What is Child Abuse?
If you are under 18 years old and are being abused, it is known as child abuse.
Physical abuse is when someone hurts you on
purpose, leaving a mark. Hitting, choking, kicking, burning, hair-pulling are
ways someone can hurt you. Abuse can cause serious harm and it might cause cuts,
bruises, a sprain, broken bones, or unconsciousness.
Emotional abuse is when your mental or emotional
state is seriously harmed. You can be emotionally injured if you are rejected,
exposed to violence, alcohol or drug abuse, mental illness in your home, threatened,
put down or ignored all the time.
Sexual abuse is when sexual contact, activity
or behaviour is forced upon you. It includes any sexual touching, intercourse,
exploitation or exposure and can be perpetuated by anyone, including a parent, relative, friend or a stranger.
Neglect is when your caregivers fail to properly
take care of you, causing serious harm to your development or endangers you
in any way. Physical neglect is the failure to meet your physical needs. This
includes failing to provide adequate nutrition, clothing, shelter, health care
and protection from harm. Emotional neglect is the failure to meet your
emotional needs for affection and a sense of belonging.
Staying Safe
You have a right to be safe. If someone in your house or someone you know is abusing you,
it is your parent's or guardian's job to keep you safe. If they cannot
keep you safe, you need to get help. When you call for help, you do not have
to identify yourself. Call a worker at Calgary and Area Child and Family Services (297-2995).
If you need protective services, a worker will determine what services
will be best for you and your family. If at all possible, the worker
will try to work with your family to improve the situation.
The worker will consider:
- What course of action is in your best interest?
- What do you want?
- If your family is given help and support, will you be safe at home?
- Do you have relatives, or other sources of support that your family can
utilize?
- Would removing you from your home help the situation, or would it be worse
for you?
Only if you are in immediate danger, will you be removed from your home and
taken to a safe place. If you must leave your home, the worker must have
a plan to reunite you and your family as soon as possible, or to provide another
permanent home for you.
In foster care you live with a family in their own home. Foster parents take
care of you ad their foster child. They might have their own children
and they might have other foster children.
While you live in the foster home, they try to treat you like one of the family.
They do the same things with you as they do with their own children and they expect
you to follow the rules of the house. Your foster parents will help you understand
how things work in their home.
Reference: Taken from "Being In Care; Things Kids Ask About"
pg.9, AF&SS, 1995.
Getting Help
Do you know someone that is being abused?
Everybody has a responsibility to report child abuse. Call the Child Protection
line at (403) 297-2995 if you believe a child is in need of protection. Your
report is always taken seriously. Remember, you do not have to prove that abuse
is actually occurring; that is the job of child protection staff and police.
Your responsibility is to report your concerns and beliefs about suspected abuse
or neglect.
In some situations, including physical or sexual abuse, the police will be
informed. Based on the particular circumstances, they may choose to become involved.
If you are being abused
You have a right to be safe. If you are not safe, you need to call the Child
Protection line at (403) 297-2995 to get help. You do not have to identify yourself.
- Calgary and Area Child and Family Services Child Protection Line (403) 297-2995
- Provincial Child Abuse Hotline
1-800-638-0715
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