Advocacy & Support Services

Physical Abuse

A physically abused child may have frequent, unusual or unexplained injuries, and may sometimes tell you that an adult is abusing them. It is not your job to investigate. Report the child's story to Child Protective Services and leave the investigation to them.

Suspicious injuries that may indicate child abuse include:

• Frequent accidents or injuries
• Any unexplained injury
• Many bruises, or bruises in an infant or child who is not walking yet
• Bruises in unusual places, such as on or behind ears, on the neck, abdomen or on the back of arms or legs
• Burns or bruises showing the pattern of an object
• Frequent or unexplained broken bones
• Broken bones in an infant or a child who is not walking yet
• Human bite marks
• An injury that obviously requires medical care but the parent delays seeking medical care  
  
  

Suspect Physical Child Abuse

If the child:

• Reports the injury is from a parent or adult caregiver
• Wears clothing to purposely conceal an injury or that is not seasonal, such as long sleeves and pants in the summer
• Refuses to undress for gym or for required physical exams at school
• Seems frightened by parents or caregivers
• Is often late or absent from school
• Comes early to school and seems reluctant to go home afterwards
• Is overly compliant, withdrawn, gives in readily and allows others to do for them without protest

If the parent(s):

• Takes the child to different physicians or hospitals for each injury
• Gives inconsistent or vague explanations for the child's injuries
• Describes the child as evil or bad
• Has  little or no interest in the child's well-being
• Does not respond appropriate to the child's pain
• Blames the child for their injuries
• Consistently criticizes and has inappropriate expectations of the child

Be aware that parents and others who care for children may be caring and good caretakers under most circumstances, but given a particular set of circumstances, they may hurt a child.