Simple English definitions for legal terms
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Term: Cumulatively Harmful Behavior
Definition: Cumulatively harmful behavior is when someone repeatedly does things that hurt another person, especially a child. This behavior can cause serious harm over time. It is different from immediately harmful behavior, which is when someone does something that could have hurt a child but didn't because of luck or someone else stopping it. Seriously harmful behavior is when someone does something that could seriously hurt a child, like hitting them or not taking care of them. Harmful behavior is never okay and can cause a lot of pain and damage.
Definition: Cumulatively harmful behavior is conduct that could injure another person, especially a child, and if continued for a significant period, will over time cause serious harm to the child. This is different from immediately harmful behavior, which could have caused serious injury to a child but did not result in any injury due to an outside force or a fortuitous event. Seriously harmful behavior is capable of causing serious injury to a child in the person's care, such as physical battering, physical neglect, sexual abuse, and abandonment.
Examples:
These examples illustrate how cumulatively harmful behavior can have serious and long-lasting effects on a child's physical, emotional, and mental well-being. While each individual instance of harmful behavior may not seem severe, the cumulative effect over time can be devastating.