European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - April 7, 1990, Darmstadt, Hesse                                Saturday april 7, 1990 the stars and stripes a a a Page 3child abuse Isnit a pretty picture by Randy Pruitt staff writer Derheim West Germany a the slides social worker Renee Weitz shows Arentt pretty. But neither is child abuse. Her audience winces at the wounds inflicted on children by angry parents or guardians. Some children were whipped with electric cords. Others were struck by fists one was severely bitten. Another was lashed with a Section of a toy Railroad track until he was literally branded by the instrument. Weitz a social services representative for the army family advocacy program Calls the presentation heavy duty but one that is necessary. Perhaps it can help save a life. Weitz helps educate soldiers and their family members to a crime that is on the Rise in Europe As Well As the United states. Each year about 1 million cases of child abuse or neglect by parents or guardians Are reported in the United states she said. It is estimated that for it is essential a child be examined by a doctor to determine if he is a victim. A if you done to report this child wont be seen by a  a social worker Renee Weitz. Every reported Case of sexual abuse nine go unreported. A child abuse is the second leading cause of death of children in the ,�?� she said Friday in a presentation. April is National child abuse prevention month. Weitz shows members of the military Community How to identify child abuse and neglect and How to become involved. Children she said can be abused emotionally physically and sexually. Army regulations define a child As anyone who is not married and under 18. A it is very important that you report suspected child abuse. The possibility of this child being abused again in one year is 35 to.50 percent a she said. It is essential a child be examined by a doctor to determine if he is a victim she explained. A if you Don t report this child won t be seen by a physician a she said. Weitz said the army in t telling parents they can t discipline their child. A discipline Means teaching and training. The role of Good discipline is you want to encourage Good behaviour. If you discipline a child you want to accomplish something. With abuse what you usually do is lash  stress often leads to child abuse she said and military transfers overseas often cause stress. A you lose your family support system a she said. A you can to say a mom Here a take him the child i can to Deal with him now. I m going to take a  you done to have that. A a lot of times the husband and wife have problems and the child gets  Young parents sometimes Lack emotional maturity to Deal with a child she said. Another Factor is unrealistic expectations on the part of parents. A they go shopping with an 18-month-old and expect him to sit quietly in the shopping cart a she said. Weitz said most people deceive themselves into thinking the Home is Safe especially when it comes to chide in and sexual abuse. But a National study revealed Only 25 percent of sexual abuse cases involved a stranger while 75 percent involved a close family member. A that makes sexual abuse so difficult to Deal with a she said. There were 150,000 cases of sexual abuse documented in the states last year she  use claims levelled against Texas Mattox Dallas apr allegations of drug use have been levelled for the first time against gubernatorial candidate Jim Mattox who has been harassing his democratic opponent with claims she used drugs. Mattox the attorney general has repeatedly accused Ann Richards whom he faces in tuesdays Runoff of smoking marijuana in the 1970s. Mattox vigorously denied reports Friday in Dallas and Houston newspapers that he did the same. Houston lawyer Jim Sharp and former Dallas police officer Edward h. Lowe signed affidavits that they saw Mattox smoke marijuana on separate occasions. Lowe said he saw Mattox smoke marijuana in a Dallas apartment during an undercover investigation in the Early 1970s, when Mattox was a Dallas lawyer. He said he did no to arrest Mattox because he was investigating a separate matter. Sharp said Mattox and he shared a marijuana cigarette in 1974 while in a car after the democratic state convention in Austin. A a in be never used any marijuana or dangerous drugs period a Mattox said about the accusations which Sharp and Lowe made in the Houston chronicle and the Dallas morning news. The drug use Issue first was presented at a debate before the March 13 primary. Mattox and former gov. Mark White denied Ever using illegal drugs but Richards the state treasurer refused to answer the question. Richards a recovering alcoholic later said she has not had an alcoholic drink or a mood altering chemical since leaving an alcohol recovery program in 1980. The Issue has dominated the democratic Campaign particularly since the primary that vaulted Mattox and Richards into the Runoff. Mattox has said a former drug user could not effectively Lead the states efforts to end illegal drug use. Richards has not accused Mattox of drug use. Earlier this week Mattox said he had affidavits signed by people who saw Richards use drugs in the 1970s. But he has refused to release the documents citing the confidentiality of the people who made the allegations. On thursday the Houston Post quoted a woman it did no to identify As saying she had seen Richards in a restroom with other women who appeared to be smoking marijuana at an Austin convention in 1979. The Dallas morning news in fridays editions said the same woman confirmed her allegation in a polygraph examination paid for by the paper. A i have no idea what they re talking about a Richards said. Telltale signs can be detected by non professionals experts say by Crystal Laureano and Randy Pruitt staff writers you done to have to be a doctor to notice signs of possible child abuse according to military social workers. A a behaviour is a key Factor a behaviour of the child behaviour of the Parent and the behaviour of the child with the Parent a said Jackie Bio the family advocacy program manager in Mainz West Germany. A Parent who is stressed screaming and Yelling at a child or who has Little control Over impulses might be a candidate for abusive behaviour. A child who acts fearful of a Parent or does no to want to leave with a Parent might be a victim of abuse she said. Other warning signs Are children who Are unkempt or who Are always complacent or always aggressive. A child whose moods swing wildly or a child who is hesitant to play with others might be abused. Signs of neglect May also Point to abuse. Neglect is when a Parent or caretaker does not provide nourishment shelter clothing or health care. It also involves Lack of Supe Rivison educational neglect or just Plain abandonment. Neglect also depends on the age of the child according to Renee Weitz an army social services representative. Children up to 5 years old should be supervised by someone older who is always within seeing or hearing distance. From 5 to 8 years old a child can be allowed on a playground but with close supervision. A child can be left unattended for a a appropriate periods of time at age 9, depending on How Well a Parent knows his child she said. Injuries on a child May be the result of Normal play or physical abuse. Some bruises along the arms and the front leg Bones arc common injuries said maj. Stuart smythe an 8th inf div social work officer. But children done to normally have bruises on the face behind the leg in the thigh area or along the trunk of the body. Four Small bruises on a child supper Arm might be from an excessively forceful grab by an adult. A facial Bruise mirroring the shape of a hand also indicates excessive use of Force. Additionally welts arc not Normal and could indicate abuse he said. The answer to a question about How an injury occurred can be a clue to uncovering abuse. A if the answer is inconsistent with How a child would get that injury or if it sounds programmed or if they avoid it those Are cues that even a non professional can pick up on a smythe said. Possible abuse must be reported quickly. Bio said. Reports that Are reviewed weeks after something has occurred Are very difficult to investigate. Family advocacy officials must respond to All accusations of abuse even those made anonymously. The names of victims and abusers Are carefully guarded smythe said. Possible abuse cases can be reported to local military police to family advocacy officials through army Community services or to air Force family support centers. A a it a not your Job to investigate it a Weitz said. A a it a not your Job to find proof. Your Job is to say this looks suspicious and Check it  whole Community urged to help from Page 1 abused As its been reported a even if it does no to this child died and it has generated a whole lot of feelings in the Community a said smythe the chairman of the family advocacy Case management team in the Mainz military Community. The team determines if there is reason to believe that a reported episode of violence or abuse occurred he said. It also recommends courses of treatment. Since Michele a death the family advocacy office has received several Calls from worried residents. A i think the whole Community is really very concerned a said Jackie Bio the Mainz family advocacy program manager. A it hit Home to a lot of people people that have children people that have close relationships with the  reluctance to report possible abuse for fear of being wrong or not wanting to get involved is not condoned by the team. A i think it would be preposterous to really adopt that attitude a said or. Milton Cambridge a psychologist and acting director of personnel and Community activities in Mainz. A i think you be got to err on the Side of caution and so what if someone is temporarily inconvenienced because someone reported them doing something that was questionable a he said. A i think everybody should look out for each others  officials Hope that the new sensitivity in Mainz to the Issue of child abuse will create a More receptive audience for abuse prevention education. A a in a like to see that this never happens anywhere not just in Mainz a Cambridge said