Warning signs of abuse
• A change in a child's behavior or school performance
• The child seems guarded and startles easily
• The child loiters at school or friends' houses; seems reluctant to go home

Signs That a Friend Is Being Abused
• unexplained bruises, broken bones, sprains, or marks
• excessive guilt or shame for no apparent reason
• secrecy or withdrawal from friends and family
• avoidance of school or social events with excuses that don't seem to make any sense

If a friend is being abused…
• Listen and believe him or her. Do not judge.
• He/she may feel like it's their fault - that they "asked for it" or they don't deserve any better. • Acknowledge that abuse is never deserved.
• Your friend needs you to help him or her understand that it is not his or her fault. Your friend is not a bad person.
• State that the person who abused him or her is at fault and needs professional help.
• He or she needs your patience, love, and understanding and support.
• Encourage him or her to get help immediately from an adult, such as a parent or guidance counselor.

Cody
• Cody's dad was a good shot. The large, powerful man would take his rifle and hold it near Cody's head, making threats about "blasting" the little boy. Fortunately, he never did. His father made the threats because Cody tried to protect his mother. Cody's father would violently beat Cody's mother. When Cody tried to intervene, his father would make him stand in a corner, then aim a rifle near Cody's head. Cody's story is startling to hear, but here at Tennyson Center for Children it is actually a very typical life story for the children we treat. Cody's recovery continues. As with many children, it is a long and difficult process, involving special schooling, intensive therapy, and giving structure to his life. 

Carla
• For the first 10 years of her life, Carla didn't know what love was. All she knew was getting slapped across the face, punched in the chest, or screamed at because she was "worthless." She was seldom cared for by her mother, but usually by one or another of her mother's live-in boyfriends. Some of the men took advantage of Carla or let their anger out on her. Even at age 10, Carla began hanging out with a group of older kids and bragged that she was in a gang. In her healing process, Carla learned to understand her inherent value and continues to stay on the right path of decency and integrity.