Oregon Board of Optometry

1500 Liberty Street SE, Suite 210 Salem OR 97302 Phone: (503)399-0662 Fax: (503)399-0705 email: board@oregonobo.org

Oregon law recognizes these types of abuse:

PHYSICAL INJURY

1. Bruises, welts, burns, cuts, broken bones, sprains, bites, etc., which are deliberately inflicted.
2. Injuries may:
   • - Be in the shape of the article used (electric cord, belt buckle, etc.)
   • - Not match children's description of how they occurred (fracture from falling off the sofa, etc.)

NEGLECT

1. Failure to provide food, shelter, medicine, etc. to such a degree that a child's health and safety are endangered.
2. Children often:
   • - Don't want to leave school.
   • - Are constantly tired.
   • - Are left alone with no supervision.
   • - Have unmet physical, emotional, or medical needs.

SEXUAL ABUSE AND SEXUAL EXPLOITATION

1. Any sexual contact in which a child is used to sexually stimulate anothr person is illegal. This may be anything from rape to fondling to involving a child in pornography.
2. Children often have:
   • - Difficulty walking or sitting; pain or itching in the genital area; torn, stained, or bloody underclothing.
   • - Poor peer relationships; fantasy or infantile behavior; fear of being left with someone.
   • - Inappropriate interest in, knowledge of, or acting out of sexual matters.
   • - Any of the behavioral problems listed under "Mental Injury."

THREAT OF HARM

1. Any action, statement, written, or non-verbal message which is seious enough to make a child believe he or she is in danger of being abused.
2. Children may exhibit any of the behaviors listed on this page.

MENTAL INJURY

1. A continuing pattern of rejecting, terrorizing, ignoring, isolating, or corrupting a child, resulting in serious damage to the child.
2. Children often:
   • - Have speech or sleep disorders.
   • - Fail to grow normally.
   • - Are very aggressive or withdrawn.
   • - Show an abnormal need for emotional support.

CHILD SELLING

1. Buying, selling, or trading for legal or physical custody of a child.
2. Does not apply to legitimate adoption or domestic relations planning.

If you think a child is being abused, you must report it to the State Office for Services to Children and Families (SCF) or a law enforcement agency. More than half of the children seen by SCF were referred by mandatory reporters. You may be their best hope.....