Child Welfare Information Gateway Children’s Bureau/ACYF/ACF/HHS 1250 Maryland Avenue, SW Eighth Floor Washington, DC 20024 800.394.3366 Email: [email protected]https://www.childwelfare.gov FACTSHEET FOR FAMILIES December 2013 Parenting a Child Who Has Experienced Abuse or Neglect What’s Inside: • What should I know about my child? • What is child abuse and neglect? • What are the effects of abuse and neglect? • How can I help my child heal? • Where can I find support? • Resources Introduction Children who have been abused or neglected need safe and nurturing relationships that address the effects of child maltreatment. If you are parenting a child who has been abused or neglected, you might have questions about your child’s experiences and the effects of those experiences. This factsheet is intended to help parents (birth,
16
Embed
Parenting a Child Who Has Experienced Abuse or Neglectdpss.co.riverside.ca.us/files/pdf/parenting-a-child-who-has-been... · Recognizing the signs of abuse and neglect is the first
This document is posted to help you gain knowledge. Please leave a comment to let me know what you think about it! Share it to your friends and learn new things together.
Transcript
Child Welfare Information GatewayChildren’s Bureau/ACYF/ACF/HHS1250 Maryland Avenue, SWEighth FloorWashington, DC 20024800.394.3366Email: [email protected]://www.childwelfare.gov
This material may be freely reproduced and distributed. However, when doing so, please credit Child Welfare Information Gateway. Available online at https://www.childwelfare.gov/pubs/parenting_CAN.cfm
For birth parents.Manychildrenwhoseparentsarereportedforchildmaltreatmentarenotremovedfromtheirhomes;instead,thefamilyreceivesin-homeservices.Forchildrenwhodoenterfostercare,theprimarygoalisusuallyfamilyreunification,andthemajorityofchildrenwhoenterfostercareduetochildabuseorneglecteventuallyreturnhome(U.S.DepartmentofHealthandHumanServices,2012).Inbothcases,thegoalistoreconnectandbuildstrongparent-childrelationshipsinasafehomeenvironmentthatpromoteschildandfamilywell-being.Whilebirthparentsmayknowjustaboutallthereistoknowabouttheirchild’sbackground,theymayneedtolearnmoreaboutanyfostercareorkinshipcareexperiencesthattheirchildhashad,andtheymayneedtolearnmoreaboutthepossibleimpactofabuseorneglectontheirchild.Youmaywishtotalkwithyoursocialworkeraboutyourchild’shistory,andsharingyourconcernswillhelpyoursocialworkerhelpyouandyourfamily,includinghelpseekingprofessionalmentalhealthservices.Informationabouttherapyandsupportgroupsisprovidedlaterinthisfactsheet.
For kinship caregivers.Somechildrenwhohavebeenabusedorneglectedenterformalorinformalkinshipcarewithagrandparent,aunt,orotherrelative.Kinshipcaregiversmaybecomeresponsibleforachildunexpectedlyormayconfrontissuesthatdidn’texistwhentheyraisedtheirownchildren.Kinshipcaregiversmayormaynothaveagoodhistoryoftheirchild’sbackgroundandanymaltreatmentexperiences.Theymaynothavereceivedtraininginprovidingout-of-homecareandmayneedtobebroughtuptodateonwhathashappenedtothechild,aswellasanypossibleimpactofabuseorneglect.
Parenting a Child Who Has Experienced Abuse or Neglect
3This material may be freely reproduced and distributed. However, when doing so, please credit Child Welfare Information Gateway. Available online at https://www.childwelfare.gov/pubs/parenting_CAN.cfm
https://www.childwelfare.gov
For foster and adoptive parents.Fosterandadoptiveparentsmaynotbeawareoftheirchild’spasttraumasortheextentoftheabuseorneglect.Althoughtheyhavereceivedtrainingtopreparethemtocareforthechild,theymaynotbecompletelyreadyfortheuniquesituationofaparticularchild.Whilechildwelfareagenciesarerequiredtoprovideallavailableinformationaboutachild,someinformationmaynotbeobtainable,andsomechildrenmaynotfeelcomfortabledisclosingpastabuseorneglect.
Parenting a Child Who Has Experienced Abuse or Neglect https://www.childwelfare.gov
4This material may be freely reproduced and distributed. However, when doing so, please credit Child Welfare Information Gateway. Available online at https://www.childwelfare.gov/pubs/parenting_CAN.cfm
What Is Trauma?Traumaisanyeventthatthreatenssomeone’swell-beingorthewell-beingofalovedone.Itcantakemanyforms,fromexperiencingmaltreatmenttowitnessingdomesticviolenceorsurvivinganaturaldisaster.Childrenandyouth’sresponsetotraumavaries;somemaybereluctanttotrust,somemayactout,andsomemaybewithdrawn.Inextremecases,
Parenting a Child Who Has Experienced Abuse or Neglect
5This material may be freely reproduced and distributed. However, when doing so, please credit Child Welfare Information Gateway. Available online at https://www.childwelfare.gov/pubs/parenting_CAN.cfm
Effects on Child DevelopmentAgreatdealofresearchinrecentyearshasexaminedchildandadolescentbraindevelopment.Wenowknowthatthewaythebraindevelopscanchangewhenachildhasexperiencedstressfromsevereorongoingabuseorneglect(CenterfortheDevelopingChild,n.d.).Maltreatmentcandelayoraffectthewaysachildisabletocontrolhisorheremotions,seerightfromwrong,identifyconsequencesofactions,andlearnfrommistakes.
Parenting a Child Who Has Experienced Abuse or Neglect https://www.childwelfare.gov
6This material may be freely reproduced and distributed. However, when doing so, please credit Child Welfare Information Gateway. Available online at https://www.childwelfare.gov/pubs/parenting_CAN.cfm
Effects on Health Whilechildabuseandneglectcanleavephysicalscars,therealsocanbeanumberofunderlying,lessvisibleeffects.Severalstudieshavedemonstratedalinkbetweennegativeexperiencesduringchildhoodandpooradulthealthoutcomesthatcanleadtoearlydeath,including(Saul,2012;Felitti&Anda,2009):
• Heart,lung,andliverdiseases
• Highbloodpressure,diabetes,asthma,andobesity
• Alcoholandotherdrugabuse
• Sexuallytransmitteddiseases
Social, Psychological, and Behavioral Effects Childrenandyouthwhohaveexperiencedabuseorneglectmayalsoexperienceoneormoreofthefollowingpsychologicalandbehavioraleffects:
Parenting a Child Who Has Experienced Abuse or Neglect
7This material may be freely reproduced and distributed. However, when doing so, please credit Child Welfare Information Gateway. Available online at https://www.childwelfare.gov/pubs/parenting_CAN.cfm
Building Resilience and Promoting Protective FactorsResilienceisachildoryouth’sabilitytocope,andeventhrive,followinganegativeexperience.Thisisnotaninherenttraitbutsomethingthathastobedevelopedandnurtured.
• Express your support.Expressloveandsupportforyourchildverballyandphysically.Expressyourlovethroughwords,notes,andhugs.
• Teach your child the importance of healthy behaviors.Haveopenandhonesttalksaboutthedangersofdrugsandalcohol,smoking,andsexualpromiscuity.Teachyourchildtheimportanceofeatingproperlyandexercising.
Parenting a Child Who Has Experienced Abuse or Neglect https://www.childwelfare.gov
8This material may be freely reproduced and distributed. However, when doing so, please credit Child Welfare Information Gateway. Available online at https://www.childwelfare.gov/pubs/parenting_CAN.cfm
Building a Strong Relationship With Your Child Achild’searliestrelationshipsaresomeofthemostimportant.Attachmentisthesenseofsecurityandsafetyachildfeelswithcaregiversandisimportantforyourchild’sphysical,emotional,mental,andpsychologicaldevelopment.Itisformedthroughconsistent,positiveaffectionandemotionalinteractions.Theissuesandchallengesmostcaregiversfacewithchildrenwhohaveexperiencedmaltreatmentistheresultofabreakinattachmentduringthefirst3yearsoflife(Keck&Kupecky,2002).
Tofosterasecurerelationshipwithachild:
• Be available.Provideconsistentsupporttobuildfeelingsoftrustandsafety.
What Is the Difference Between Child Abuse and Child Discipline?Itisnormalforchildrentoactoutandchallengeaparentorcaregiver’sauthority.Toddlersthrowtantrums.Teenagersargue.Thewaysinwhichparentsguideachildanddisciplinepoorbehavioriscriticaltoshapingmorepositivebehavior.Children
Parenting a Child Who Has Experienced Abuse or Neglect
9This material may be freely reproduced and distributed. However, when doing so, please credit Child Welfare Information Gateway. Available online at https://www.childwelfare.gov/pubs/parenting_CAN.cfm
Practical Discipline Tips or TechniquesThefollowingtipsmayhelpyousafelydisciplineyourchild:
• Role modeling:Childrenlearnmoreaboutbehaviorbywatchingadultsthaninanyotherway.Beapositiveexampleforexpressingemotionsanddealingwithfrustration.Staycalminsteadofyelling.
• Never hit or shake a child: Hittingisnotausefuldisciplinetoolforyourchildren.Besidesthepotentialphysicalabuseandinjury,hittingandotherphysicalpunishmentsarenoteffectivewaystodiscipline.Theyteachchildrenthatitisacceptabletohurtpeople,andtheymakechildrenmuchtooangrytobesorryforwhatthey’vedone.
Parenting a Child Who Has Experienced Abuse or Neglect https://www.childwelfare.gov
10This material may be freely reproduced and distributed. However, when doing so, please credit Child Welfare Information Gateway. Available online at https://www.childwelfare.gov/pubs/parenting_CAN.cfm
• Gear the discipline to the child’s developmental stage:Don’texpectachildofanyagetoperformsomethingheorsheisnotreadyfor.Allowyourchildtolearnathisorherownpace.Breaktasksdownintosmall,manageablesteps,sothatheorshefeelsasenseofsuccessandaccomplishment.
Parent Education and Training Parenteducationprogramsaregearedtowardreinforcingyourparentingskillsandteachingyounewstrategies.Theyfosterparentleadershipandempoweryoutoshapeyourfamilyandadvocatefortheirneeds.
Parenting a Child Who Has Experienced Abuse or Neglect
11This material may be freely reproduced and distributed. However, when doing so, please credit Child Welfare Information Gateway. Available online at https://www.childwelfare.gov/pubs/parenting_CAN.cfm
Therapy or Support Groups Dealingwiththeeffectsofmaltreatmentcanbechallenging,andyouandyourfamilymaywishtoseekprofessionalhelp.Therapy,counseling,andsupportgroupscanprovidechildrenandcaregiverswiththeskillsnecessarytobuildhealthyrelationships,overcomepasttrauma,andpreventreoccurringorfuturetrauma.
Parenting a Child Who Has Experienced Abuse or Neglect https://www.childwelfare.gov
12This material may be freely reproduced and distributed. However, when doing so, please credit Child Welfare Information Gateway. Available online at https://www.childwelfare.gov/pubs/parenting_CAN.cfm
Parenting a Child Who Has Experienced Abuse or Neglect
13This material may be freely reproduced and distributed. However, when doing so, please credit Child Welfare Information Gateway. Available online at https://www.childwelfare.gov/pubs/parenting_CAN.cfm
Parenting a Child Who Has Experienced Abuse or Neglect https://www.childwelfare.gov
14This material may be freely reproduced and distributed. However, when doing so, please credit Child Welfare Information Gateway. Available online at https://www.childwelfare.gov/pubs/parenting_CAN.cfm
Parenting a Child Who Has Experienced Abuse or Neglect
15This material may be freely reproduced and distributed. However, when doing so, please credit Child Welfare Information Gateway. Available online at https://www.childwelfare.gov/pubs/parenting_CAN.cfm