What is Child Abuse?

It is the mistreatment or threatened harm to a child’s health or welfare that occurs through non-accidental physical or mental injury, sexual abuse, sexual exploitation, or maltreatment, by a parent, a legal guardian, a teacher, a teacher’s aide, or a member of the clergy or any other person responsible for the child’s health or welfare.

PHYSICAL ABUSE
Bodily harm or injury, including burns, bruises, fractures and lacerations.

SEXUAL ABUSE
Exploitation of a child for sexual gratification 
of an adult. Includes incest, rape, fondling, 
child pornography and exhibitionism.​

What is Child Neglect?

It means harm or threatened harm to a child’s health or welfare by a parent, legal guardian, or any other person responsible for the child’s health and welfare that occurs through either of the following:

PHYSICAL NEGLECT
Inadequate food, clothing or shelter; 
malnourishment; or lack of supervision.

EDUCATIONAL NEGLECT
Causing or failing to prevent 
excessive absence from school.

MEDICAL NEGLECT
Failure to obtain essential 
medical care.

EMOTIONAL NEGLECT
Failure to provide the minimum 
warmth, attention, nurturing and 
guidance a child requires for 
healthy growth and developments; 
creating extreme fear, passivity, 
withdrawal or aggression. ​​