1. In Partnership with the Community A guide to Mandated Reporting

2. Introduction  What do we do?  Protecting children who have been abused or neglected is what we do at Lorain County Children Services. But child protection is something that involves the whole community.  What does that mean for you?  We need your help!

3. How can I tell if a child may be abused or neglected?  That’s for us to figure out!  If you have any concerns, call!  For example, bruises may or may not have been caused by abuse.  A child coming to school with head lice or dirty clothes may or may not be due to neglect.  However…  Hundreds of people across the country (including you) are charged with the duty to be aware of the children they see and work with daily, and to report suspicions of child abuse, neglect, or dependency.

4. Legal Definitions  Abused Child  Abused child (taken from O.R.C. 2151.031): Any child who is the victim of sexual activity, is endangered, or exhibits evidence of any injury or death inflicted other than by accidental means, or at variance with the history given of it, or because of acts or omissions of his parents, guardians, or custodian, suffers physical or mental injury that harms or threatens a child’s health of welfare.  Neglected Child  Neglected child (taken from O.R.C. 2151.03): Any child who is abandoned by his parents, guardian or custodian, lacks adequate parental care because of the faults of the parents, or whose parents neglect or refuse to provide him with proper or necessary sustenance, education, medical or surgical care, or any other care made necessary by his mental condition.

5. Legal Definitions  Dependent Child  Dependent child (taken from O.R.C. 2151.04): Any child who is homeless, destitute or without adequate parental care through no fault of his parents, guardian or custodian; who lacks proper care or support by reason of the mental or physical condition of his environment, in such as to warrant the State, in the interest of the child, to assume his guardianship; or any child who is residing in a household in which a parent, guardian or custodian or other member of the household has committed an act that was the basis for an accusation that a sibling of the child, or another child who resides in the household is an abused, neglected or dependent child and, because of circumstances surrounding the abuse or neglect of the sibling and other conditions of the household, the child is in danger of being abused or neglected by that parent, guardian, custodian or other member of that household.

6. Our decisions based on the law  It is important that you understand the intention of the laws by defining child protection. The actions taken by Lorain County Children Services after your referral is received are based on what the law allows us to help the child and the family correct its problem.

7. What would you do? Scenario 1 Your students are putting on their Thanksgiving play for invited family members. Next to you is a mother with three children, all preschool age. One, about one year old, is being held by mom. Another child, about two years old, is distracted and keeps trying to walk away and explore the auditorium. The third child is around four years old and keeps tugging on mom’s purse for some candy. The mother is clearly exasperated as she tries to corral her two year old with her one free hand and whispering loudly “no” at the child who wants candy. After a few minutes of this, you hear mom clearly tell her four year old that he is absolutely not getting any candy. The four year old starts to cry and other people start to look over at the commotion. Mother is ready to lose it. She grabs the four year old roughly by the arm, grits her teeth and says “You just wait until we get home. You are going to get a whoopin’ this time”. The little boy stops crying and just looks at you.

8. What would you do? Scenario 2 You are a home liaison and visiting a student’s family to discuss tutoring opportunities and to catch the parents up on school progress since they haven’t been able to attend parent-teacher conferences. The teacher’s notes include concerns about how the student rarely completes homework and often seems tried at school. When you first walk in, you notice dad sitting in front on the TV playing video games. You notice the game is extremely violent and he continues to play when you meet with mom. In addition to the student, you meet Mother’s other children, Tommy, who is two, and Amanda, who is four. Mom is interested in talking to you but gets frustrated when you mention homework. Its been hard for her because she works third shift and between her work schedule and the children, she does not get much sleep. You have some really great strategies you are eager to share with her and mom seems interested and willing to listen. As you talk to mom about how to manage homework expectations, Amanda asks her if she can have a drink of milk. Mom tells Amanda to go ask Daddy. When Amanda asks her dad, he ignores her. She asks a second time and he still ignores her, intent on finishing his game. After Amanda asks a third time, Dad picks up his controller and slams it on the table, yelling at Amanda for bothering him. Amanda puts her hands over her ears and starts crying. When you look at mom, tears are rolling down her cheeks.

9. I have a concern, now what?  LCCS accepts referral information 24 hours a day, 7 days a week  During work hours (8:00am to 4:30pm Monday through Friday)  (440)329-5340  Four referral specialists  We prefer this method  After Hours Emergency Hotline (After 4:30pm during the week and all weekend)  (440)329-2121  The hotline is operated by an answering service. The operator will take your name and number an will then page the worker on call. The worker will call you back and take your referral.

10. What to expect in the phone call  Remember – if the child’s immediate safety or even his life is being threatened, you should call your local police department first.  Police will pass information onto us if necessary  We are going to ask questions. A LOT of questions.  If you don’t know the answer  Anonymity  Cannot disclose who called  Families will suspect you

11. What If I Suspect A Case Of Child Abuse or Neglect, But Don’t Call Anyone With My Suspicions?  If you do not report your suspicions, it may mean that the child will continue to live in an unsafe environment. And it may mean that the situation will only get worse before someone else does make that call. Further, you may be liable for any further harm that comes to the child after you should have called

12. Can someone else call for me?  No, the referral specialists need to speak directly to you.  You are the expert on what you saw, heard, feel, etc.  You may have internal procedures that need to be handled, but it is necessary that the call to Lorain County Children Services comes from you, the person who recognized the abuse and neglect situation.  As a member to the child-serving community, you are legally required to give us a call. Plus, it’s the right thing to do!  It’s the law in Ohio that the person who suspects the abuse or neglect calls the agency directly.

13. What Happens When I Make A Call About a Suspected Case of Child Abuse or Neglect?  When you make a referral to LCCS, your call will be answered by our intake staff.  You will be asked some questions regarding your information, your relationship to the child, and for any other information you may know about the child, the family or the circumstances surrounding your referral.

14. Why are you asking me all these questions?  Bottom line: because we have to.  This series of questions helps us begin to determine how best to manage the referral. You don’t need to have the answers to all of the questions, but it is important that we ask them and gather as much information as we can.  One important question is for your name and phone number. Please remember your referral is confidential and will not be shared with the public or with the family you are concerned about.  We, by law, cannot tell the family who called us with the concern. Families are going to tell you “I know you called”, but know that it was not because the assigned worker went out and told them.  It is also nice for the assigned worker to be able to call back and ask any additional questions.

15. What happens after I call?  Once your referral is made, with as many questions answered as possible, we may determine that your referral does not fall within the range of services provided by Lorain County Children Services.  If the referral specialist is able to make this determination on their own, it is likely that they will tell you this over the phone.  If you feel like this is not the right decision, you have every right to ask to speak to the supervisor of the unit.  Your referral may certainly raise concerns about a family situation and we can, in those instances, refer you to another community agency that does help children and families who have the problems you identified.

16. If LCCS “screens in” the case  If your referral is within the parameters of our agency services, our staff determines the type of response needed including determining if the response is an Emergency. An emergency situation requires us to attempt a face-to- face meeting with the alleged child victim within one hour of your call. An emergency investigation indicates that the child’s life may be in jeopardy or the child is at serious immediate risk of bodily harm.  Priority One  Within an hour  Rapid Response  By the end of the day

17. Differential Response  Traditional Response  Required for reports of sexual abuse or abuse resulting in serious injury or serious and immediate risk  Process results in a determination/ finding regarding the allegation  May involve intervention of the court  Safety, Risk and Comprehensive Family Assessment completed  Case Plan developed following completion of the Family Assessment for families with ongoing services needs  Alternative Response  Applied when report DOES NOT allege serious or imminent harm  No formal finding/substantiation of the allegation  Facilitates safety-focused partnership with families  Safety, Risk and Comprehensive Family Assessment completed  Emphasis on "front-loading" needed services by providing services earlier and without requirement of a finding

18. Lorain County Children Services  Our agency receives many calls each day from people like you wanting to report suspected child abuse and neglect. Over 300 new referrals are received each month.

19. What does an Assessment/Investigation look like?  When we investigate an abuse or neglect complaint, we must assess the risk to the child involved. We now have a tool, provided by the Ohio Department of Job and Family Services, which looks at many different aspects of the family’s life. Some of the topics we talk with the family about are:  Whether the parent’s were abused or neglected as children,  Whether there have been episodes of domestic violence,  What part drugs or alcohol may play in the family’s dynamics,  What kind of help is available through other relatives,  Whether other agencies are providing help; and,  Whether there are any special or unique characteristics of the alleged child victim that may add to the information obtained.

20. Risk Assessment Tool  This risk assessment helps us to sort out the severe and moderate risk situations from those that present a low risk of further abuse to a child and those situations that are not abuse or neglect, but a different cultural life style.  Since people are able to make choices in their lives, we cannot make a family with a low to moderate risk level work with us or change their behaviors unless they want to. The child and family may need assistance, but not from this agency. Lorain County Children Services will make the referral to the appropriate agency ourselves and give the family a list of services and agencies they may wish to turn to for help.

21. High or Intensive Risk  In situations which are more severe than that, we can ask the Juvenile Section of the Domestic Relation’s Court to issue orders and approve a case plan for the family.  When cases are transferred for ongoing services after the investigation, a case plan is developed with help from the family.  The case plan is the road map by which we deliver services and try to help the family resolve its problems. An ongoing caseworker is assigned to the family and coordinates all services for that family.  Services may include:  Crisis intervention  Counseling  Referrals to additional community support and social services  Family-Based Care placements

22. What if I am wrong about my concerns?  After the facts are gathered and reviewed, our investigation may lead us to conclude that although your referral did indicate a child’s safety was being jeopardized, the situation is different than it originally appeared.  Or, our intake staff may not have been able to find an indication of abuse or neglect.  In this situation, your complaint will be kept in our office records in case additional information comes to our attention at a later date.  It sometimes happens that the agency receives a referral that, when investigated, has an innocent explanation. In those situations, you, as the person required to report your suspicions, are completely immune from retribution as long as you reported “in good faith.” That is, as long as you did not lie to the agency and make up suspicions that weren’t there.

23. What if I make a report and it seems like nothing is being done?  Most of the children who come to the attention of Lorain County Children Services never have to leave their homes. Agency staff may determine that the child’s safety can be assured if the child remains at home. Although services are provided to the family, the agency staff are working closely with the child and family, there may be no outward appearance of our involvement.  If you make a referral to Lorain County Children Services and see that the child is still at home, you may get the impression that nothing is being done about your referral.  This may not be true. It is the agency’s belief that the child should stay with his family as long as the child’s safety can be maintained. And, if the child does have to be temporarily removed from his family, efforts must be made to resolve the family’s problems as quickly as possible so the child can return home.

24. Can I Follow Up On The Report? Will I Be Told Of The Outcome?  Once you have made a referral to Children Services, it is understandable that you would have continuing interest in the actions taken by the agency.  You can receive some follow-up information regarding your referrals. If you want to receive an acknowledgement that we investigated your referral, and to learn whether the case is being assigned for on-going services, or closed, please request the information in a letter on your organization’s letterhead.  But, you will need to tell us who you are, the name of the child referred, and the date of referral.

25.  Because we do respect the confidentially of the people involved, we can’t disclose case plans to you, or relate to you discussions with other parties involved in the case.  Please send your request for feedback and follow-up to: Intake Department Lorain County Children Services 226 Middle Avenue Elyria, OH 44035

26. Closing  As you can see, you and Lorain County Children Services can work together to recognize children who are in jeopardy, make a referral, and provide services to the child and their families.  Through this discussion, you should feel confident about your role in the protection of children from abuse and neglect. You now know more about when and how to make a referral to Children Services, and how our assessment and investigative process works.  It’s important to understand the key role you play in protecting children. You are doing the right thing when you become involved in the life of a child, and when you tell us that his or her safety is being threatened.  After all, it takes a community to protect a child.

27. Questions?  Christina Bulgarella MSW, LSW  Direct Services Caseworker, Lorain County Children Services  (440)329-5330- Direct Line  Email: christinabulgarella@childrenservices.org  (440)329-5340- Main Line