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Violence Affecting Asian-American and Pacific Islander Communities

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Child and Elder Abuse

Definition

The National Center for State Courts defined family violence as, "the occurrence of an act of violence, coercion, or intimidation by a family or household member against another household or family member that could result in the filing of felony or misdemeanor charges, the issuance of a civil protection order, or an action for civil damages. Family or household members include: persons who are related by blood or adoption; (f) persons who are related or formerly related by marriage; (g) persons who have a child in common; and (h) minor children of a person in a relationship that is described in paragraphs (a) through (g)."1

Child Abuse2

Any recent act or failure to act on the part of a parent or caretaker, which results in death, serious physical or emotional harm, sexual abuse, or exploitation, or an act or failure to act which presents an imminent risk of serious harm.

Sexual Abuse2

The employment, use, persuasion, inducement, enticement, or coercion of any child to engage in, or assist any other person to engage in, any sexually explicit conduct or simulation of such conduct for the purpose of producing a visual depiction of such conduct. It is also the rape, and in cases of caretaker or interfamilial relationships, statutory rape, molestation, prostitution, or other form of sexual exploitation of children, or incest with children.

Substance abuse2

•  Manufacture of a controlled substance in the presence of child or on the premises occupied by a child

•  Allowing a child to be present where the chemicals or equipment for the manufacture of controlled substances are used or stored

•  Selling, distributing, or giving drugs or alcohol to a child

•  Use of a controlled substance by a caregiver that impairs the caregivers ability to adequately care for the child

•  Exposure of the child to drug paraphernalia or the criminal sale or distribution of drugs, or drug-related activity

Emotional Abuse2

Injury to the psychological capacity or emotional stability of the child as evidenced by an observable or substantial change in behavior, emotional response, or cognition, or as evidenced by anxiety, depression, withdrawal, or aggressive behavior.

Child Neglect

Can include physical neglect (withholding food, clothing, shelter or other physical necessities), emotional neglect (withholding love, comfort or affection) or medical neglect (withholding needed medical care).

Abandonment2

A parent/guardian(s) identity or whereabouts are unknown, the child has been left by the parent/guardian(s) in circumstances where the child suffers serious harm, or the parent has failed to maintain contact with the child or to provide reasonable support for a specified period of time.

Elder Abuse3

When the abuse happens to a person whose age is sixty or more, it's considered as an elder abuse. Elder abuse can be either intentional or unintentional hurting. It can also be either physical or emotional. The two most common locations where elder abuse occurs are the elder's home or a nursing home or other long term care facility.

The types of elder abuse are:3

  • Physical abuse of the elderly : Physical force that results in injury, impairment, or physical pain, or the threat of such physical force.
  • Emotional abuse of the elderly (psychological or verbal) : Emotional elder abuse is a verbal or nonverbal act that inflicts emotional pain, anguish, or distress on the elder. It is sometimes also known as verbal abuse, mental abuse, or psychological abuse.
  • Neglect or abandonment of elders by caregivers : Neglect of the elderly can be either physical or emotional. Neglect consists of confinement, isolation, or denial of essential services.
  • Self-neglect by elders : Elders can neglect themselves by not caring about their own health or safety. Elder self-neglect can lead to illness or injury. The senior may deny themselves or ignore the need for food or water, proper clothing for the weather, bathing or other personal hygiene, essential medications or medical attention for serious illness, etc.
  • Sexual abuse of the elderly : Elder sexual abuse is sexual contact with an elder without that person's consent. This includes coerced nudity, telling dirty stories, fondling, touching, forcing the elder to observe sexual acts, etc.
  • Healthcare fraud or healthcare abuse of the elderly : This includes not providing healthcare, but charging for it, overcharging or double-billing for medical care or services, getting kick-backs for referrals to other providers or for prescribing certain drugs, patient abuse or neglect in a hospital, at home, or in a residential care setting, etc.

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Importance

The following are U.S. child abuse statistics from 2003:4/5

•  In 2003, an estimated 906,000 children were victims of abuse or neglect.

•  An estimated 2.9 million referrals (rate=39.1 per 1,000 children) concerning 5.5 million children were received by the Child Protective Services (CPS).

•  Nationally, 63.2 percent of child victims experienced neglect (including medical neglect). 18.9 percent were physically abused, 9.9 percent were sexually abused, and 4.9 percent were emotionally or psychologically maltreated.

•  In 2003, an estimated 1,500 children died of abuse or neglect (rate= 2.00 children per 100,000). In 2002, the rate was 1.98 children per 100,000.

•  In regards to gender, 48.3 percent were boys; 51.7 percent were girls.

•  Younger children from ages 0-3 years of age had the highest rates of victimization (rate=16.4 percent per 1,000).

•  In regards to ethnicity, Pacific Islander (21.4), American Indian (21.3), Alaska Native (20.4), African American (20.4) children had the highest rates of victimization per 1,000. Asian children had a rate of 2.7 per 1,000.

•  In 2002, more than one-half of all abuse reports made to CPS agencies came from professionals who had contact with the children. Other frequent reports came from teachers, law enforcement/legal/criminal justice personnel, social service workers, and medical personnel – ALL OF THESE PEOPLE ARE REQUIRED BY LAW TO REPORT SUSPECTED ABUSE OR NEGLECT.

•  Additionally, in 2002, 44 percent of abuse and neglect reports came from parents, other relatives, friends, and neighbors.

•  Anonymous reports only accounted for 10 percent of reports.

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Elder Abuse6

  • San Francisco Protective Services reported that there are 2,121 active cases of elder abuse as of March 2001, and 10.06% of the cases involved Asian Americans. Out of that 10.06%, 6.81% were Chinese descent, 2.7% were Southeast Asian Americans, 0.09% were of Japanese descents, and 0.57% were Korean American.
  • Of the reported elder abuse, according to a 1996 United States Department of Health and Human Services finding, 20% of the incidences were perpetrated by family members, 17.3% suffered from abuse by hospital workers, 11.3% from law enforcement, 8.4% by medical authorities, and 9.1% by friends or neighbors. The remaining 8.4% of the cases involved self-infliction.

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Barriers To Child Abuse Reporting7
  • Individuals/professionals working with children do not recognize the signs and symptoms of child abuse; others will deny it is really happening or that it is not serious enough to report.
  • The nature of family problems related to child abuse and neglect.
  • Sense of secrecy and shame surrounding child maltreatment.
  • Possible consequences of intervention by child protection authorities or police.
  • Fear no one will believe them and what will happen.
  • Belief the abuse is their fault (based on what the abusive adult is telling them) and that telling will get them into more trouble.

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Other Issues To consider When Reporting Child Abuse:8

Prevent Child Abuse 1-800-CHILDREN

  • Not every state has a statewide reporting hotline.
  • Not every state hotline is accessible 24 hours a day.
  • If the state does have a hotline, it may only be accessible within that state.
  • It may take a while to get through to the statewide number, be patient. It may take more than one call. Don't give up.
  • Child Abuse must be reported within the state in which it occurred.
  • Be sure to have as much information about the abuse and the child you are reporting as you can. It would be a good idea to organize your information and have it ready before you make the call. Write it down so that you won't forget any information you want to share with the intake worker. If you don't have all the information suggested below make the call anyway. Let the intake worker tell you if you have enough to make the report.
  • Child's name, address and phone number.
  • Age and gender of the child.
  • Where is the child at the time of the report.
  • Parent's name, address and phone number.
  • Name of the abuser.
  • Type of abuse (be as specific about what you have observed as possible). What have you seen, suspicions.
  • Are there other siblings or other children living in the home? Their genders, names, and ages.
  • Give the name of the school the child attends.
  • Explain any language barriers.
  • Write down everything about the report that you can. The date you reported, the person you spoke to at the reporting number, and, if they have one, their identification number, and what was said. Keep this information for your records as documentation of your report.
  • Remember you can report anonymously, if you are not a mandated reporter (someone who is required by law to report child abuse).

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Resources

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References

1. National Center for State Courts (2006). Retrieved from: http://www.ncsconline.org/WC/FAQs/FamVioFAQ.htm#_ftn3.

2. National Clearinghouse on Child Abuse and Neglect. Retrieved March 16, 2006 from: http://nccanch.acf.hhs.gov/general/legal/statutes/define.cfm.

3. Help Guide. Elder Abuse: Types, Signs, Symptoms, Causes, and Help . Retrieved from: http://www.helpguide.org/mental/elder_abuse_physical_emotional_sexual_neglect.htm.

4. National Child Abuse and Neglect Data System-14 th annual publication, 2003.

5. Department on Health and Human Services- Administration for Children and Families. Retrieved March 16, 2006 from: http://www.acf.hhs.gov/programs/cb/pubs/cm03/cm2003.pdf.

6. Lim, J.H. (2001, May 4 – 10). Twisted Twilight, Elder Abuse in API Community. Asianweek.com . Retrieved from: http://www.asianweek.com/2001_05_04/feature.html.

7. National Clearinghouse on Family Violence. Retrieved March 16, 2006 from: http://www.phac-aspc.gc.ca/ncfv-cnivf/familyviolence/pdfs/childabs.pdf.

8. International Child Abuse Network. Retrieved March 16, 2006 from:http://www.yesican.org/suspect.html.

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©2006 HBHE 691