HOPE - The Issues - Abuse: Child and Domestic

What is Child Abuse and Neglect?

  • Physical abuse: Physical punishment so severe that it leaves marks, bruises, scars, or fractures.
  • Physical neglect: the failure to provide the necessities of life for a child. This includes the lack of medical care, inadequate nourishment, inappropriate clothing, lack of supervision, and inadequate housing.
  • Sexual abuse: Child sexual abuse is the exploitation of a child for the sexual gratification of an adult or any significant older person. It is called incest if it occurs between family members. It can include a variety of behaviors such as fondling, verbal stimulation, pornography and many more violent behaviors such as rape.
  • Emotional abuse and neglect: Sometimes emotional abuse is not what is done but what isn't done. Children who receive no love, support, or guidance may carry those scars into adulthood.

Child abuse has lifelong effects. An abusive childhood situation disrupts healthy psychological development.

Any person having reasonable cause to believe that a child has been subject to abuse or acts of abuse should report this information: 1-877-NJ ABUSE (652-2873) .  If you feel the child is in immediate danger call 911.

State of New Jersey-Department of Children and Families (DCF)

DCF provides families with a virtual single point of contact that registers, track and coordinates care for children who are screened-at any level-into it’s Children’s Behavioral Service System of Care.  To provide this simplified access, DCF contracts with Value Options which is a private entity that administers this service system.

For questions about access services for children and youth, call 24-hour, toll free Access line:

Domestic Violence and Abuse

Domestic abuse, also known as spousal abuse, occurs when one person in an intimate relationship or marriage tries to dominate and control the other person. An abuser doesn’t” play fair.” He uses fear, guilt, shame, and intimidation to wear you down and gain complete power over you. He may threaten you, hurt you, or hurt those around you. Domestic abuse that includes physical violence is called domestic violence.

Victims of domestic abuse or domestic violence may be men or women, although women are more commonly victimized. This abuse happens among heterosexual couples and in same-sex partnerships. Except for the gender difference, domestic abuse doesn’t discriminate. It happens within all age ranges, ethnic backgrounds, and financial levels. The abuse may occur during a relationship, while the couple is breaking up, or after the relationship has ended.

Despite what many people believe, domestic violence is not due to the abuser’s loss of control over his behavior. In fact, violence is a deliberate choice made by the abuser in order to take control over his wife or partner.

Dating and Spousal Abuse

Abuse takes many forms. Emotional abuse is more difficult to understand than physical abuse. Unlike physical abuse, where you can see the wounds and scars, emotional damage leaves hidden scars, which could become worse and hurt more in the long run. Emotional damage does not heal quickly.

It is important to identify all the signs of abuse in a relationship, whether you are the abused or the abuser. You don't want to allow any abusive relationship to fester. If you do, the anger, pain, and insecurity that cause the abuse can become a major part of your personality. Then, as the years pass, you could destroy important bonds between yourself and friends and family members and, as a result, hurt yourself.