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Printer Friendly    Text Version  Email Page What is Child Abuse? The Child Abuse and Prevention and Treatment Act (CAPTA) as amended and reauthorized in October 1996 (Public Law 101-235, Section 111;42 U. S. C. 5106g), defines child abuse and neglect at minimum as: "Any recent act or failure to act resulting in imminent risk of serious harm, death, serious physical or emotional harm, sexual abuse, or exploitation of a child (a person under the age of 18 unless the child protective law of the State in which the child resides specifies a younger age for cases not involving sexual abuse) by a parent or caregiver (including any employee of a residential facility or any staff person providing our-of-home care) who is responsible for the child's welfare."

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