CHILD ABUSE

The Family Resource Counseling Center (FRCC) prides itself on being a resource in the West Los Angeles area, adjacent to Beverly Hills and Santa Monica. It is a private practice therapy office providing services for infants, children, adolescents, adults, families, and couples. A variety of support and educational groups are available as well as testing and assessment. At FRCC, we provide counseling for issues of abuse and trauma, individually or in a group or family setting. We provide links below to assist you in gathering support and information.

Child abuse can take many forms and impact many people. Child abuse and neglect are defined by both Federal and State law. The Child Abuse Prevention and Treatment Act (CAPTA) is the Federal legislation that provides minimum standards for the definition of child abuse and neglect that States must incorporate in their statutory definitions. Under CAPTA as well as California State Statute, child abuse and neglect means, at a minimum: Any recent act or failure to act on the part of a parent or caretaker, which results in death, serious physical or emotional harm, sexual abuse, or exploitation, or an act or failure to act which presents an imminent risk of serious harm.

Specifically in California, child abuse or neglect includes:

• Physical injury inflicted by other than accidental means upon a child by another person
• Willful harming or injury of the child or the endangering of the person or health of the child
• Unlawful corporal punishment or injury

Willful harming or injuring of a child or the endangering of the person or health of a child indicates a situation in which any person willfully causes or permits any child to suffer, or inflicts thereon, unjustifiable physical pain or mental suffering, or having the care or custody of any child, willfully causes or permits the person or health of the child to be placed in a situation in which his or her person or health is endangered.

Neglect refers to the negligent treatment or the maltreatment of a child by a person responsible for the child’s welfare under circumstances indicating harm or threatened harm to the child’s health or welfare. The term includes both acts and omissions on the part of the responsible person.

Severe neglect is the negligent failure of a person having the care or custody of a child to protect the child from severe malnutrition or medically diagnosed non-organic failure to thrive. Severe neglect also signifies those situations of neglect where any person having the care or custody of a child willfully causes or permits the person or health of the child to be placed in a situation such that his or her person or health is endangered, including the intentional failure to provide adequate food, clothing, shelter, or medical care.

General neglect is the negligent failure of a person having the care or custody of a child to provide adequate food, clothing, shelter, medical care, or supervision where no physical injury to the child has occurred.

Standards for Reporting

     - The incident was willfully caused or permitted

     - An injury was inflicted by non-accidental means

This information is based on the California State Statute, provided by National Clearinghouse on Child Abuse and Neglect Information (http://nccanch.acf.hhs.gov/general/legal/statutes/search/searchresults.cfm):

Abuse is a very difficult subject to confront, often becoming a “family secret.” However, in order to begin the healing process, it is often necessary to receive psychological help outside of the family. A caring, nurturing environment where issues of trauma and abuse can be discussed safely is essential to recovery.

LINKS:

Prevent Child Abuse
www.preventchildabuse.com

Prevent Child Abuse America
www.preventchildabuse.org

Healthy Place
http://www.healthyplace.com/Communities/Abuse/Site/