Facing The Issue: A Mechanech’s Guide For Responding To Child Abuse

Abused children have quite often found difficulty in confiding their pain and fear to even trustworthy adults. Their limited ability to express what they are feeling is paired with a misguided feeling of guilt and a dire fear of the consequences from their abuser. Statistically, the abusers are not strangers but, instead, are found in the home, school, or religious circle of the children. The victims must be able to find a strong and steadfast advocate to whom they can confide, one who will hear their plea for protection.

When the young victims begin to exhibit hints of their abuse, it is of vital importance that adults have been trained to see the physical and behavioral indicators and be able to take action when necessary. More schools have made it a priority to address the problem of child abuse, as it has become clear that this issue crosses all social lines. The four basic areas in which abuse in children may be detected are: physical indicators, behavioral indicators, home environmental problems, and parental clues of distress/dysfunction. Some forms of abuse include: physical, emotional, sexual, and neglect.

One sign alone may not be cause for alarm, but a pattern of repetition or a combination of signs warrants a closer look at the situation. These children are not likely to openly approach adults for help but their hinted admissions, be it indirect, disguised, or conditional, begs the attention of those entrusted in their care. Responding quickly and knowledgably to their disclosure is the universal responsibility of each adult in the community. Not being informed about the process or the clues will leave possibility of children remaining in dangerous conditions, and that is a most regrettable risk to take.