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Carlye Davis

English 1010

Dr. Haslam

January 8, 2021

Annotated Bibliography

This research explores the issue of child abuse within the United States, and more

specifically, within the state of Utah. During the current Coronavirus pandemic, it is speculated

that child abuse cases have increased nationwide due to increased stresses placed on

parents/caregivers as a result of job loss, isolation, illness, etc. Even before the pandemic, child

abuse cases were on the rise nationwide, so this research attempts to uncover the status of child

abuse in Utah, possible preventative measures, and how to treat children and families who have

already suffered mistreatment. Through this research, I hope to collect accurate information that

will spark conversations on this topic amongst families and the community, educating children

about respect and how they deserve to be treated.

Bowen, L., Staff, T., Handelman, S., Bilyeau, N., & News, C. (2020, September 15). Child

Abuse During Pandemic Raising Alarms. Retrieved November 19, 2020, from

https://thecrimereport.org/2020/09/02/child-abuse-during-pandemic-raising-alarms/

In the article “Child Abuse During Pandemic Raising Alarms” written by Laura Bowen

and published on September 2, 2020 by The Crime Report, specific ways in which the current

Coronavirus pandemic has affected the number of child abuse cases across the United States are

discussed. Bowen begins her article by stating, “A nationwide survey has revealed that children

advocacy centers have seen 40,000 fewer [child abuse] cases between January 2020 and June
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2020 compared to the same time span last year. The National Children Alliance says this is a 21

percent decline.” While Bowen admits this may seem to contradict the article’s title, she explains

the reason behind these numbers. Through the citation of various psychology professors and

directors of children's organizations, Bowen proves that there’s not 40,000 fewer child abuse

cases; there’s most likely 40,000+ children that ​haven’t b​ een saved from abuse. Bowen says this

is most likely a result of children not being in public places where people can notice and report

the abuse. “Teachers were responsible for 21 percent of referrals to child protective services in

2018” (Bowen). Bowen continues to contend that increased stressors, as a result of the pandemic,

are most likely causing increased, violent outburst amongst U.S. homes.

This source represents the viewpoint of post-abuse caregivers/treatment centers for child

abuse victims. This source supports the side of the debate that child abuse instances have

definitely increased nationwide as a result of the Coronavirus pandemic. The purpose of this

article is to raise awareness for increased cases of child maltreatment. The author accomplishes

this purpose through the use of logos (statistics compiled from various academic sources

describe nationwide abuse cases, child fatalities, reporters of abuse, etc.), ethos (Bowen uses

quotes from very reliable sources such as the National Children's Alliance, an associate director

of Child Maltreatment Solutions Network at Penn State, an associate professor of psychology

studying child maltreatment at Western Michigan University, etc.), and pathos (evokes emotion

within the reader by describing the type of horrible treatment innocent children may be subject to

as a result of their home circumstances). The audience for this article is most likely the average,

day-to-day citizen. Because children don’t currently have access to the typical adults who

notice/speak out against their abuse, the author wants to make everyone aware of these children’s

circumstances and provide them with more advocates. As I already mentioned, this article is
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packed with ethos and, therefore, well-informed/accurate. I completely agree with the stance

taken in this article, and I firmly believe that we need to provide our society’s children with as

many advocates as they can get.

Brazier, Y. (2018, June 25). Child abuse: Types, signs, and reporting possible abuse. Retrieved

December 06, 2020, from https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/241532

In the article “Recognizing child abuse” written by Yvette Brazier and published on June

25, 2018 by Medical News Today, the author defines the four main types of child abuse

(physical, emotional, sexual, and neglect) and offers warning signs for each one. Brazier says,

“Child abuse refers to any emotional, sexual, or physical mistreatment or neglect by an adult in a

role of responsibility toward someone who is under 18 years of age.” While bullying isn’t

classified as a type of abuse, Brazier mentions that it is a means which can be used to deliver any

of these types of maltreatment. A common sign of maltreatment apparent in all four types of

abuse, according to Brazier, is being withdrawn, anxious, or shying away from a certain

individual (usually a parent or caregiver). Brazier also stresses that, while it’s important to get

the victimized children the help they need, it’s equally important to seek help for the individual

carrying out the abuse.

This source represents the viewpoint of children and caregivers because it details the

signs displayed by both parties when abuse is apparent between them. This source acknowledges

that child abuse is a definite issue and seeks correction by providing ways in which the public

can be advocates for those affected by it. The rhetorical strategies prevalent in this article include

pathos and ethos. By defining what child abuse is and detailing the warning signs associated with

it, Brazier evokes sympathy from the reader, creating a desire within them to do something about
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it and to be an advocate for these children, so they don’t have to endure this suffering any longer.

Ethos is apparent in the sources used by Brazier in her article. She heavily sites the Centers for

Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), using their definition of what child abuse is in her own

article. Brazier, herself, is also an educated linguist who specializes in health communications,

making her a perfect expert on this topic. In congruence with that statement, I believe this article

to be very reliable/accurate. The audience for this article is adults who are in frequent contact

with children, and I think it perfectly appeals to their capabilities and levels of understanding. I

agree with all of the information produced by this article and think the rhetorical strategies used

were highly effective in conveying its information.

CDC. (2020, March 05). Prevention Strategies|Child Abuse and Neglect|Violence

Prevention|Injury Center|CDC. Retrieved January 06, 2021, from

https://www.cdc.gov/violenceprevention/childabuseandneglect/prevention.html

This publication from the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) and titled “Prevention

Strategies” was published on March 5, 2020. The CDC stresses that prevention is the most

effective tool in the fight against child abuse/neglect, and they offer five strategies that may aid

in this endeavor. The strategies listed by the CDC include, “Strengthen economic support to

families. Change social norms to support parents and positive parenting. Provide quality care and

education early in life. Enhance parenting skills to promote healthy child development. Intervene

to lessen harms and prevent future risk.” For each strategy, the CDC provides approaches

whereby these strategies might be carried out.

This source represents the viewpoints of health professionals who are experts in the

physical/psychological effects of abuse/neglect. In the introductory paragraph of this publication,

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the CDC states how seriously child abuse affects its victims and affirms that the practice must be

put to a stop. The primary rhetorical aspect used in this piece is ethos. The fact that the article

was published/written by the Centers for Disease control automatically suggests credibility. I,

therefore, trust the information presented in this publication. The audience for this article are

government/local leaders and physicians who have the ability to initiate the five preventative

measures.

Child Maltreatment. (n.d.). Retrieved November 16, 2020, from

https://www.acf.hhs.gov/cb/research-data-technology/statistics-research/child-maltreatme

nt

This publication from the US Department of Health and Human Services, titled “Child

Maltreatment”, gathered its statistics from the National Child Abuse and Neglect Data System

(NCANDS), and it details child abuse factors in the form of graphs, tables, and other statistics

from the years of 2014-2018. The NCANDS presents national and state numbers/percentages

describing children who’ve received investigation, number of child victims, child demographics,

maltreatment types, risk factors, perpetrator relationship, number of child fatalities, child fatality

demographics, number of perpetrators, perpetrator demographics, prevention services, post

response services, etc. While the numbers provided by the NCANDS concerning child

maltreatment vary from state to state, there is a common trend; the number of child fatalities

within the United States due to child abuse rose every year from 2014-2018 for a total increase

of 180 fatalities (see Exhibit 4-A).

This source is exclusively informational, so I have a difficult time claiming there to be a

singular “viewpoint”, but I suppose it can be argued that this describes the viewpoint of child
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abuse victims and their perpetrators, given that their information is what’s displayed in the

various graphics/statistics. This source can fit into either side of the debate (whether child abuse

is an increasinlgy large issue) depending on the section you look at. While Utah’s numbers have

seen slight decreases in some areas such as “first-time victims'', it has also seen a steady rise in

“total victims”. However, since these numbers are two-years-old, one can claim that they don’t

give an accurate description of our current circumstances and, therefore, have room for

interpretation. The two rhetorical aspects used in this publication are logos (gives page after page

of data collected from 2014-2018 detailing the various aspects of child maltreatment across the

nation) and ethos (these findings were published by the US Department of Health and Human

Services - a federally endorsed institution). The audience for this publication is anyone interested

in the issue/state of child abuse within the US. I trust that these findings are reliable, but I would

like to find further statistics that show more up-to-date numbers (given that I’m trying to uncover

how the ​current​ pandemic has affected the number of child abuse instances).

Kang, MD, K. T., & Jain, MD, N. (2020, September). Kristopher T. Kang, MD, Nita Jain, MD,

FRCPC. Child abuse and neglect in the COVID-19 era: A primer for front-line physicians

in British Columbia. BCMJ, Vol. 62, No. 7, September, 2020, Page(s) 238-240 - Clinical

Articles, COVID-19. Retrieved January 06, 2021, from

https://bcmj.org/articles/child-abuse-and-neglect-covid-19-era-primer-front-line-physicia

ns-british-columbia

This article, written by Kristopher Kang, MD and Nita Jain, MD and titled “Child Abuse

and Neglect in the Covid-19 Era: A Primer for Front-line Physicians in British Colombia”, was

published in the BC Medical Journal in September 2020. Kang and Jain begin by stating that

although children rarely fall severely ill to coronavirus, the pandemic is hitting children hard in a
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secondary manner. According to Kang and Jain, increased child maltreatment has, historically,

been a result of pandemics due to social isolation. Kang and Jain then suggest that, during these

unique times (and always), physicians are conveniently situated to intervene in suspected cases

of abuse. Kang and Jain claim that telehealth technology, well-child check-ups, and relationships

with families put physicians in the right position to inquire about a child’s home environment,

provide support, and promote mental health resources. The authors then list ways in which

physicians can assess risk for maltreatment among children, how to report suspected abuse, and

how to offer support to a child’s caregivers.

This article represents the viewpoints of children and parents (specifically amidst a

pandemic) and medical professionals. This source recognizes that child maltreatment is a serious

issue, and it has gotten worse as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. This article focuses on the

rhetorical aspects of logos and ethos. Logos is demonstrated through the use of statistics from

various institutions such as the Centers for Disease Control, the World Health Organization, the

US Department of Health and Human Services, etc. Ethos is established through the use of

credible sources, it’s apparent because of the prestigious journal in which this article was

published - the British Columbia Medical Journal, and the authors are highly credible (both have

received their Doctorate of Medicine). For the reasons previously listed, I consider the

information in this article to be reliable and true. The audience for this article are family

physicians who have frequent contact with children and are well situated to ask questions and

make observations concerning a child’s home environment.

Leonard, W. (2019, November 07). Utah has high number of child abuse cases. Experts say

prevention is better than intervention. Retrieved November 16, 2020, from

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https://www.deseret.com/utah/2019/11/6/20951756/utah-has-the-high-number-of-child-a

buse-cases-experts-say-prevention-is-better-than-intervention

In the article “Utah has high number of child abuse cases. Experts say prevention is better

than intervention” written by Wendy Leonard and published on November 7, 2019 by Deseret

News, it is argued that Utah needs to work harder at stopping child maltreatment before it ever

happens. Leonard explains how financial strain within families is the highest risk factor for child

abuse. As a result, Leonard suggests ways to alleviate financial strain on families such as

changes in tax law. Leonard mentions that there’s many programs in place to help families

struggling with a variety of difficulties, but many don’t know about them or aren’t willing to ask

for help. Leonard stresses that the science behind preventative programs is proven; we just need

to convince policymakers. The main idea of the article was highlighted when Leonard cited,

“Until we can say that for every child in Utah, ‘it’s great to be a kid,’ then we have work to do.”

Leonard strongly believes that decreased instances of child maltreatment isn’t enough; these

occurrences need to vanish entirely.

This source represents the viewpoint of child advocates, as well as parents of Utah

children. This source argues that Utah child abuse cases are above the national average, and

although there are measures in place to care for its victims, we need to create more policies that

ensure no child will ever fall victim to senseless abuse. The rhetorical aspects used in this article

include logos (statistics were drawn from the US Department of Health and Human Services that

outline Utah’s child abuse numbers and their contributory factors), ethos (Leonard cites credicle

sources such as the US Department of Health and Human Services, the director of the Utah

Department of Workforce Services, the Utah Coalition for Protecting Childhood, etc.), and

pathos (Leonard touches the reader’s emotions by including quotes that evoke sympathy among
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parents as well as quotes that describe the harmful effects of child maltreatment, making our

hearts break/long for change). The intended audience for this article are state policy makers. This

source is definitely credible to its intended audience; as mentioned before, it’s packed with logos

and ethos. I agree with the stance taken in this article, and although it’s approximately

one-year-old, I believe its information is relevant today.

NSPCC. (2020). Talk PANTS. Retrieved December 01, 2020, from

https://www.nspcc.org.uk/keeping-children-safe/support-for-parents/pants-underwear-rul

e/

Published on the National Society for Prevention of Child Cruelty’s (NSPCC) website

(and updated as of 2020), the section heading “PANTS (The Underwear Rule)” provides parents

and children with resources that can initiate age-appropriate discussions on the sanctity of their

bodies. According to the NSPCC, the acronym PANTS stands for “P - privates are private. A -

always remember your body belongs to you. N - no means no. T - talk about secrets that upset

you. S - speak up, someone can help.” This acronym and other supporting resources, provided by

the NSPCC, target the issue of sexual/physical maltreatment. The NSPCC hopes that by

educating children on potential threats to their well-being, firm convictions of consent and

respect will be implanted within them, allowing them to be better self-advocates, and therefore,

decreasing instances of maltreatment and/or teaching them where they can go for help if such

instances do occur.

This source represents the viewpoints of children and their parents/guardians. Resources

are provided that target all levels of mental development within those two groups. For example

there is a music video where a cartoon dinosaur, “Pantosaurus”, sings/explains the acronym
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PANTS which would be beneficial for young children. Also, there are guides for parents on how

to discuss abuse with children who have learning disabilities. While not firmly taking one side or

another, this source obviously acknowledges that child maltreatment is an issue because if it

wasn’t, they wouldn’t feel the need to provide preventative and support resources. The rhetorical

aspects most prevalent in this source are ethos and pathos. The National Society for Prevention

of Child Cruelty is the publisher of these materials. They are an organization that devotes

themselves to abolishing child cruelty, so they most certainly have credibility when it comes to

the topic of child maltreatment and how to prevent it/educate others about it. Pathos is primarily

used in the educational materials for children. Because abuse and the body can be heavy topics,

the childrens’ resources’ are presented in ways that are appealing to them. For example, there are

coloring pages and a cartoon dinosaur music video discussing the topic. This helps them

understand the issue in a format that’s familiar/comfortable to them. In conjunction with this, the

audience is definitely children and their parents/guardians. I firmly believe this is a credible

source because it was published by a prestigious organization that fights to end child

maltreatment. I think the materials published on this site would all be extremely beneficial for

kids and families. As a child, I never had an authentic conversation with my parents about my

body and how people should treat it, so when they tried to bring it up as I got older, the

conversation felt awkward/forced. These resources will prove imperative in breaking the stigma

around parent-child discussions concerning consent and physical treatment.

Reavy, P. (2020, December 04). 3 Utah fathers accused of abusing 2-month-old children in

separate cases. Retrieved December 05, 2020, from

https://www.deseret.com/utah/2020/12/3/22151191/two-utah-fathers-charged-in-a-pair-of

-child-abuse-cases
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In the article “3 Utah fathers accused of abusing 2-month-old children in separate cases”

written by Pat Reavy and published on December 3, 2020 by the Deseret News, the author

discusses three recent, local charges of child abuse. According to Reavy, “A pair of fathers were

charged [December 3rd] with abusing their 2-month-old children in separate cases. The charges

come on the heels of a third father being arrested [December 2nd] for allegedly abusing his

2-month-old.” Reavy says the three fathers were residents of Layton, Provo, and Davis County,

and all three admitted to becoming aggressive with their children due to frustration caused by

their constant crying. In two of the three cases, Reavy says the children were taken to Primary

Children’s Hospital to treat their injuries.

This source represents the viewpoint of the child abusers and doctors who reported on the

children’s injuries. This source is a testament to the fact that child abuse is a major problem

that’s happening ​right now​ in ​our c​ ommunity. This source makes use of logos, pathos, and ethos.

Logos is apparent through the informative statements that detail when the fathers were arrested,

on what accounts, and where they were taken. Pathos is used unintentionally through the

detailing of the young children who suffered serious harm at the hands of their so-called

“caregivers”. Ethos is apparent through the usage of reliable sources such as police

reports/affidavits and statements from Primary Children’s Hospital doctors. As such, I believe

the source is very credible to its audience (which is consumers of news, Utah adults) because it is

strictly informative. I can detect no bias, and the author uses multiple primary sources to explain

the details of these events and their aftermath. This source is very congruent with the others in

proving that child maltreatment is a current issue, but this one specifically proves that it’s a

current issue within Utah.

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SAMHSA. (2020). Intimate Partner Violence and Child-Abuse Considerations During

COVID-19. Retrieved January 5, 2021, from

https://www.samhsa.gov/sites/default/files/social-distancing-domestic-violence.pdf

In the article “Intimate Partner Violence and Child-Abuse Considerations During

COVID-19”, published by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration

(SAMHSA) in 2020, SAMHSA provides statistics for how often both types of abuse occur, how

victims of these types of abuse are affected later in life, and how the COVID-19 pandemic has

affected instances of abuse in the United States. After stating some facts regarding domestic

abuse, SAMHSA states that 1 in 7 children have experienced child abuse. SAMHSA affirms that

rates of child abuse are higher in families with a lower socio-economic status. SAMHSA then

lists future risks associated with child abuse victims such as future violence victimization,

substance abuse, delayed brain development, lower educational attainment, and limited

employment opportunities. SAMHSA then argues that, due to COVID-19, children are more

vulnerable to abuse because stress levels are higher among parents, and many support systems

(i.e. schools, churches, etc.) are no longer available. SAMHSA stated, “We must work with law

enforcement and other state and local personnel to understand that stay-at-home orders need to

be relaxed when the home is unsafe.” SAMHSA then suggests how local businesses, like hotels,

could open up their doors to those suffering from abuse.

This publication represents the viewpoint of children suffering from abuse by not only

describing the immediate effects of their victimization but also future effects. This article

supports the idea that child maltreatment is a serious problem within the United States and has

worsened as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. Logos, pathos, and ethos are all rhetorical

strategies used in this article. Numerous statistics from the Centers for Disease Control are
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provided, describing the negative effects on those suffering from child abuse appeals to the

reader’s emotions, and the article was created by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health

Services Administration which suggests expertise in the topics discussed. For these reasons (and

also because the information provided is consistent with my past research), I believe this to be a

credible source. The audience for this article are state and local leaders who have authority to

extend help and promote solutions to those living in abusive environments.

Smith, K. (2020, November 24). 6 Strategies for Finding Affordable or Free Therapy in Your

Area. Retrieved December 06, 2020, from

https://www.psycom.net/how-to-find-affordable-therapy/

In the article “6 Strategies for Finding Affordable or Free Therapy in Your Area” written

by Kathleen Smith and published on November 24, 2020 by Psycom, the author provides six

strategies that would be helpful for those experiencing mental and financial struggles. Smith

stresses that although the typical out-of-pocket cost for therapy ($100-$200 pers session) can be

overwhelming, “...meeting with a mental health professional can be an invaluable resource, so

don’t cancel the hunt before you take a closer look at what’s available to you in your

community.” Smith’s six main tips include checking with your insurance, calling your local

university, asking about pro-bono services, checking if your work has an Employee Assistance

Program, using your community resources (i.e. “rec” centers, churches, etc.), and checking out

online services. Smith says that if you’re not sure where to start or you’re experiencing an

immediate crisis, call 211. Smith explains that this number can provide you with information and

referrals to health, human, and social service organizations.

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This article represents the viewpoint of a parent/caregiver who requires assistance in

improving their mental health but lacks the monetary resources necessary to get the help they

need. Though this source is not tied specifically to the topic of child abuse, it definitely supports

the idea that mental health is a serious concern, especially among those in a financial

predicament. The rhetorical strategies used in this article are pathos and ethos. Though, I think,

unintentional, pathos is created by sympathizing with the audience (adults in need of mental

health resources but lacking the necessary monetary compensation). The author of the article,

Kathleen Smith, has a PhD in psychology and is a professional mental health writer. This is one

factor that contributes to the establishment of ethos in the article. Another factor that contributes

to the article´s establishment of ethos is the sources cited by the author - non-profit organizations

such as OpenPath Psychotherapy Collective, Better Help, and Teen Counseling. Therefore, I

believe this article is accurate and reliable. I agree with all of the statements made, and I was

shocked to learn that there are so many places offering free or inexpensive assistance in regards

to mental health. This article is a great resource for parents struggling with job loss or any other

stressors brought on by the current pandemic.

Through my research, I’ve come to understand that child maltreatment is a serious

problem throughout the United States (and in Utah). It ​is​ preventable, however. I’ve seen

through these articles, especially the one highlighting the three recent cases of child abuse in

Utah, that child maltreatment is a result of stress, frustration, and boiling feelings. These types of

emotions seem increasingly prevalent nowadays due to the Coronavirus pandemic which has

caused job loss, isolation, and so much more. If parents/caregivers can find a way to deal with

these negative emotions in a healthy, non-aggressive way, they will save themselves, and their

children, from unnecessary hurt. The article by Kathleen Smith provides ways parents can find
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resources to help them fight their mental battles. Another preventative measure that can be taken

against child maltreatment, I found, is talking with children early on about what abuse is. Many

children don’t realize when they’re being treated inappropriately, so defining what abuse is will

make them better advocates for themselves. However, parents/guardians won’t always be willing

to follow these steps, so if child abuse does happen, it’s imperative that we be the advocates

those children are lacking. This research addresses the viewpoints of child victims, overwhelmed

parents, mental health professionals, and police officers/doctors involved in cases of child abuse.

I’m pleased with the sources I’ve gathered and believe that they answer all my questions

concerning what affects the Coronavirus pandemic has had on rates of child maltreatment,

possible preventative measures, what defines abuse/what to look for, and how to help parents

who are struggling with the demands placed on them.