Child Abuse and Neglect Assessment Case Study

Child Abuse and Neglect Assessment Case Study

Nicole S. Jackson

BSHS/408

June 5, 2018

S'Candia Giles

Child Abuse and Neglect Assessment Case Study

                                                    Introduction

Physical abuse is generally defined as “any nonaccidental physical injury to the child” and neglect is frequently defined as the failure of a parent or other person with responsibility for the child to provide needed food, clothing, shelter, medical care, or supervision to the degree that the child’s health, safety, and well-being are threatened with harm (2018).
       The Cedeno family is a Mexican-American family that consists of the father (Benjamin), the mother (Nina), their daughter Tamara and their son Sean. Like many other families, Mr. and Mrs. Cedeno are hard-working people who are trying to save money to move to Mexico to make a better life for their family (while keeping their heads above water). Unfortunately, their financial state has not allowed this to become possible.

                                          Forms of Abuse and Neglect

In this story the mother confided in a co-worker and said her husband beat their 3-year-old son with a belt the night before. She previously told another co-worker her husband had a violent temper and according to the individual who reached out to CPS (Child Protective Services) he has witnessed Sean coming into the store where he works with the mom with bruises on his face. When the CPS worker paid Sean’s school a visit, she discovered belt mark and broken skin on his butt. This is all evidence of physical abuse.

. Sean’s teacher revealed that he displayed violent behavior (hitting and biting) and was aggressive with the other children. Per ("Defines and describes the different types of child abuse", 2018) children who are a victim of emotional abuse are sometimes unhappy, aggressive, appear to be physically neglected, etc. When the worker did the home visit, Tamara indicated that Mr. Cedeno spanked Sean the night before for being bad. Mr. Cedeno stated how Sean is a nightmare.  The worker also discovered that the daughter Tamara had been being responsible for making breakfast for herself (as well as her younger brother) and they rarely get to have dinner together as a family.  The absence of quality time care from a parent is a form of neglect.

                          How the Abuse Impact the Children in The Family

It is a parent’s responsibility to protect their children from any hurt, harm, danger or abuse. Mr. Cedeno (the Father) is in fact physically and emotionally abusing his son Sean while his daughter Tamara is witnessing it. Because of the abuse the child is experiencing, he has developed his Father’s violent temper and is emulating his actions (He threw a truck and struck his sister’s head and he often hit and bite the other children at school).