There are several types of child abuse, including; physical abuse, emotional abuse, sexual abuse, and neglect. Abused children cannot predict how their parents/caregivers will act. Their world is unpredictable and often frightening.

Physical abuse involves harm to the child; cases include evidence of skin bruising, bleeding, malnutrition, failure to thrive, burns, fracture of a bone, subdural hematoma, tissue swelling or death AND there is not a justifiable reason for the condition or death.

Emotional abuse involves constant belittling, shaming, humiliation, name calling, telling a child he or she is worthless, no good, bad or a mistake, frequent yelling, threatening or bullying, ignoring or rejecting a child, limited physical contact with the child and exposing a child to violence or abuse of others.

Sexual abuse includes criminal sexual contact, incest or criminal sexual penetration or exploitation.

Neglect includes abandonment of a child by a parent or caregiver, the failure of a parent or caregiver to provide a child with proper parental care, education, medical or other care or control necessary for the child’s well being and when a child is physically, emotionally or sexually abused and the child’s parent or caregiver knew or should have known of the abuse and failed to take reasonable steps to protect the child from further harm.