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Full
Member,
National Children's Alliance |
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Full
Member,
Children's Advocacy Centers of GA |
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IDENTIFYING ABUSE |
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Statistics from Child Help USA indicate that one in
three girls and one in five boys will be sexually abused before the age of 18.
The advocacy center provides services to approximately 250 child victims and
witnesses, and an equivalent number of non-offending family members, each year.
Approximately one quarter of the youngsters seen at the center are boys, and
three quarters girls. Nearly two thirds of children served are under the age of
11. |
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Children who have been abused MAY exhibit some of the following as
a result of the stress of the abuse: |
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Nightmares, bad dreams, problems sleeping |
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Sadness, depression, withdrawal or isolation
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Sexual play or acting out, unusual masturbation
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Fearfulness, anxiety, clinginess |
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Frequent nausea/upset stomach, headaches, or other
somatic complaints |
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Anger, aggressiveness, moodiness, irritability
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Cruelty toward animals or smaller children |
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Setting fires |
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Indiscriminate attention or affection seeking
behavior |
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Regressive behaviors, such as thumb sucking,
bedwetting, baby talk, etc. |
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Change in school performance or attendance |
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Wearing layers of clothing despite warm weather
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Refusal to dress out for gym
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However, many children show no outward signs of distress,
particularly when the abuse is committed by a family member or close friend.
Call the advocacy center at (912) 236-1401
if you have questions, need someone to talk to, or to schedule a speaker for
your class or community group. |
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Support The Savannah CCAC |
Help contribute to Savannah's CCAC by sending
donations to the address above, or email us at
Donations@CCAC-
Savannah.org
for more information. |
If you suspect that a child
is being abused, report your suspicions to
Lifeline for Children:
(912) 651-2110
or to the
Savannah Police Department:
(912) 232-4141. |
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