Although we often focus on children being harmed or mistreated by strangers, most abuse is perpetrated by a parent or caretaker,someone who is supposed to love and care for the child. When we think of a parent who abuses a child the image is often of an angry, intoxicated person who is physically or emotionally abusive and intentionally harming the child. In most cases the child is actually being neglected. The Children’s Bureau (U.S Department of Health and Human Services, 2010) reported the percent of all child abuse victims who had experienced neglect in 2008 was just over 73%. The image of the intoxicated parent, however, is often accurate, as many parents who neglect and abuse their children are misusing substances. They are also often victims of domestic violence, and were themselves victims of child abuse and neglect. Often, these adults lack parenting skills and the resources or capacity to meet the needs of the children in their care. Unfortunately,there is no specific indicator that is known to cause child abuse and neglect. Researchers and professionalsin the field have identified risk factors impacting families that have been found to increase the probability of child abuse and neglect and poor developmental outcomesfor children. Risk factors can be found at the child, parent, family, and community levels. It makes sense really, as risk increases,so does the possibility of child abuse and neglect. READ MORE HERE

Risk and Protective Factors|Child Maltreatment|Violence

Child abuse Risk factors – Mayo Clinic

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