Discuss the concept of resiliency and identify the factors that make up resiliency.

01

Explain the impacts of neglect, physical abuse, sexual abuse, and emotional abuse on the development of the child.

02

Give examples of risk factors that arise when domestic violence occurs in the child's household.

03

Hurt children spend their adult lives looking for ways to regain control over themselves and their environments.

Resilient children are likely to seek prosocial ways to cope with stress.

Gilgun (2003): There are three ways resiliency can be witnessed.

• 1. Prosocial efforts (sports, searching for positive ways to look at situations, seeking out trusted individuals, finding comfort, adopting positive behaviors)
• 2. Antisocial efforts (violence, destruction, stealing, crimes)
• 3. Self injurious efforts (cutting, eating disorders, substance abuse, suicide attempts, etc.)

Temperament

Personal characteristics

Close relationship with one individual

Self soothing behaviors (music, affirmations)

Influence of affirming cultural/familial relationships

Social supports outside the family

Choosing appropriate models

Development of positive talents/interests and attitudes

Problem solving ability & social competence

Research study of 133 low-income Latino children from upstate New York

Increased difficulty with interpersonal relationships.

More prone to behavioral problems.

Females more resilient than males.

Strong gender roles and cultural values (machismo) promoted shame and frustration among maltreated boys.

Girls (socialized to be more obedient and self sacrificing) were better able to cope with environmental adversity.

Similar findings for African American and European American children groups.

• Complicated by emotional immaturity of mother
• Lack of relationship between mother and significant others
• Environmental factors
• Inadequate bonding

Prenatal

• Nonorganic failure to thrive syndrome
• Poor motor control
• Lack of social responsiveness
• Slow language development
• General mistrust of environment

Birth – 1 Year

• Passivity combined with hypervigilance about surroundings
• Slow to reach out or explore
• Little interest in developing autonomy

1 – 4 Years

High pitched, shrill cry that is not differentiated �(same cry all the time)

Motor and social development is slow

Do not crawl, sit, reach for toys, etc. at expected age

Passive attitude toward the world – little interest in toys, etc.

Accept losses with little reaction

Impaired capacity to enjoy life

Enuresis

Encopresis

Temper tantrums

Bizarre behavior

Lack ability to play

Low self esteem

Withdrawal

Oppositional behavior

Aggression/overt hostility

Anger problems transmit to acting out toward animals, peers, adults, etc.

Personality problems

Hypervigilance

Passive watchfulness

Compulsivity

Unusual ability to adapt to variety of people and settings

Fear of failure

• Difficulty attending to instructions
• Raised anxiety at school due to expectations and “out of the norm” situations

Demonstrate verbal inhibition: don’t want to talk too much (may get them in trouble at home.

Regression: returning to an earlier stage where they feel more comfortable.

Poor peer relationships: isolation from children their age, worry about being discovered, behaviors that are not attractive to other children.

Efforts to control: running away, acting out, delinquency

• Causes isolation due to trying to avoid being betrayed or hurt

Trust issues

• Usually results in depression or self abusive behavior

Anger

• Inability to trust inhibits development of intimacy in relationships
• Predisposed to abusive treatment (battering, emotional abuse, alcoholism)

Relationship Imbalances

Low Self Esteem

• Making even small decisions often creates major emotional crisis and overwhelms ability to cope with the situation

Coping Skills

• Bed wetting, thumb sucking

Regressive behaviors

Sleep disturbances

Eating problems

• Sudden change in behavior or participation; drop in grades

Behavior/performance problems

• Unwillingness to participate in school or social activities

Withdrawal

• Chronic anxiety, tension, anxiety attacks
• Phobias
• War related symptoms

• Obesity
• Medical Concerns
• Pelvic pain, GI problems, headaches

• Disturbed sleeping and eating patterns
• Feelings of worthlessness

• Most common long-term symptom of sexual abuse

Depression

Guilt, shame, self blame

Stress/Anxiety

Body issues and eating disorders

Overly affectionate toward strangers

Lack confidence: wary or anxious

Not appear to have close relationship with parent

Aggressive or nasty toward other children and animals

Use language or act in a way �they shouldn’t for their age

Emotional outbursts

Seem isolated from their parents

Lack social skills

Government Code section 13955(f)(1) says: “…the law now also provides that a child who resides in a home where domestic violence has occurred may be presumed by the Board to have sustained physical injuries, regardless of whether the child witnessed the crime…”

Victim Compensation and Government Claims Board now makes allowances for children from domestic violence homes to access victim witness funds.

Counseling, treatment for emotional problems from having been witness to a crime.

What are the responsibilities when two people who work together are both made aware of possible child abuse?

What is a mandated reporter; who are some mandated reporters?

Discuss “waiting” to make a child abuse report. When is it appropriate?

What can mandated reports not do while interacting with a child that they suspect has experienced child abuse/neglect (do not investigate).

What are the possible repercussions for mandated reporters if they are found guilty of not reporting abuse they had knowledge of?

• General
• Bodily injury/death