SEXUAL ABUSE AND PHYSICAL
Being a teenager
is not easy. There is pressure to do
well in school, gain approval of family, be popular, be cool, and make the
team. In addition to these problems teens
may have to deal with family issues such as family financial problems, parents
divorce, parents’ mental illness or alcoholism. It is very hard to be a teenager these days. This site will talk about some other issues
that teens may have such as sexual abuse, physical abuse, and runaway. If you or someone you know has a problem in
these areas, you can get help for yourself or your friend by contacting some of
the agencies listed.
Teenage sexual
abuse occurs when an adult uses teens for gratification or sexual desires. These teens can suffer from depression,
anxiety, worthlessness, helplessness, learning impairments, and destructive
behaviors. The following are examples
of sexual abuse:
§
Fondling
§
Genital contact
§
Masturbation
§
Vaginal intercourse
§
Oral intercourse
§
Anal intercourse
§
Exhibitionism
§
Approximately 3 million cases of child/teen abuse are reported
each year.
§
The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends taking teens to the
hospital to get evaluated when they have been abused.
§
Report the abuse to (800)4 A- CHILD or in Texas (800)252-5400
§
To learn more about how to report sexual abuse log on to www.governmentguide.com/ams
or www.calib.com/nccanch
Physical abuse occurs when an
adult who is responsible for a teen’s welfare causes physical injury or harm to
the child. These teens can suffer from
depression, anxiety, low self-esteem, and inability to build trusting relationships,
alcohol and drug abuse, learning impairments, and conduct disorder. Physical abuse can include the following
actions when they are continuous, pervasive, and extreme, and if they are done
intentionally to harm a teen:
·
hitting
·
throwing
·
kicking
·
choking
·
biting
·
shaking
·
punching
·
threatening or attacking with weapons
·
beating with an object
·
burning with a match, cigar, or cigarette
·
scalding with hot water
·
tying up a teen
·
starving or failing to provide food for a child
·
Physical abuse may not always happen at home. Teenagers sometimes see these abuses in
boyfriends. A website dedicated to
help look for signs of an abuser or an abusive boyfriend log on to http://web.indstate.edu/community/TeenTH/abusersigns.html
·
Statistics say that approximately 16% of teenagers are physically
abused. Although this number seems low
according to the American Academy of Pediatrics because teenagers are less
likely to report an abuser to family or friends and parents and/or teachers
think of teenagers of being rebellious.
·
Adolescent Guidance Services is a website for youths at risk. www.escort-transport.com/main.html
·
The University of Texas at El Paso has a Counseling Center as an
outreach program for teens that suffer or have suffered physical abuse. www.utep.edu/counsel/outreach.html
·
On Ramp Youth Foundation is a non-profit organization that works
with El Paso at-risk youth and their families located at 8900 Viscount Blvd,
#AN-120, El Paso, Texas 79925. www.stormpages.com/onrampelpaso/
·
The YWCA offers services for teens – YW Teens at 850-0276
·
El Paso Greater S.E.R. (Youth Assistance Program) is located at 3703 Admiral, El Paso, Texas
79925 (915)595-1200
v STAR Program is
a service for at-risk youth to reduce and prevent the problems of Runaway and At-Risk
Youth. These are short-term services to
eligible youth and their families in which the risk of abuse is reduced. The main goal is the preservation and
reunification of families. Star located
at 2116 N. Stevens Street, El Paso, Texas
79930 (915)562-4765 www.tnoys.org/starprogram.html
v Lee and Beulah
Moore Home also offers a short- term service to eligible youth and
families. Their main goal is also to
preserve and reunify the family.
Child help USA is an organization
dedicated to help teens and children of physical and sexual abuse (www.childhelpusa.org)
The American Academy of Child and
Adolescent Psychiatry can help with the treatment of these disorders (www.aacap.org/about)
If you or someone you know has suffered from abuse,
is thinking of running away, or is on a runaway status contact:
El Paso Center for Children
2116 N. Stevens
El Paso, Texas
79930
(915)562-4765
Teen Runaways www.helpyourteens.com/teenrunaways.html
National Runaway Switchboard
3080 N. Lincoln Ave.
Chicago, IL 60657
(800) 621-4000
www.nrscrisisline.org/kidshelp.asp
National Runaway Switchboard Statistics www.nrscrisisline.org/2000stat.asp
Texas Region Statistics – www.nrscrisisline.org/2000stat_6.asp
