How the State of Ohio Defines Child Maltreatment

Child abuse defined by Ohio Revised Code, Section 2151.031

Child abuse includes, but is not limited to the following, when intentionally inflicted on a child under the age of 18: physical injury, intimate partner violence (domestic violence), access to drugs/drug paraphernalia, positive toxicology, and ingestion. Child abuse can occur at any time within any family, neighborhood or community.

Child neglect defined by Ohio Revised Code, Section 2151.03

Child neglect includes, but is not limited to the following:

• Abandonment
• Lack of safe, sanitary, warm shelter
• Lack of inadequate supervision
• Lack of adequate nutrition
• Lack of necessary psychiatric care
• Lack of care for special needs
• Lack of necessary medical/dental care
• Lack of adequate clothing
• Caregiver substance abuse
• Access to drugs
• Lack of Education

Child neglect can occur at any time within any family, neighborhood or community.

Child sexual abuse defined by Ohio Revised Code, Section 2151.031

Sexual abuse includes, but is not limited to:

• Rape
• Fellatio
• Cunnilingus
• Molestation/Incest
• Vaginal or anal intercourse
• Fondling

Child sexual abuse can occur at any time within any family, neighborhood or community.

Mental injury defined by Ohio Revised Code, Section 2151.011(B)(24)

‘Mental injury’ means any behavioral, cognitive, emotional or mental disorder in a child caused by an act of omission (described in ORC, Section 2919.22) and is committed by the parent or other person responsible for the child’s care.

Mental injury can occur at any time within any family, neighborhood or community.

Dependent child defined by Ohio Revised Code, Section 2151.04

A ‘dependent child’ is any child:

• Who is homeless or destitute or without adequate parental care through no fault of the child’s parents, guardian or custodian.
• Who lacks adequate parental care by reason of the mental or physical condition of the child’s parents, guardian or custodian.
• Whose condition or environment is such as to warrant the state, in the interest of the child, in assuming the child’s guardianship.
• To whom both of the following must apply:
  • The child is residing in a household in which a parent, guardian or custodian or other member of the household committed an act that was the basis for the adjudication that a sibling of the child or any other child who resides in the household is an abused, neglected or dependent child.
  • Because of the circumstances surrounding the abuse, neglect or dependency of the sibling or other child, and the other conditions in the household of the child, the child is in danger of being abused or neglected by that parents, guardian, custodian or member of the household.

Deserted child defined by Ohio Revised Code, Section 2151.3515

A ‘deserted child’ is a child whose parent has voluntarily delivered the child to an emergency medical service worker, peace officer or hospital employee without expressing an intent to return for the child.