8 recognizing and reporting child abuse
- 1. Recognizing and Reporting Child Abuse
- 2. The Child • Shows sudden changes in behavior or school performance; • Has not received help for physical or medical problems brought to the parents' attention; • Has learning problems that cannot be attributed to specific physical or psychological causes; • Is always watchful, as though preparing for something bad to happen; • Lacks adult supervision; • Is overly compliant, an overachiever, or too responsible; or • Comes to school early, stays late, and does not want to go home.
- 3. The Parent • Shows little concern for the child, rarely responding to the school's requests for information, for conferences, or for home visits; • Denies the existence of -- or blames the child for -- the child's problems in school or at home; • Asks the classroom teacher to use harsh physical discipline if the child misbehaves; • Sees the child entirely bad, worthless, or burdensome; • Demands perfection or a level of physical or academic performance the child cannot achieve
- 4. The Parent and Child • Rarely touch or look at each other; • Consider their relationship entirely negative; or • State that they do not like each other. • None of these signs proves that child abuse is present in a family. Any of them may be found in any parent or child at one time or another. But when these signs appear repeatedly or in combination, they should cause the educator to take closer look at the situation and to consider the possibility of child abuse. That second look may reveal further signs of abuse or signs of a particular kind of child abuse.
- 5. SIGNS OF PHYSICAL ABUSE Consider the possibility of physical abuse when the child • Has unexplained burns, bites, bruises, broken bones, or black eyes; • Has fading bruises or other marks noticeable after an absence from school; • Seems frightened of the parents and protests or cries when it is time to go home from school; • Shrinks at the approach of adults; or • Reports injury by a parent or another adult caregiver. • Consider the possibility of physical abuse when the parent or other adult caregiver: • Offers conflicting, unconvincing, or no explanation for the child's injury; • Describes the child as "evil," or in some other very negative way; • Uses harsh physical discipline with the child; or • Has a history of abuse as a child.
- 6. SIGNS OF NEGLECT Consider the possibility of neglect when the child • Is frequently absent from school; • Begs or steals food or money from classmates; • Lacks needed medical or dental care, immunizations, or glasses; • Is consistently dirty and has severe body odor; • Lacks sufficient clothing for the weather; • Abuses alcohol or other drugs; or • States there is no one at home to provide care. • Consider the possibility of neglect when the parent or other adult caregiver: • Appears to be indifferent to the child; • Seems apathetic or depressed; • Behaves irrationally or in a bizarre manner; or • Is abusing alcohol or other drugs.
- 7. SIGNS OF SEXUAL ABUSE Consider the possibility of sexual abuse when the child • Has difficulty walking or sitting; • Suddenly refuses to change for gym or to participate in physical activities; • Demonstrates bizarre, sophisticated, or unusual sexual knowledge or behavior; • Becomes pregnant or contracts a venereal disease, particularly if under age fourteen; • Runs away; or • Reports sexual abuse by a parent or another adult caregiver. • Consider the possibility of sexual abuse when the parent or other adult caregiver: • Is unduly protective of the child, severely limits the child's contact with other children, especially of the opposite sex; • Is secretive and isolated; or • Describes marital difficulties involving family power struggles or sexual relations.
- 8. SIGNS OF EMOTIONAL MALTREATMENT Consider the possibility of emotional maltreatment when the child • Shows extremes in behavior, such as overly compliant or demanding behavior, extreme passivity or aggression; • Is either inappropriately adult (parenting other children, for example) or inappropriately infantile (frequently rocking or head-banging, for example); • Is delayed in physical or emotional development; • Has attempted suicide; or • Reports a lack of attachment to the parent. • Consider the possibility of emotional maltreatment when the parent or other adult caregiver: • Constantly blames, belittles, or berates the child; • Is unconcerned about the child and refuses to consider offers of help for the child's school problems; • Overtly rejects the child.
- 9. Reporting Child Abuse Policy for Reporting all Diagnosed or Suspected Cases of Abuse, Neglect, or Exploitation: 1. Reports of Child Abuse: a) Any persons having reasonable cause to believe that a child has been subjected to child abuse or acts of child abuse shall report the same promptly to the El Paso County Department of Social Services at (719) 444-5700 b) Such reports, where possible, shall contain the names and addresses of the child and his parents, guardian, or other persons having custody and control of the child, and if known, the child’s age, the nature and extent of the injuries, abuse, or maltreatment, and any other information that may be helpful with respect to the child abuse and the identity of the perpetrator.
- 10. Reporting Mechanisms Mechanisms for coordinating and reporting of suspected cases of child abuse and/or neglect: a) The Administrator will be notified b) The Administrator or designee will assist in the referral, collect necessary data, ensure the case is reported to the Child Welfare office, insure follow up and coordinate both agencies c) All actions taken by the Agency staff will be recorded in the clinical record Operating Hours: a) Staff office hours are M-F 8am to 6pm. Each staff member is given the number for reporting purposes.
- 11. Reporting Mechanisms (continued) Protocols for Identification and Referring Suspected Cases of Abuse and/or Neglect: a. Staff members have the opportunity to assess the physical/emotional status of children/families. The following observations may indicate is need for referral: Primary detection - beginning symptoms of child neglect, e.g., inadequately fed infant, infant rejected, emotional deprivation, inadequate parenting skills, etc. Secondary detection - definitive symptoms of child abuse, e.g., multiple fractures, circular lesions indicating burns, malnutrition, failure to thrive, welts on body, severe physical illness and/or handicap affecting either children and/or parents, indications of sexual abuse
- 12. Reporting Mechanisms (continued) b. Recording and reporting: 1) Factual evidence must be accumulated 2) Data should be pertinent 3) Explicit statements about a child's appearance and family interactions and quoted statements of family members are of value 4) Discuss referral with family.
- 13. Education and/or Training 1) Orientation for new staff includes in-service regarding responsibilities in reporting suspected cases. 2) In-service education is provided to all appropriate staff regarding the identification and reporting of diagnosed and/or suspected cases of child abuse and/or neglect and regarding the above policies and procedures, on at least an annual basis. 3) Staff is sent to programs on abuse/neglect sponsored by other agencies, as appropriate. 4) Board of Directors, through the Administrator is kept abreast of current problems and trends.