For Kids And Teens
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There are four kinds of child abuse:
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Physical abuse includes all different kinds of hitting, pushing, dragging, squeezing, slapping, pinching, pulling your hair, or even having things thrown at you. It causes physical injury, ranging from mild to severe. It is not okay for parents – or anyone else – to hit or injure you.
Spanking is not against the law, but physical abuse is.
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Legally, sexual abuse of someone under the age of 18 happens if the other person is at least five years older than you and a sexual act of some kind happens. It can include everything to brushing up against someone's breasts or genitals to rape (a forced sexual activity, usually including vaginal or anal penetration or oral sex).
Trust your feelings. If it feels uncomfortable, tell someone!
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Neglect means that your parents or guardians aren't taking care of you the way they're supposed to. It's not that you aren't getting what you want – you aren't getting what you need. Parents are to provide all kinds of things for their kids: a safe place to live, food and clothes, health care, an opportunity to attend school, help if you have addictions or need other treatment. |
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Emotional abuse happens when someone yells at you, calls you names, or makes you feel stupid or worthless again and again and again, not just once. Emotional abuse can be either verbal -- using negative words or name-calling -- or nonverbal, like giving you a certain look. It can include rejecting, ignoring, terrorizing, isolating, corrupting, or exploiting you. Emotional abuse is the most common type of abuse and often occurs at the same time as other types of abuse. (When Something Feels Wrong by Deanna S. Pledge, PhD) |
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Call Hibiscus, we'll connect you to a counselor that helps families.
CONTACT US
In Indian River, Martin, Okeechobee, and St. Lucie counties you can call the
Teen Hotline - dial 211
or
St. Lucie Crisis Line at Indian River Mental Health – 772-562-2000
or call the
National Crisis Line –
The Help Line USA
1-866-334-HELP
(1-866-334-4357)
Toll-Free / 24 Hours
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Giving hope ... rebuilding dreams for victims of child abuse and neglect.
Please help us protect abused and neglected children.
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