Child Abuse: What to Look For
By: Jamie Kuras
Updated: February 22, 2011
ODESSA -- On Sunday, police arrested 27-year-old Kimberly Moore and 25-year-old Ralph Martinez and charged them with injury to a child.
Sadly, the 5-year-old who was injured -- Zachary Dominguez -- died. An investigation showed that Dominguez had sustained injuries over a period of time.
Unfortunately, this isn't an isolated incident. Children are abused everyday. There are 3 main types of abuse -- neglect, physical abuse, and sexual abuse.
78.5% of child abuse in Texas is a result of neglect or emotional abuse. Physical abuse is easier to spot because of bruises, black eyes, or any other visual mark. It's a little more tricky to see emotional abuse.
Signs of emotional abuse include kids being hungry or hoarding food. Victims are shy, withdrawn and jerk away if you reach out for them. Children who don't receive the help they need can develop long term effects that lead to higher risks of committing crimes and being arrested.
"The biggest issue is the violation of trust," said High Sky Children's Ranch Treatment Director JaLynn Hogan. "Kids don't develop that ability to trust the world and to trust people in the world. They tend to be very skeptical and cynical."
To report child abuse, you can call 1-800-252-5400. You can also go to the website www.txabusehotline.org. You will always remain anonymous.
Sadly, the 5-year-old who was injured -- Zachary Dominguez -- died. An investigation showed that Dominguez had sustained injuries over a period of time.
Unfortunately, this isn't an isolated incident. Children are abused everyday. There are 3 main types of abuse -- neglect, physical abuse, and sexual abuse.
78.5% of child abuse in Texas is a result of neglect or emotional abuse. Physical abuse is easier to spot because of bruises, black eyes, or any other visual mark. It's a little more tricky to see emotional abuse.
Signs of emotional abuse include kids being hungry or hoarding food. Victims are shy, withdrawn and jerk away if you reach out for them. Children who don't receive the help they need can develop long term effects that lead to higher risks of committing crimes and being arrested.
"The biggest issue is the violation of trust," said High Sky Children's Ranch Treatment Director JaLynn Hogan. "Kids don't develop that ability to trust the world and to trust people in the world. They tend to be very skeptical and cynical."
To report child abuse, you can call 1-800-252-5400. You can also go to the website www.txabusehotline.org. You will always remain anonymous.
