Which act by a non-parent could fulfill an element of child abuse by encouraging harm?

• A. Actively encouraging another person to commit an act that could harm a child
• B. Providing safe housing
• C. Teaching a child to swim
• D. Reading a book to a child

Answer: (A)

The main concept here is that liability for child abuse can arise from acts that encourage or facilitate harm, not just from direct harm by a parent. Actively encouraging another person to commit an act that could harm a child shows intent to cause or enable the harm, making the encourager contribute to the abuse even if they aren’t the parent. The other options involve protective or benign actions—providing safe housing supports the child's safety, teaching a child to swim is a safety skill, and reading a book is a caring, educational act. None of these involve encouraging harm, so they don’t meet the element described. Therefore, encouraging harm is the best answer.