These questions came out of post I did about Arizona's child abuse task force. They're pulled out here because I really would like your feedback on these questions.
It seems to me that in our society's efforts to reduce and prevent child trauma, we have a huge issue with definition and language. As long as we continue to focus on the traditional definitions of child abuse -- emotional, physical, sexual abuse and emotional and physical neglect -- we miss grappling with the trauma of family dysfunction that also harms a child's developing brain.
And by using the words "child abuse", we automatically attach a criminal definition.
Would expanding our language from "child abuse" to "child trauma" or "toxic stress", and expanding our definition to include other things that harm a child help us create a healthier world for children?