physical signs that include:

  • Persistent or recurring pain during urination or bowel movements

  • Wetting or soiling accidents unrelated to toilet training

  • Sexually transmitted diseases

  • Chronic stomach pain

  • Headaches

If you see physical signs of abuse, have your child examined by a qualified medical professional immediately, or call the police.

How can you tell if an adult is taking too much interest in your child?

Child grooming is a deliberate process by which offenders gradually initiate and maintain sexual relationships with victims in secrecy. On the surface, grooming a child can look like a close relationship between the offending adult, the targeted child and (potentially) the child’s caregivers. By recognizing grooming behavior you can intervene, below are some examples of red flag behaviors:

  • Special attention/preference to a child

  • Gift giving

  • Touching or hugging the child

  • Sympathetic listener

  • Offers to help the family

  • Gaining access via the internet

Community Resources

CAC staff are available to provide outreach and education to groups and organizations and requested in the community.

How to Report Abuse

You can always report child abuse to law enforcement or your county department of human services. If you or a child are in imminent danger, you should call 9-1-1 immediately. To report to law enforcement, call the police department where you believe the abuse occurred. You can also call your local police department, if you are unsure where it occurred.

To report child abuse or neglect allegations to your county department of human services, please use a number below based on your location.

  • You are able to make a report 24 hours a day/7days a week:

    Monday – Friday from 8:00 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. call 920-683-4230.

    For Mental Health and Substance Abuse issues nights, weekends, and holidays call 1-888-552-6642.

    For Child Protective Services and Youth Services issues nights, weekends, and holidays call 920-683-4201.

  • Contact the Child Protection Access Unit, Monday–Friday, from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. via phone at 262-238-8200 or 262-284-8200.

    Call your local police nonemergency dispatch after 5 p.m. on weekdays, holidays, and weekends.

  • If you have Child Protective Services concerns, please call (920) 459-3207, Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. until 5:00 p.m. and ask for the CPS Access Worker on call. If your concern is outside our normal work hours (from 5:00 p.m. through 8:00 a.m. Monday through Friday, or on a weekend or holiday), please contact your nearest law enforcement agency. Please do not leave an email message when it is an immediate or urgent concern.

  • To Report Child Abuse/Neglect:

    Call: 262-335-4888

    Available 24/7/365