Types of Child Abuse in Group Homes

WASHINGTON, D.C., MARYLAND & VIRGINIA

 

Group homes are intended to be a safe haven for orphans, abused children, and adolescents going through drug, alcohol or detention-center rehabilitation programs. However, these facilities are routinely understaffed,  pay their staff low wages, offer little staff training and expect excruciatingly long work hours. The combination of troubled children and poorly trained staff easily leads to circumstances of child abuse.

 

According to Medline Plus, child abuse is defined as doing something or failing to do something that results in harm to a child or puts that child at risk for harm. Child abuse can be physical, sexual, or emotional. Neglect, failing to provide for a child’s needs, is also a form of child abuse.

 

Group homes are supposed to be a place where children receive counseling and therapy from licensed professionals; they are to also receive support and emotional connection they did not experience in their own families. Sadly, in some group homes, children are not being supported and cared for but are being abused and neglected.

 

It is important to understand the many types of child abuse that can potentially occur in a group home setting:

Neglectis failure to provide for a child's basic needs. Neglect may be:

·        Physical - failure to provide necessary food or shelter, or lack of appropriate supervision

·        Medical - failure to provide necessary medical or mental health treatment

·        Educational - failure to educate a child or attend to special education needs

·        Emotional - inattention to a child's emotional needs, failure to provide psychological care, or permitting a  child to use alcohol or other drugs

Physical abuse is physical injury (ranging from minor bruises to severe injuries or death) as a result of punching, beating, kicking, biting, shaking, throwing, stabbing, choking, hitting (with a hand, stick, strap, or other object), burning, or otherwise harming a child. Such injury is considered abuse regardless of whether the caretaker intended to hurt the child.

Sexual abuse includes fondling a child's genitals, penetration, incest, rape, sodomy, indecent exposure, and exploitation through prostitution or the production of pornographic materials.

Emotional abuse is a pattern of behavior that impairs a child's emotional development or sense of self-worth. This may include constant criticism, threats, or rejection, as well as withholding love, support, or guidance. Emotional abuse is often difficult to prove and find evidence of. Emotional abuse is almost always present with other types of abuse.

It is also important to remember that this abuse may come from an adult caretaker within the group home or from another child in the facility. In either case, abusive actions cause severe and long-lasting damage and should be reported immediately to a law enforcement or child protection agency.

If you or someone you love has been the victim of abuse in a group home setting in Virginia, Maryland, or Washington, D.C., you have been through enough –let the experienced abuse attorneys at Chaikin & Sherman, P.C. take care of the complicated legalities while you focus on recovering. We work hard to get you the compensation you deserve, so please email or call today. We are committed to obtaining justice for you - the victim.

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