This page contains resources on domestic violence. It explains the differences between physical, sexual and emotional abuse and what signs to look for if you think you know someone who has been abused. We've also included ways to react if someone tells you they have been abused and service providers that can help an abused child.

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Domestic Violence includes physical, sexual, and emotional abuse.

Physical Abuse of a child is that which results in actual or potential physical harm from an interaction or lack of an interaction, which is reasonably within the control of a parent or person in a position of responsibility, power or trust.

Emotional Abuse includes the failure to provide a developmentally appropriate, supportive environment, including the availability of a primary attachment figure, so that the child can establish a stable and full range of emotional and social competencies commensurate with her or his personal potentials and in the context of the society in which the child dwells. There may also be acts towards the child that cause or have a high probability of causing harm to the child's health or physical, mental spiritual, moral or social development. Acts include restriction of movement, patterns of belittling, denigrating, scapegoating, threatening, scaring, discriminating, ridiculing or other non-physical forms of hostile or rejecting treatment.

Child Sexual Abuse is the involvement of a child in sexual activity that he or she does not fully comprehend is unable to give informed consent to, or that violate the laws or social taboos of society. Child sexual abuse is evidenced by this activity between a child and an adult or another child who by age or development is in a relationship of responsibility, trust or power, the activity being intended to gratify or satisfy the needs of the other person.

	Signs & Symptoms

Possible Emotional/Behavioral Signs of Child Abuse

• Sudden decline in school performance or acting out
• Intense anger, aggressiveness or disruptive behavior
• Extreme mood swings and crying spells
• Poor self-image or low self esteem
• Lack of or inability to trust
• Excessive nervousness, guilt or shame
• Sadness, withdrawal, depressed, or passive behavior
• Self-destructive, self-abusive, or suicidal
• Sexual concerns, preoccupations, or acting out sexually
• Refusal to remove outer garments
• Difficulty forming new relationships and peer problems
• Fear of being alone, going home, parents, or of other adults
• Intrusive, recurrent thoughts, flashbacks, or violent fantasies, nightmares or night terrors
• Refusal to discuss what occurs in their home, or being overly secretive
• Enuresis (bed wetting or daytime accidents)
• Eating disorders
• Memory problems
  
  

Possible Physical or Sexual Signs of Child Abuse

• Bruises, burns, cuts, swelling, welts, or bite marks
• Unexplained injuries and/or conflicting explanations
• Fractures (especially those that are spiral)
• Drab marks on the arms or shoulders
• Head injuries (including loss of hair from hair pulling)
• Eye, jaw, and nose fractures, or tooth injury
• Sexually transmitted disease