Child Abuse and Neglect Child Abuse and Neglect Training for Educators, Part 4Training for Educators, Part 4

Child Abuse and Neglect:Child Abuse and Neglect:Frequently Asked Frequently Asked

QuestionsQuestions

Fran Roberson, LCSW, LMFTFran Roberson, LCSW, LMFT

Center for Children and Families, Center for Children and Families, Inc.Inc.

Norman, OklahomaNorman, Oklahoma

Who is a mandated Who is a mandated reporter in the state of reporter in the state of

Oklahoma?Oklahoma?

Everyone is a mandated reporter:

•Medical people

•Educators

•Neighbors

•Social workers

•Day care providers

•Legislators

•Sanitation workers

•Law enforcements

•EVERYONE!

As a mandated reporter, As a mandated reporter, who do I call?who do I call?

You will call the You will call the DEPARTMENT OF HUMAN DEPARTMENT OF HUMAN

SERVICESSERVICES

• The DHS Child Abuse Hotline The DHS Child Abuse Hotline number is number is

1.800.522.35111.800.522.3511

OROR• Your local county Department of Your local county Department of

Human Services Office Human Services Office

Do I have to know there Do I have to know there is abuse and/or neglect is abuse and/or neglect

before I call the before I call the Department of Human Department of Human

Services?Services?

NO. All of us as mandated reporters are required to report any SUSPICION of abuse and/or neglect.

Good faith reporters who attempt to “find out more” before reporting, can risk the clarity and accurateness of the formal investigation. Interviews of children must be left to the trained DHS investigators.

What if my boss What if my boss (principal, counselor, (principal, counselor, lead teacher) tells me lead teacher) tells me

not to report a suspicion not to report a suspicion of child abuse and/or of child abuse and/or

neglect to the neglect to the Department of Human Department of Human

Services?Services?

• No employer may tell employees not to report a No employer may tell employees not to report a suspicion of child abuse or neglect. suspicion of child abuse or neglect.

• Failure to report suspected abuse is a crime. No Failure to report suspected abuse is a crime. No person, regardless of relationship to a child or person, regardless of relationship to a child or family, is exempt from reporting suspected abuse.family, is exempt from reporting suspected abuse.

• Reporting child abuse is an individual Reporting child abuse is an individual responsibility.responsibility.

Can I just tell my Can I just tell my principal or school principal or school

counselor and let them counselor and let them make the report to the make the report to the Department of Human Department of Human

Services?Services?

•NO, you must call. •DHS professionals need to talk to the person who suspects child abuse or neglect, or who witnessed or was told about the abuse or neglect.

Will my report to the Will my report to the Department of Human Department of Human

Services regarding Services regarding suspicion of child abuse suspicion of child abuse

or neglect be or neglect be confidential?confidential?

Department of Human Department of Human Services Policy and State Services Policy and State

Law:Law:• Require strict maintenance of the Require strict maintenance of the

confidentiality of reporters of child confidentiality of reporters of child abuse. abuse.

• If the incident does become court If the incident does become court involved, information on the reporter involved, information on the reporter could be requested by the court.could be requested by the court.

• It is rare, however, for the identify of It is rare, however, for the identify of the reporter to be made known in courtthe reporter to be made known in court

• Anonymous reports are also accepted.Anonymous reports are also accepted.

What is my responsibility What is my responsibility regarding confidentiality regarding confidentiality

of the report made on of the report made on one of my students?one of my students?

As professionals who care As professionals who care about children and families, about children and families,

we mustwe must• Honor the Honor the

confidentiality of a confidentiality of a family by talking only family by talking only to our supervisor to our supervisor about any report of about any report of child abuse or neglect child abuse or neglect that is made.that is made.

• Reporting to the Reporting to the authorities is authorities is mandated, practicing mandated, practicing confidentiality is also confidentiality is also required.required.

What if I make a report What if I make a report and I am wrong? Can I and I am wrong? Can I

be sued?be sued?

A person reporting in A person reporting in good faith is immune good faith is immune from both civil and from both civil and criminal liability.criminal liability.

What if I’m worried What if I’m worried something worse will something worse will happen to the child if happen to the child if

there is a report made?there is a report made?

Any concern about increased danger to the child due to reporting should be stated clearly when the report is being made.

What if the Department What if the Department of Human Services of Human Services

doesn’t identify abuse doesn’t identify abuse and/or neglect, and I’m and/or neglect, and I’m

still concerned about the still concerned about the child’s safety?child’s safety?

Ongoing concerns for a child Ongoing concerns for a child following a DHS Child following a DHS Child

Welfare report.Welfare report.• Document the report, and know what you, as Document the report, and know what you, as

the reporter, have a right to know.the reporter, have a right to know.• Continue to observe the situation and note any Continue to observe the situation and note any

further suspicions of child abuse/neglect.further suspicions of child abuse/neglect.• Make another report with this additional Make another report with this additional

information.information.• If you continue to be dissatisfied with the If you continue to be dissatisfied with the

responses from Child Welfare, provide responses from Child Welfare, provide feedback through the supervision structure of feedback through the supervision structure of DHS, i.e., the Child Welfare supervisor for the DHS, i.e., the Child Welfare supervisor for the county.county.

A report of suspected A report of suspected child abuse/neglect is child abuse/neglect is

made from our school. made from our school.

Is the school responsible Is the school responsible for notifying the parents for notifying the parents

of the child?of the child?

No. State law specifies that schools are not responsible for notifying parents that a child was interviewed at the school regarding a child abuse report. The task for notifying parents is the responsibility of the Department of Human Services.

What Are Special Reporting What Are Special Reporting Issues Related to SchoolsIssues Related to Schools

School personnel, as well as medical, School personnel, as well as medical, public health, mental health public health, mental health professionals, or any other professional professionals, or any other professional person interacting with children person interacting with children should should NOT delve into a child’s situation NOT delve into a child’s situation beyondbeyond determining whether there is a determining whether there is a REASON TO BELIEVE the child is being REASON TO BELIEVE the child is being abused or neglected, or is in danger of abused or neglected, or is in danger of being abused or neglected. being abused or neglected.

Educators’ can identify the suspicion of Educators’ can identify the suspicion of abuse or neglect and report to DHS.abuse or neglect and report to DHS.

A special note about the A special note about the grownups (parents, grownups (parents,

grandparents, guardians) grandparents, guardians) who may be the who may be the

perpetrators of child perpetrators of child abuse/neglect:abuse/neglect:

These Grownups Most Often These Grownups Most Often Love Their Children Very Love Their Children Very

Much, and They . . .Much, and They . . .• Respond better to Respond better to

support than to support than to hostile criticism.hostile criticism.

• Are often challenged Are often challenged by isolation, finances, by isolation, finances, stability, multi-stability, multi-stressors, and stressors, and histories of being histories of being victims themselves.victims themselves.

• Are often intimidated Are often intimidated by teachers and by teachers and schools.schools.

So, as caring professional educators, the challenge is:

1. To be a part of the community raising and teaching children,

2. To be clear about reporting suspicion of child abuse and neglect,

3. To apply more compassion than criticism toward the complex issues for families where child abuse and neglect occur.

Contact Fran Roberson at Contact Fran Roberson at the Center for Children and the Center for Children and

Families, Inc. for further Families, Inc. for further questions or concerns.questions or concerns.

froberson@ccfinorman.orgfroberson@ccfinorman.org405.364.1420 405.364.1420