Encountering child abuse at camp

John K. Durall

Most camps at some time will host campers who have been past victims of child abuse. At home, some of these campers might be in an interceding system, meaning that child abuse has been disclosed or discovered, followed by reports and interventions. They and their families may be in ongoing counseling. The camper may be living in an out-of-parent placement, or a member of the camper's family may have been ordered out of the home by the court. Other campers could have already passed through the system and completed interventions and reports. Unknown others may currently be in abusive situations. For these campers, the abuse is still a secret; they have made no disclosures or their disclosures have been ignored.

Similarly, counselors who have been victims of abuse may come to work at camp. As with the campers, some have had disclosures and interventions. Others have not disclosed and they may still be guarding their secrets.

The effects of abuse can adversely influence the wellness of campers, staff members, directors, and the camp spirit. To protect children while at camp, directors and staff must know the definitions and warning signs of abuse. Learning how to assist abused campers will pave the way for camp staff to aid and bolster those children.

Defining Abuse

Many definitions of abuse exist. Abuse includes "the physical or mental injury, sexual exploitation, negligent treatment, or maltreatment of a child under the age of eighteen by a person who is responsible for the child's welfare." It is the act of inflicting injury or allowing injury to result. Experts divide abuse into three categories.

Physical abuse and negligence

Physical abuse is nonaccidental physical injury. It is frequently a result of severe corporal punishment, happening when the caregiver is frustrated or angry. Physical abuse includes striking, hitting, shaking, throwing, burning, biting, cutting, and poking. Often, but not always, the target zone of physical abuse is the back of the body from the neck to the knees. Injuries to the front of the knees, the shins, or the elbows are usually the result of playing accidents. Physical injuries may include fractures, lacerations, bruises, cigarette burns, scalding water burns, black eyes, a broken nose, and bloody lips.

Negligence is acts of omission to protect a child and includes failure to provide adequate food, clothing, shelter, or medical care. Physically, the child fails to gain normal weight; exhibits a bloated stomach, dry flaking skin, and bad body odor; and has unattended medical conditions.

Sexual abuse and exploitation

Sexual abuse is an act of sexual assault on or sexual exploitation of a minor. It may be chronic or a single incident. Sexual abuse includes rape, rape in concert, incest, sodomy, lewd or lascivious acts upon a minor under fourteen, oral copulation, penetration of genital or anal openings by a foreign object, or molestation. Physical signs include bruising, swelling, discharge, and tearing around the rectum. Victims might report painful urination or defecation.

Exploitation includes conduct related to creating, selling, or distributing pornography depicting minors engaging in or simulating sexual contact. It also includes promoting prostitution by minors.

Psychological abuse

Psychological abuse is an act of emotional maltreatment and includes verbal assaults, continual negative verbal assaults, blaming, and belittling. It also includes spouse abuse with the child present.

Warning Signs of Abuse

The following behaviors or symptoms appear as a result of many precipitating causes. These causes include, but are not limited to, child abuse. These behaviors may indicate that the camper is already in a psychological crisis or is in danger of entering a state of further psychological disorder. These behaviors might be the result of past abuse (disclosed or undisclosed), or they might be symptoms precipitated by current abuse.

Behaviors of physical abuse

A child who has been physically abused might:

* be excessively passive, compliant, or fearful

* be excessively aggressive, hostile, or violent

* be exceedingly mistrustful of adults

* display heightened hyper-vigilence (frozen watching)

* be actively or passively self-destructive

* destroy other people's property

Characteristics of sexual abuse

A child who has been sexually abused might:

* display a detailed and age-inappropriate understanding of sexual behavior and a knowledge of explicit sexual behavior

* exhibit an aggressive sexual behavior with peers or toys

* be hostile

* have a problem with bed wetting

* over eat or under eat (eating disorders)

* behave or perform differently in school

* be fearful, withdrawn, or depressed

* abuse alcohol or drugs

* acquire money, clothes, or gifts with no reasonable explanation

* display self-destructive behavior

* run away

* consider suicide

Behaviors of psychological abuse

The child who has been psychologically abused might:

* be withdrawn or depressed

* put himself down

* lack self-esteem

* seek approval to an extreme

* be hostile

* display behavioral problems

* be overly rigid

* exhibit an inordinate attention to details

Characteristics of neglect

The child who as been abused by neglect might:

* be clinging

* display indiscriminate behavior

* isolate himself

* be very passive

* be depressed

Long-Term Effects of Abuse

Some effects of abuse do not surface until the future. Possible long-term effects of abuse include:

* a feeling of a loss of control

* unresolved feelings of guilt, maybe with self-punishment; feelings of failure or unworthiness; and low self-esteem

* seeking inappropriate mates: females find controlling and battering males; males find mother figure lover/wives or weak and submissive women to control and dominate

* marriage difficulties

* poor or defective self-images and the loss of desire to change

* difficulties with relationships as well as sexual dysfunction

* viewing sex as dirty or disgusting or as a payment for love, acceptance, and delusional belonging

* feeling strange, scared, or anxious and not knowing why

* feeling as if they are crazy or sick a reluctance to seek therapy

* repeating the same rituals of the sexual abuse done to them to another

* feeling negatively unique; feeling as if he is the only one

* feeling a double trauma: the abuse itself and perceiving that he is responsible for the abuse

* unexplainable and unwanted sexual impulses

* depersonalization and multiple personalties

Camp Staff and Abuse

Many times staff, especially those on the front lines, are put into situations where they may, without premeditated intent, strike, injure, or abuse a camper. Counselors are not spared from the pressure or stress that parents feel when they become unintentionally abusive. The book, Cry Softly, has a line that says, "Perhaps no mother wakes up thinking that she is going to batter her child." Similarly at camp, perhaps no camp counselor wakes up thinking that he is going to abuse a camper. Nevertheless, the possibility exists. Abuse at camp puts the victim, accused abuser, director, and staff in a stressful situation, as well as affects the spirit at the camp. The psychological needs of all involved must be considered to preserve the wellness of the camp community.

Counseling the accused abuser

When a staff person is caught abusing a camper, the psychological wellness of that staff person, in addition to the camper, is impacted. The abusing staff person may feel anxious or depressed. He may be preoccupied with immediate issues, such as being arrested and going to jail. He may be embarrassed to face coworkers and the director. He may also be worried about going to court, being sentenced to jail, handling the effects the incident may have on his future, and facing family and friends. On a deeper level, he may feel shame, guilt, and self-devaluation, as well as hopeless and desperate.

Although the camp director's main responsibility is addressing the safety, protection, and wellness of the victim and other camp staff, he may also be concerned about the alleged abuser. If so, the director may wish to have an appropriate staff person talk with and listen to this person and, in some situations, do an extended follow-up.

Reporting the incident

The staff person who files the mandatory child abuse report is also impacted. First, he may or may not want to file the report. If the accused abuser is someone the reporter likes and feels close to, the reporter may feel anxious or depressed because of the harm caused to his friend. In a different situation, he may feel anger at the abusing staff person for the person's actions. The reporter may feel a sense of guilt for not having taken more preventative measures.

A person with good listening skills should be available to speak with this person. If an appropriate staff person is not available, find a paid or volunteer therapist. The reporter needs to vent his feelings, feel understood, and feel accepted. He may also be comfortable writing his thoughts and feelings in a journal.

Effects on Camp

The camp is also affected by the abuse situation. Rumors may be spread around camp, in the neighboring community, or in the accused abuser's hometown. Staff may feel angry, betrayed, and disillusioned, and may feel compassion for the victim and abuser. Staff and campers should be encouraged to express their emotions and vent their feelings. Discuss the dangers of rumors and gossip and, while protecting confidentiality, talk honestly with staff members about the situation. Explain who (police or child protective services workers) is coming and why.

Camp directors and staff should recognize the warning signs of child abuse, know how to assist abused campers, and understand the needs of all parties involved. Education is the best defense to ensure the physical and emotional health of campers and to preserve the spirit of the camp community.

National Child Abuse and Neglect Facts

* According to child protective services agencies, more than one million children were victims of child abuse or neglect in 1995. Approximately 80 percent of the perpetrators of child abuse were the parents of the victims.

* In 1995, child protective services agencies investigated two million reports of alleged child abuse.

* The most common form of maltreatment is neglect.

* More than half of the victims of child abuse are children seven years old or younger.

* In 1995, 996 children died as a result of abuse or neglect.

* Between 1986 and 1993, the estimated number of children who experienced abuse or neglect increased 67 percent.

Source: Child Maltreatment 1995: Reports from the States to the National Child Abuse and Neglect Data Systems

15 Activities That Promote Psychological Wellness

Camp staff can actively work to help victims of abuse move toward a state of psychological wellness by doing some of the following:

1. Provide the camper with activities that he can successfully complete.

2. Provide a consistent daily schedule and a consistent environment (this will help develop security and trust).

3. Reinforce behaviors and activities that the camper can feel good about.

4. Do not force separations when the camper wants to be near you. If you need to leave, tell the camper when you are going to leave and when you will return.

5. Avoid making promises that you may be unable to keep.

6. Respond in an appropriate and consistent manner to the camper's behaviors.

7. Model appropriate interpersonal behaviors.

8. Help the camper find ways to have pleasure in the camp activities.

9. Allow the camper to do things on his own even if he is not proficient at the activity. Be on call for him when he asks or indicates he wants help.

10. Set limits on self-destructive behaviors.

11. Allow the camper to make choices so he gains a sense of control. For important decisions, he may want you to make the decision; this gives him a sense of security.

12. Mirror or reflect the camper's expression of feeling: "You're feeling really happy?"

13. Be a good listener.

14. Help the camper focus on others (not for the purpose of avoiding his or her symptomatic issues). When people form friendships and care about others, they then feel a high degree of self-pride and resultant increased self-esteem. Promote opportunities for altruistic experiences.

15. Help the camper assume a more appropriate child role; encourage him to be silly and sing enthusiastically.

Resources

For more information on child abuse, consult the following resources.

* Cry softly/The Story of Child Abuse, by Margaret O. Hyde (Philadelphia: Westminster Press, 1986) discusses child abuse, its history in England and America, ways to prevent and stop it, and how to report suspected cases.

* For Their Sake: Recognizing, Responding to, and Reporting Child Abuse by Becca Cowan Johnson (Martinsville, IN: American Camping Association, 1993) covers mandatory reporting laws, possible indicators of abuse, profiles of possible abusers.

* For Their Sake: Staff Training Handbook by Becca Cowan Johnson (Martinsville, IN: American Camping Association, 1993) includes space for trainees to make notes specific to your state, camp, or situation and describes types of abuse, causes and indicators, and reporting.

* Hysteria Management: Child Abuse and Camp (American Camping Association) is a video by Bob Ditter that provides professional insight about child abuse and molesters, describes key types of abuse at day camps versus resident camps, and profiles sexual and physical abusers.

* Maintaining an Envelope of Safety: Guidelines for Appropriate Counselor-Camper Contact (American Camping Association) is a video by Bob Ditter that outlines what is legally accepted as appropriate contact between children and adults.

* http://www.calib.com/nccanch/index.htm - National Clearinghouse on Child Abuse and Neglect Information (NCCAN Clearinghouse) web site

* http://www.dhhs.gov- Department of Health and Human Services web site

* http://www.acf.dhhs.gov - Administration for Families and Children web site

John K. Durall, M.A., MFCC, is a licensed marriage, family, and child counselor. He is director of Camp Ja-Gonh for children with ADHD.

COPYRIGHT 1997 American Camping Association
COPYRIGHT 2004 Gale Group