Mandatory Reporting of Child Abuse & Neglect - Training for All School Employees Nic Dibble, LSSW, CISW Education Consultant, School Social Work Services.

Mandatory Reporting of Child Abuse & Neglect - Training for All School Employees
Nic Dibble, LSSW, CISW Education Consultant, School Social Work Services Student Services/Prevention & Wellness Team Department of Public Instruction January 2012 Note to Speakers Some slides reference specific questions or the Appendix in the DPI publication The School’s Role in Preventing Child Abuse & Neglect. Reviewing this publication will assist in preparation of the delivery of this PowerPoint presentation to provide a local in-service to school district employees. A link to this publication can be found on the URL on this slide.

Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction, January 2012
Introduction Watching this webcast meets the legal requirement for school district employees to obtain training by the Department of Public Instruction Thanks to the Department of Children & Families for its assistance in developing this presentation Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction, January 2012

Overview of Presentation
This presentation will cover these different kinds of child maltreatment Neglect Physical abuse Emotional damage Sexual abuse Warning signs Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction, January 2012

Overview of Presentation (continued)
What is not child abuse or neglect How to make a report & what to report What you can do if you are not sure if you need to make a report Where to get more information Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction, January 2012

What is Neglect? Neglect means the failure of a parent or other caregiver to provide for the basic needs of a child to the point that it seriously endangers a child’s physical health Neglect can be related to inadequate food, clothing, shelter, medical care or supervision It is not considered neglect if poverty is the only reason a child has inadequate care Speaker notes 1. Wis. Stat (12g) is the source of this definition. 2. School principals and teachers are also required to report to county social services if they become aware that a student’s parent does not have sufficient means to provide food or clothing for the student to attend school [Wis. Stats , , 46.23]. This report is not a report for suspected child neglect under Wis. Stat (2). For more information, reference Q#1 and Appendix A in The School’s Role in Preventing Child Abuse and Neglect available at Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction, January 2012

Who are “caregivers”? Caregivers include … Parents/guardians Other relatives, including older siblings Foster parents Child care providers Babysitters Teachers & other educators Live-in partners of parents, even if they care for the child only occasionally Speaker Notes Wis. Stat (1)(am) is the source of this definition. Caregivers include all of the people listed in this slide. For more information, reference Appendix A in The School’s Role in Preventing Child Abuse and Neglect available at Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction, January 2012

Warning Signs of Possible Neglect
Regular or frequent … soiled clothing or inadequate clothing for the weather hunger, hoarding or stealing food, poor nutrition listlessness or fatigue Speaker Notes Signs of neglect may be observed related to a child’s clothing, food or fatigue. Examples are listed on this slide. For more information, reference Appendix B in The School’s Role in Preventing Child Abuse and Neglect available at Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction, January 2012

Warning Signs of Possible Neglect (continued)
Regular or frequent … poor hygiene odor of urine or feces very bad breath dirty or decaying teeth untreated medical problems Speaker Notes Signs of neglect may be observed related to a child’s hygiene, physical symptoms or a lack of medical care. Examples are listed on this slide. For more information, reference Appendix B in The School’s Role in Preventing Child Abuse and Neglect available at Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction, January 2012

Regular or frequent … poor relationships withdrawal from others craving attention, even to the point of getting negative responses from others low self-esteem Speaker Notes Signs of neglect may be observed related to a child’s social relationships and emotions. Examples are listed on this slide. For more information, reference Appendix B in The School’s Role in Preventing Child Abuse and Neglect available at Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction, January 2012

A child who is regularly or frequently cared for by another child who is too young or immature to be responsible for others could be neglected Speaker Notes For more information, reference Appendix B in The School’s Role in Preventing Child Abuse and Neglect available at Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction, January 2012

Using the Warning Signs of Neglect
You can use these warning signs & the questions below to help determine if a report needs to be made How many warning signs do you see? Are the warning signs regular or frequent? Could the student’s physical health be seriously endangered? Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction, January 2012

What is Physical Abuse? Physical abuse is a physical injury inflicted on a child that is not an accident Physical injury includes but is not limited to lacerations, fractured bones, burns, internal injuries, severe or frequent bruising, or great bodily harm The injury must be severe enough to meet this definition of a physical injury in order to be considered physical abuse Speaker Notes Wis. Stats (1)(a), (14g) are the basis for this slide. For more information, reference Q#1 and Appendix A in The School’s Role in Preventing Child Abuse and Neglect available at Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction, January 2012

What is Physical Abuse? The person need not intend to hurt the child for it to be physical abuse Examples of abusive behavior where the person did not intend to harm the child Shaking a crying baby out of frustration Swinging a baseball bat in a reckless manner & injuring a child Speaker Notes Wis. Stats (1)(a), (14g) are the basis for this slide. For more information, reference Q#1 and Appendix A in The School’s Role in Preventing Child Abuse and Neglect available at Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction, January 2012

Warning Signs of Physical Abuse
Children commonly get bruises & bumps from play & activity on knees, elbows, forearms & brows Warning signs of physical abuse that are less likely to be from accidents include … Bruises around the cheeks, abdomen, thighs, or midway between the wrist & elbow Bruises that are different colors Bruises that are in the shape of an object Bruises on multiple parts of the body Speaker Notes Bruises between the wrist and elbow may come from the child trying to ward off blows. Bruises of different colors indicate that the injuries have been sustained over time and are in different stages of healing. For more information, reference Appendix B in The School’s Role in Preventing Child Abuse and Neglect available at Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction, January 2012

Warning Signs of Physical Abuse (continued)
Marks that may have come from an object, like an an electrical cord or belt buckle Complaints of soreness or stiffness Awkward movements that appear to be caused by pain Bald spots that may come from having hair pulled severely Speaker Notes This slide lists additional warning signs of physical abuse. For more information, reference Appendix B in The School’s Role in Preventing Child Abuse and Neglect available at Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction, January 2012

Warning Signs of Physical Abuse (continued)
Adult-sized, human bite marks Burns, especially from objects like cigarettes & irons Speaker Notes This slide lists additional warning signs of physical abuse. For more information, reference Appendix B in The School’s Role in Preventing Child Abuse and Neglect available at Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction, January 2012

Using the Warning Signs of Physical Abuse
You can use these warning signs & the questions below to help determine if a report needs to be made Does the student’s explanation for the injury make sense to you? Is the student evasive about sharing how the injury occurred? Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction, January 2012

What is Emotional Damage?
Emotional damage is harm to a child’s psychological or intellectual functioning Emotional damage is observed in: severe anxiety, depression, withdrawal or aggressive behavior, or a substantial change in the child’s behavior, emotional response or thinking that is not normal for the child’s age or development Speaker Notes Wis. Stats (1)(gm), (5j) are the basis for this slide. For more information, reference Q#1 and Appendix A in The School’s Role in Preventing Child Abuse and Neglect available at Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction, January 2012

Emotional Damage Educators are to report if … they see warning signs of emotional damage in a student, AND the parent has not obtained treatment for the child or taken other steps to improve the child’s symptoms Note: A report should not be made if poverty is the only reason the parent has not obtained treatment for the child Speaker Notes Wis. Stat (1)(gm), (5)(j) is the basis for this slide. For more information, reference Q#1 and Appendix A in The School’s Role in Preventing Child Abuse and Neglect available at Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction, January 2012

Warning Signs of Possible Emotional Damage
Young child’s behavior or physical symptoms rocking, head-banging cruelty to animals, especially pets wetting or soiling themselves Speaker Notes Signs of emotional damage in young children may be observed in their behavior or physical symptoms. Examples are listed on this slide. For more information, reference Appendix B in The School’s Role in Preventing Child Abuse and Neglect available at Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction, January 2012

Warning Signs of Possible Emotional Damage (continued)
Emotional reactions crying without apparent cause sudden fearful behavior feelings of having little self-worth talking about being broken or damaged inappropriate emotions, such as turning bad experiences into jokes or laughing when the student is actually in pain Speaker Notes Signs of emotional damage may be observed in a child’s emotional reactions. Examples are listed on this slide. For more information, reference Appendix B in The School’s Role in Preventing Child Abuse and Neglect available at Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction, January 2012

Learning withdrawal from learning difficulty concentrating or learning new material compulsive attention to detail a drop in school performance sudden lack of participation in school activities Speaker Notes Signs of emotional damage may be observed in a child’s learning. Examples are listed on this slide. For more information, reference Appendix B in The School’s Role in Preventing Child Abuse and Neglect available at Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction, January 2012

Physical symptoms frequent headaches or stomachaches unexplained weight loss or gain Speaker Notes Signs of emotional damage may be observed in a child’s physical symptoms. Examples are listed on this slide. For more information, reference Appendix B in The School’s Role in Preventing Child Abuse and Neglect available at Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction, January 2012

Self-destructive or delinquent behavior of adolescents abusing alcohol or drugs an eating disorder talk of suicide self-injury, such as cutting Speaker Notes Signs of emotional damage may be observed in an adolescent’s self-destructive or delinquent behavior. Examples are listed in this slide. For more information, reference Appendix B in The School’s Role in Preventing Child Abuse and Neglect available at Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction, January 2012

Other warning signs …. Reporting sleep problems or nightmares Attempting to run away from home Setting fires & enjoying watching them Speaker Notes Here are some additional warning signs of possible emotional damage. For more information, reference Appendix B in The School’s Role in Preventing Child Abuse and Neglect available at Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction, January 2012

Using the Warning Signs of Emotional Damage
You can use these warning signs & the questions below to help determine if a report needs to be made Does the student demonstrate severe anxiety, depression, withdrawal or aggressive behavior? Has the parent obtained treatment for the child or tried some other way to improve the child’s symptoms? Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction, January 2012

What is Sexual Abuse? Sexual abuse is inappropriate sexual behavior with a child & includes any inappropriate sexual touching fondling or exposing genitals (abuser’s or child’s) intercourse sexual exploitation exposure to pornography having a child view or listen to sexual activity allowing or encouraging a child to engage in prostitution Speaker Notes Wis. Stat (1)(b-f) is the basis for this slide. For more information, reference Q#1 and Appendix A in The School’s Role in Preventing Child Abuse and Neglect available at Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction, January 2012

Warning Signs of Possible Sexual Abuse
Extreme secrecy, compliance or withdrawal An unusual fear of people from 1 gender or with specific characteristics, such as a deep voice Very seductive behavior Speaker Notes Warning signs of possible sexual abuse include these unusual behaviors. For more information, reference Appendix B in The School’s Role in Preventing Child Abuse and Neglect available at Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction, January 2012

Warning Signs of Possible Sexual Abuse (continued)
Unusual knowledge about sex for the student’s age & development Sexual play with peers that goes beyond curiosity Note: Sexual curiosity & behaviors that are developmentally normal for pre-adolescent children are not sexual abuse Speaker Notes Warning signs of possible sexual abuse include these unusual behaviors. For more information, reference Appendix B in The School’s Role in Preventing Child Abuse and Neglect available at Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction, January 2012

Sexually active adolescents
Situations with sexually active adolescents may have to be reported, depending upon these 3 factors: Whether the sexual activity is voluntary or involuntary, The age of the student, & Whether the student has accessed health care services, such as seeking out information about birth control Speaker Notes Wis. Stat (2) and Wisconsin Attorney General Opinion 72 Atty. Gen. 93 is the basis for this slide. Reference the 2 resources in next slide for more information on this complex topic. Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction, January 2012

Sexually active adolescents (continued)
This complex topic is specifically addressed in The DPI webcast “Mandatory Reporting of Child Abuse & Neglect – Supplemental Information” & The DPI publication “Reporting Requirements for Sexually Active Adolescents” Both of these resources can be found at Speaker Notes Reference the 2 resources in this slide for more information on this complex topic. Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction, January 2012

Using the Warning Signs of Sexual Abuse
You can use these warning signs & the questions below to help determine if a report needs to be made Has the student had sexual contact with another person? Has the student been exploited sexually in some way? Has the student been exposed to sexual content? Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction, January 2012

What is not child abuse or neglect?
Failure to give prescribed medication to a child, unless it threatens the child’s life or health Student with ADHD Student with diabetes Truancy Follow provisions in Wis. Stat Self-injury, such as cutting, or suicide threats Failure by the parent to get necessary treatment might be reason to report suspected emotional damage Speaker Notes Failure of a caregiver to give prescribed medication to a child should not be reported, unless the failure to do so threatens the child’s life or health in a significant manner. For instance, if a parent chooses not to give a child stimulant medication for diagnosed attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, a report to Child Protective Services should not be made. However, if a parent chooses not to give a child insulin prescribed for diagnosed diabetes, the child’s life could be threatened and a report would be appropriate. If a caregiver is contributing to a child’s truancy, the school should follow the provisions in Wisconsin statute , but should not make a report under Ch. 48. Self-injury and threatened suicide are actions by the youth, not the parent or some other caregiver. However, if a parent refuses to obtain treatment for self-injury or threatened suicide, then a referral to Child Protective Services may be in order. See the slides on Emotional Damage. Reference Questions #2-4 in The School’s Role in Preventing Child Abuse and Neglect available at Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction, January 2012

Who Must Report All school district employees must immediately report to county Child Protective Services or local law enforcement, if they believe a child they have seen as part of their work … has been abused or neglected, or has been threatened with abuse or neglect & they believe it will occur Speaker Notes Wis. Stat (2)(a), (3)(a)1. is the basis for this slide. There is no requirement to report unless the educator has seen child in the course of professional duties. This means the individual has had first-hand contact with the child as part of the individual’s job. Reference Question#5 in The School’s Role in Preventing Child Abuse and Neglect available at Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction, January 2012

Reporting Suspected Child Abuse or Neglect
A report must be made to county Child Protective Services or local law enforcement You should contact law enforcement when there is immediate danger to a student A report must be made immediately by phone or in person Speaker Notes Wis. Stat (3)(a)1. is the basis for this slide. Reference Question #18 in The School’s Role in Preventing Child Abuse and Neglect available at Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction, January 2012

Reporting Suspected Child Abuse or Neglect (continued)
The law prohibits anyone who makes a report in good faith from being fired, disciplined or otherwise discriminated against in regard to employment, or from being threatened with any such treatment A reporter is protected from both civil & criminal liability Speaker Notes Wis. Stats (2)(e), (4) is the basis for this slide. Reference Question #20 in The School’s Role in Preventing Child Abuse and Neglect available at Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction, January 2012

Reporting Suspected Child Abuse or Neglect (continued)
A report is to be kept confidential The county, local law enforcement & the school district may not share any identifying information about a school employee who makes a report There are penalties for not reporting Fine of up to $1,000 & up to 6 months in jail Speaker Notes Wis. Stats (6), (7) are the basis for this slide. Reference Questions #20 and 21 in The School’s Role in Preventing Child Abuse and Neglect available at Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction, January 2012

Does it matter who is suspected of abusing or neglecting the child?
Reports related to physical or sexual abuse must be made regardless of who, if anyone, is suspected of being involved Reports related to neglect should be made only about a caregiver Reports related to emotional damage should be made only if the parents are suspected of not seeking treatment that the student needs Speaker Notes Wis. Stats (1)(a-gm), (12g) are the basis for this slide. Reference Question#1 in The School’s Role in Preventing Child Abuse and Neglect available at Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction, January 2012

What if you’re not sure? It is common for someone to be unsure if a report should be made It is OK to talk to someone else who can help to determine if a report is necessary Pupil services professional or school administrator County Child Protective Services or law enforcement - no need to mention names Talking to someone else may not delay a report Speaker Notes Wis. Stat (3)(a)1. is the basis for this slide. It is OK to consult with a colleague at school who has more expertise to help determine if a report is necessary. In addition, it is OK to call county Child Protective Services or law enforcement and, without mentioning any names, explain the situation and ask whether a report should be made. The law requires a report to be made immediately. So, a mandated reporter should not wait to consult with someone else (e.g., if the person is not immediately available). If there is any remaining doubt after consulting, a report should be made. Reference Question #11 in The School’s Role in Preventing Child Abuse and Neglect available at Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction, January 2012

What to Report When you make a report, Child Protective Services will want to know … Information about the student, parent(s), suspected abuser - names, addresses, relationships, phone #, student’s date of birth Specifics of the observed injury – what, where Any statements made by the student Speaker Notes This is a list of what information to share when making a report for suspected child abuse or neglect. Reference Question #18 in The School’s Role in Preventing Child Abuse and Neglect available at Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction, January 2012

What to Report (continued)
When you make a report, Child Protective Services will want to know … Any prior concerns you may have about possible mistreatment of the student that may not have required a report at that time Relevant cultural context, if any Speaker Notes This is a list of what information to share when making a report for suspected child abuse or neglect. Reference Question #18 in The School’s Role in Preventing Child Abuse and Neglect available at Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction, January 2012

What to Report (continued)
Be prepared to offer this information Does the suspected perpetrator have access to the student? Do you have any concerns for the student’s immediate safety? Does anyone else know about the suspected abuse or neglect? Are there other children in the household? If so, what are their ages? Speaker Notes This is a list of what information to share when making a report for suspected child abuse or neglect. Reference Question #18 in The School’s Role in Preventing Child Abuse and Neglect available at Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction, January 2012

Making the Report It’s OK to ask the intake worker questions (e.g., What will happen next?) You may wish to document your report Date What you reported What agency you reported to The name & contact information of the person you reported to Speaker Notes It is OK to ask the intake worker what is likely to happen next. For instance, will someone be coming to the school to interview the student? If so, when? Some school districts choose to document each report of suspected child abuse or neglect. If not, an individual educator may wish to document this information for her/his personal records. Reference Question #18 in The School’s Role in Preventing Child Abuse and Neglect available at Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction, January 2012

Sources for More Information
Department of Public Instruction Department of Children & Families Speaker Notes These are 2 websites that may be able to answer additional questions you may have. Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction, January 2012

Sources for More Information (continued)
County departments of social services Police-school liaison officers or other local law enforcement officers School counselors, nurses, psychologists, social workers & administrators Speaker Notes These are people you can talk to who may be able to answer additional questions you may have. Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction, January 2012

Here is what we covered Definitions of child abuse & neglect Warning signs What is not child abuse or neglect How to make a report & what to report What you can do if you are not sure if you need to make a report Where to get more information Speaker Notes This is a review of the learning objectives of the webcast. Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction, January 2012

Completion Certificate
You may now print out a dated completion certificate by going to the following website: Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction, January 2012

Mandatory Reporting of Child Abuse & Neglect - Training for All School Employees Nic Dibble, LSSW, CISW Education Consultant, School Social Work Services.

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Mandatory Reporting of Child Abuse & Neglect - Training for All School Employees Nic Dibble, LSSW, CISW Education Consultant, School Social Work Services.

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Presentation on theme: "Mandatory Reporting of Child Abuse & Neglect - Training for All School Employees Nic Dibble, LSSW, CISW Education Consultant, School Social Work Services."— Presentation transcript:

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