Mandatory Child Abuse Training
description
Transcript of Mandatory Child Abuse Training
Mandatory Child
Abuse Training
Outcomes
Participants will know:
Licensure requirements Meaning of child and dependent abuse as defined
by Iowa Code Categories of child and dependent abuse Description of physical, psychological, behavioral,
environmental, and other indicators of abuse Requirements and procedures for reporting
suspected cases of abuse Classifications of mandatory reporters,
confidentiality provisions, immunity provisions, and penalties for failure to report
Assessment protocol utilized by DHS following the receipt of a report
Chapter 102 procedures for investigating abuse of students by school employees
Licensure Requirements
Mandatory child and dependent adult abuse training is a condition of employment for all employees with a license, authorization, or certificate from the State Board of Educational Examiners
New employees within 6 months of employment
Current employees renewing their license after September 1, 2002
Every 5 years thereafter
History
Child abuse is not a new phenomenon.
The abuse and neglect of children has been documented for more than two thousand years.
Attempts to prevent child abuse are relatively new.
History The first documented legal
response to child abuse in the United States occurred in 1874.
The New York Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals pleaded in court to have an 8 year old child removed from her abusive and neglectful environment.
Since there were no child abuse laws, the Society argued that the child was, in fact, an animal, and should be provided the same protection as other animals.
History
During the last few decades of the 1800’s, societies to protect children from cruelty were formed in many states.
The next movement to protect children came as the result of several pediatricians publishing articles about children.
These children had suffered multiple fractures and brain injuries at the hands of their caretakers.
History
In 1961, Dr. C. Henry Kempe, then president of the American Academy of Pediatrics, held a conference on the “Battered Child Syndrome”.
Dr. Kempe outlined a “duty” to the child to prevent “repetition of trauma”.
The Battered Child Syndrome Conference resulted in many states passing laws to protect children from physical abuse.
1965 “Health Practitioners” required to report
1974 Mandatory reporter list expanded
Social workersPsychologistsCertificated school employeesLicensed day care providersFoster parentsLaw enforcement officersMental health professions
1978 Sexual Abuse & Denial of Critical Care added
1985 Direct reporting to DHS
IOWA RESPONSE
1978 - Iowa’s child abuse reporting law initially enacted
Intent of the law is to identify children who are victims of abuse
Professional assessment to determine if abuse occurred
Protective services designed to protect, treat and prevent further maltreatment
PURPOSE of the Iowa law: to provide the greatest possible protection to children by encouraging the reporting of suspected child abuse.
Confirmed Child Abuse in 2001*
TYPES NUMBER PERCENT
DENIAL OFCRITICAL CARE 9,155 70%
PHYSICALABUSE 2,562 19%
SEXUAL ABUSE 1,020 8%PRESENCE OF
ILLEGAL DRUGS 378 3%
MENTAL INJURY 28 0.21%
CHILDPROSTITUTION
5 0.04%
*Some children suffered more than one typeof abuse.
CLAYTON COUNTY
POPULATION (Ages0-17) : 5,020
ACCEPTED CASES: 87
REPORT RATE/1000: 17.33
CONFIRMED CASES: 34
CONFIRMATION RATE: 39.1%
CONFIRMED CHILDREN: 46
CONFIRMED CHILDRENABUSED PER 1000: 9.16
*Based on 2000 data
CHICKASAW COUNTY
POPULATION (Ages0-17) : 3,684
ACCEPTED CASES: 56
REPORT RATE/1000: 15.20
CONFIRMED CASES: 13
CONFIRMATION RATE: 23.2%
CONFIRMED CHILDREN: 18
CONFIRMED CHILDRENABUSED PER 1000: 4.89
*Based on 2000 data
National DataOn a National level:
• T 19he 99 “Chil d Maltreatm entRepor ,t ”publis hedb y th e U. . S Departmen t ofHealthand Hu manServic es Children’ s Bur ,eauindicate s that an esti mated2,974,0 00 reports ofchil d abu se wer e ma de tochil d protection
agencies
• Approximatel y 60% wer e accep ted forinvestiga tiono r assess .ment
• Les s than one-thir d of theinvestigations/assessme nts(29%) confirmedchil d abus .e
• Ther e wer e an estim 82ated 6,000 victim s ofchil d abus e nationwid .e
• T her ate ofvictimization wa 11s .8 pe r 1,000 0children
Cost of Child Abuse
Abused children are more likely to:
Have problems in school
Become juvenile offenders
Commit crimes as adults
Societal Costs:
$250 million DHS spends each year to respond directly to abuse
$24.3 billion direct national cost
$69.5 billion indirect national cost
Cost of Child Abuse
“…Children who are abused physicallyor sexually tend to exhibit moredevelopmental, cognitive, emotional,and social behavior problems, includingdepression and increased aggression,than other children.”
Child Abuse CHILD
Victim under eighteen years
CIRCUMSTANCES Subjected to one or more categories of abuse
CARETAKER Results of acts or omissions of the person
responsible for the care of a child
Caretakers Parent, guardian, or foster parent Relative or any other person with whom the
child resides and assumes care or supervision
Employee or agent of any public or private facility providing care for a child
Any person providing care for a child
Categories of Child Abuse
Physical Abuse
Mental Injury
Sexual Abuse
Denial of Critical Care
Child Prostitution
Presence of Illegal Drugs
Manufacturing or Possession of a Dangerous Substance
Bestiality in the Presence of a Minor
Physical Abuse
Any non-accidental physical injury
Injury at variance with the history given of it
Results of acts or omissions of a person responsible for the care of a child
Physical Abuse Indicators
Unusual or unexplained burns, bruises, or fractures
Inconsistent histories where the explanation does not fit the injury
Story changes over time
Mental Injury
Mental injury to a child’s intellectual or psychological capacity
Observable and substantial impairment in child’s ability to function
Impairment is diagnosed and confirmed by a licensed physician or mental health professional
Examples of Mental Injury Ignoring Rejecting Isolating Terrorizing Corrupting Verbally
assaulting Over-pressuring
Sexual Abuse Commission of a sexual
offense with or to a child
1st, 2nd, or 3rd degree sexual abuse Detention in a brothel Lascivious acts with a child or minor Indecent exposure Assault with intent to commit sexual
abuse Indecent contact with a child Sexual exploitation by a counselor or
therapist Sexual exploitation of a minor
Sexual Abuse Indicators
Excessive knowledge of sexual matters beyond their normal developmental age
Seductiveness
Bruised or bleeding genitalia
Venereal disease
Pregnancy
Denial of Critical Care Failure on the part of a person
responsible for the care to provide when financially able to do so:
•Adequate food/nutrition
•Adequate shelter
•Adequate clothing
•Adequate health care
To such an extent that a child is at risk of injury or death
Gross failure to meet emotional needs or failure to provide mental health care
Failure to provide proper supervision
Failure to respond to life-threatening conditions
Child Prostitution
Acts or omissions of a person responsible for
the care of a child which allow, permit,
or encourage prostitution.
Presence of Illegal Drugs
An illegal drug is present in a child’s body as a direct and foreseeable consequence of the acts or omissions of the person responsible for the care of a child.
Determined by a drug screen
Manufacture or Possession of a Dangerous Substance
Essentially refers to meth labs operated by parents in the presence of a child.
Can also include other dangerous activities such as making bombs.
Bestiality in the Presence of a Minor Commission of a sex act
with an animal in the presence of a child
By a person who resides in a home with a child
Result of the acts or omissions of a person responsible for the care of the child
Dependent Adult Abuse
18 years of age or older
Unable to protect one’s own interests
Unable to adequately perform or obtain services necessary to meet essential human needs
Result of a physical or mental condition requiring assistance from another
Categories of Dependent Adult Abuse
Physical abuse
Sexual abuse
Exploitation- includes financial & sexual
Denial of critical care- includes self-denial of critical care
Dependent Adult Abuse
Includes persons with diminished physical or mental capacity
Victim must meet the definition of being a dependent adult, AND
The victim suffers one of the categories of abuse or neglect, AND
The abuse or neglect occurred as a result of acts or omissions of a responsible caretaker OR of the dependent adult
Indicators of Dependent Adult Abuse
Environment Clothes dirty or uncared
for Not dressed appropriately
for the weather No means of
transportation
Indicators of Dependent Adult Abuse
Physical Condition Lack of personal
cleanliness & grooming, body odors
Decayed teeth Untreated pressure
sores Signs of confinement Lack of mobility
Indicators of Dependent Adult Abuse BEHAVIOR
Intentional physical abuse or suicidal statements
Persistent liar Threatens or attacks
others physically or verbally
Increased depression, anxiety or hostility
Withdrawn, reclusive, suspicious, timid, unresponsive
Lack of trust in others
Mandatory Reporters
HealthMental HealthEducationLaw Enforcement
Child CareSocial Work
How to Report Suspected Abuse
An oral report must be filed within 24 hours of being made aware of the abuse
A written report must be filed within 48 hours
Call your local DHS office during regular business hours or call the 24-hour hotline. 1-800-362-2178
If you believe the child is in imminent danger, call law enforcement immediately.
Names and address of the child and the child’s parents or caretakers
The child’s current whereabouts
The child’s age
The nature and extent of the child’s injuries
The name, age, and condition of other children in the same household
When filing a mandated report, the following information should be shared:
Any additional information that you feel is helpful in establishing the cause of the injury to the child
The identity of the person(s) responsible for the injury
Your name and address
Confidentiality is waived when making a report, meaning you cannot be prosecuted. But, once you make a report, it should not be discussed with anyone else.
The written report should not be placed in the student’s school file. Best practice would be not to keep a copy at all, but if you feel you must, keep the copy at home.
Penalties
Failing to make a report is a simple misdemeanor (up to 30 days in jail or $100 fine). You can also be held civilly liable for damages caused by failure to report.
Knowingly making a false report is a simple misdemeanor.
DHS Response Process:
Intake
Case Assignment
Evaluation of alleged abuse
Determining if abuse occurred
Placing a report on the Child Abuse Registry
Assessment of family strengths and needs
Preparing forms and reports
DHS response time once a report has been made:
1 hour: if there is an immediate threat, high risk to the child’s safety, or if the child is under one year old;
24 hours: if there is not an immediate threat or high risk to the child, but the alleged abuser has access to the child;
96 hours: if there is not an immediate threat or high risk to the child and the alleged abuser clearly does not have access to the child.
Possible Outcomes Founded
Confirmed & placed on Registry (Most confirmed reports)
Confirmed But not placed on Child Abuse
Registry (Physical abuse & DCC when minor, isolated, unlikely to reoccur)
Not Confirmed There is not a preponderance of
available credible evidence that abuse did occur
Services still offered to families even if not confirmed
Chapter 102
Does not involve DHS at all, rather is a procedure for investigating allegations of abuse of students by school employees.
Each school district has Level I and Level II investigators.
Level I investigators are school employees.
Level II investigators are typically community members, who are not employed by the school district.