What is child abuse?

Child abuse is any act that causes emotional, physical, or sexual harm to a child or puts the child at risk of harm. In Texas, child abuse is defined as a variety of actions that can include physical, mental, emotional, or sexual abuse, exploitation, or neglect of a child by any person responsible for their care. Physical abuse is any nonaccidental physical injury, such as hitting, shaking, pushing, kicking, burning, etc. Emotional abuse includes verbal abuse, like name-calling, threats of harm, or continual belittling of the child’s worth or value. Sexual abuse is any form of sexual activity with a child, including rape, molestation, and exploitation. Neglect is when a person responsible for a child’s care fails to provide for their basic needs, such as food, shelter, medical attention, or education. In Texas, it is illegal to abuse a child and offenders can face criminal charges. Furthermore, any form of child abuse can be grounds for removal from the home and termination of parental rights. To protect children, Texas has a mandatory reporting law requiring certain professionals, such as teachers and doctors, to report any suspected abuse. It is important to keep in mind that a child’s physical or emotional safety should always be the number one priority.

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