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.