1. Child Abuse and Neglect
Training for Educators, Part 1
Child Abuse and Neglect in
Oklahoma:
What you Need to Know
Fran Roberson, LCSW, LMFT
Center for Children and Families, Inc.
Norman, Oklahoma

2. In the United States, a child
is reported abused or
neglected every ten seconds.

3. In 2008, 11,714 children were
confirmed to have been victims
of abuse or neglect in Oklahoma.

4. Child protective
service agencies
across our state
receive more than
65,493 reports of
suspected child
abuse or neglect
in 2008.

6. Categories of child
maltreatment include: neglect,
physical and emotional abuse,
and sexual abuse.

7. Neglect is failure
to provide for a
child’s basic needs.

9. In Oklahoma,
neglect
continues to be
the highest
single category
of child
maltreatment.

10. Substance abuse
by a caregiver
has been the
greatest factor
contributing to
neglect in
Oklahoma.

11. Neglect is also the result of:
• Threat of harm • Failure to provide
• Failure to protect adequate nutrition
• Abandonment
• Exposure to
domestic violence • Failure to obtain
medical attention
• Inadequate or • Educational
dangerous shelter
• Failure to obtain
• Lack of supervision psychiatric
• Inadequate physical attention.
care • Inadequate clothing
• Failure to thrive

12. Physical abuse
is defined as
inflicting a
non-accidental
physical injury
upon a child.

13. Emotional abuse
is any pattern of
behavior that
impairs a child’s
emotional
development or
sense of
self-worth.

14. Sexual abuse is
inappropriate
adolescent or
adult sexual
behavior with a
child.

15. Survivors of child abuse and
neglect may be at greater risk
for problems later in life – such
as low academic achievement,
drug use, teen pregnancy, and
criminal behavior; these
problems affect not just the
child and family, but society as
a whole.

16. ACE Study
Adverse Childhood Experiences
• Research by CDC and California’s Department
of Preventive Medicine at Kaiser Permanente
prompted by Dr. Vincent J. Felitti’s
observations in the 1980’s work on weight loss
program.
• Research led to identification of ten
experiences that children may have that
negatively affect their health outcomes as
adults.

17. Adverse Childhood Experiences
include
1. Emotional abuse 1. Mother treated
violently
3. Physical abuse 2. Household substance
abuse
3. Household mental
5. Sexual abuse
illness
4. Parental separation or
7. Emotional neglect divorce
5. Incarcerated
9. Physical Neglect household member

18. Adult Health Outcomes: Greater
Risky Adult Behaviors that can lead
to Common Causes of Death and
Disability:
• Alcoholism • Heart disease
• Drug abuse • Cancer
• Suicide attempts • Stroke
• Smoking • Diabetes
• Multiple sex partners • Mental Illness
• Physical inactivity
• Severe obesity (most common causes of death
and disability in Oklahoma)

19. Adverse Childhood
Experiences Study
www.oica.org
(Oklahoma Institute for Child
Advocacy)

20. Confirmed Cases of Child Abuse
and Neglect in 2008
90.00%
80.00%
70.00%
60.00%
Neglect
50.00%
Abuse
40.00%
Sexual Abuse
30.00%
20.00%
10.00%
0.00%

21. In Oklahoma
the age group
most frequently
abused or
neglected is
children
three to six
years of age.

22. Confirmed Child Abuse and
Neglect in 2008 by Age of Child
12 years
Under 1 1-2 3-6 7-11
and
year years years years
older
18% 16.58% 26.37% 21.66% 17.39%

24. In 2007, 39 children died as a
result of child abuse or neglect
in Oklahoma.

25. In 2006, 32
children died in
our state as a
result of abuse
and neglect.

26. In Oklahoma,
18 of the 39
child deaths in
2007 were
children under
one year of
age.
(27of these deaths
occurred to children
under the age of two
years.)

27. • To report child
abuse or neglect
in Oklahoma call:
1.800.522.3511

28. Statistical information on child abuse and
neglect can be found on the Oklahoma
Department of Human Services and
National Clearinghouse on
Child Abuse & Neglect websites
http://www.okdhs.org
http://nccanch.acf.hhs.gov/

29. Contact Fran Roberson at the
Center for Children and Families,
Inc. for further questions or
concerns.
froberson@ccfinorman.org
405.364.1420