8 COMMON SIGNS OF CHILD ABUSE
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Numb to emotions Lack of personal care or hygiene Inappropriate sexual behaviors/knowledge Wary of adult contact; may shrink at the approach of adults Lack of academic performance or ability to concentrate
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Inverness Campus: Jefferson County Child Protective Services Business Hours - 205-423-4500 After hours - 205-324-2135 Shelby County Child Protective Services Business Hours – 205-669-3000 After Hours – 205-669-4181 As a foster parent for 15 years, I saw first-hand the long-term effects of child abuse. Some of the children I fostered are now grown with families of their own. Some have been able to forgive, but by in large family relations are so dysfunctional that even when they try to leave the hurt behind, the hurt hangs on to their hearts. Recently I spoke with a former foster daughter and she and I discussed one of her greatest fears, which was turning out like her birth mom. Although we fostered and loved her and her adoptive family has loved her and helped her, she can’t stop trying to figure out how her birth mother could do the things she did. I told her she won’t be able to understand because it wasn’t understandable. But there are steps she can take to make sure she doesn’t fall into the same pit such as counseling and asking for help when feeling overwhelmed.
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Prevention
Now that we know how to recognize it and how to report it, what steps can we take to prevent child abuse? Statistics show there are certain factors that make a family more at risk for child abuse like a history of abuse, violence or even poverty. A child who was abused as a child is more likely to abuse as a parent. But there are preventive measures. We can help promote awareness by something as simple as a blue ribbon. We can attend events, we can donate to services for families at risk and we can refuse to look away when the signs of abuse are evident.
Stephanie Rodda is an adoptive mom of seven children and lives in the Birmingham area with her husband and children. She blogs, writes freelance articles, speaks to groups and at events and has authored two fictional novels which can be found at Amazon.com.
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