April is National Child Abuse and Neglect Prevention Month – while you are out and about in Nevada County you may notice our town painted in blue with Pinwheels for Prevention gardens along with blue flags and banners throughout our community. The Pinwheels for Prevention gardens in Nevada County are to honor children and youth who have endured abuse and neglect in Nevada County along with honoring all children and youth and preventing child abuse and neglect in our community.
What are Child Abuse and Neglect?
Child abuse and neglect includes all types of abuse and neglect of a child under the age of 18 by a parent, caregiver, or another person in a custodial role (e.g., a religious leader, a coach, or a teacher) or any person that results in harm, the potential for harm, or threat of harm to a child.
There are four common types of abuse and neglect:
- Physical abuse is the intentional use of physical force that can result in physical injury. Examples include hitting, kicking, shaking, or other shows of force against a child.
- Sexual abuse refers to any completed or attempted sexual acts or sexual contact with a child by a caregiver. Examples include fondling, penetration, and exposing a child to other sexual activities. Read more information about child sexual abuse.
- Emotional abuse refers to behaviors that harm a child’s self-worth or emotional well-being. Examples include name-calling, shaming, rejecting, and withholding love.
- Neglect is the failure to meet a child’s basic physical and emotional needs. These needs include housing, food, clothing, education, access to medical care, and having feelings validated and appropriately responded to.
To learn more about child abuse and neglect information and prevention click here.