Child Abuse Reporting Survey: Educators Respond Shelby County Citizen’s Review Panel Shelby County School District Memphis City Schools Rebekah Miller, Rhodes College Denise Alexander, MSSW, University of TN Memphis Child Advocacy Center Memphis Child Advocacy Center

Citizen Review Mandate… Child Abuse Prevention and Treatment Act (CAPTA) created these panels in 1996 as part of the reauthorization of CAPTA. Child Abuse Prevention and Treatment Act (CAPTA) created these panels in 1996 as part of the reauthorization of CAPTA. Citizen Review Panels (CRP) “are groups of citizen volunteers who are federally mandated to conduct an evaluation of their state’s child protective service agencies.” Citizen Review Panels (CRP) “are groups of citizen volunteers who are federally mandated to conduct an evaluation of their state’s child protective service agencies.”

Citizen Review Panels in Tennessee Montgomery County CRP Northwest Region Shelby County

Basis of Survey Assurance: “procedures for immediate screening, safety assessment, and prompt investigation of reports.” TCA and Receive and responds to reports of child abuse and neglect 7 days a week, 24 hours a day. The TCA also requires training of education personnel regarding recognizing and reporting a/n

Shelby County/Memphis Largest urban area in Tennessee 897,492+ population 259,171 children in school 3 years and over

CPS Intake In Tennessee 95 counties that receive referrals 95 counties that receive referrals Proposed centralized intake in 1999 Proposed centralized intake in 1999 Began Sept in 3 pilot regions- Began Sept in 3 pilot regions- Shelby county was included in the initial pilot programShelby county was included in the initial pilot program

Tennessee Centralized Intake In February 2003 added 2 more regions In February 2003 added 2 more regions Currently 5 regions in Tennessee with Centralized Intake 24/7 Currently 5 regions in Tennessee with Centralized Intake 24/7 Central Intake also receives reports for Special Investigations Unit Central Intake also receives reports for Special Investigations Unit

Central Intake Regions Upper Cumberland South East South Central Davidson Shelby

Reasons for Central Intake Consistent screening statewide Consistent screening statewide Ability to free case managers to concentrate on investigations and services to families Ability to free case managers to concentrate on investigations and services to families Screening decisions based on information rather than staffing patterns. Screening decisions based on information rather than staffing patterns. Ability to provide Tennesseans with immediate response to child welfare concerns Ability to provide Tennesseans with immediate response to child welfare concerns

Challenges of Centralized Intake Significant increase in overall numbers of reports received within the area—in Shelby County Significant increase in overall numbers of reports received within the area—in Shelby County  Jan-June 2002—2800 referrals received –2002 data may have been under reported  Jan-June referrals received Higher percentage of referrals assigned by Central Intake Higher percentage of referrals assigned by Central Intake

Challenges of Central Intake Resistance of local professionals due to “out of town” initial contact—externally Resistance of local professionals due to “out of town” initial contact—externally Resistance within due to change of decision making process Resistance within due to change of decision making process

The Survey With permission to use a survey developed in Arizona, the CRP members adapted the survey With permission to use a survey developed in Arizona, the CRP members adapted the survey 13 items 13 items  Yes/no  6 open ended or “if yes, explain” Professional identification Professional identification

Focuses on 3 areas…  Reporting  Training  DCS Response  Satisfaction in all three areas

Target Audience for Survey Initial targeted audience Initial targeted audience  Everyone Narrowed the focus Narrowed the focus  health providers  educators

Target Audience Collected names of Doctors/Pediatricians/Hospitals Collected names of Doctors/Pediatricians/Hospitals  Mailed 245 Surveys  Received approximately 14% CRP Members from Shelby County School System and the Memphis City School System agreed to distribute the survey electronically within each school system. CRP Members from Shelby County School System and the Memphis City School System agreed to distribute the survey electronically within each school system. Graduate students are essential! Graduate students are essential!

Respondents Memphis City Schools Memphis City Schools  Possible pool of respondents was 7,183.  4,290 responded (59.7%)  All the respondents in the Memphis City School District were teachers.

Respondents Shelby County School System Shelby County School System The entire Shelby County School System staff includes: The entire Shelby County School System staff includes:  2830 Teachers  93 Administrators  95 Counselors  208 clerical staff.

Respondents Shelby County Schools Shelby County Schools 936 respondents- 29% response rate 936 respondents- 29% response rate Of those participating in the survey: Of those participating in the survey:  753 were Teachers (81%)  79 Administrators (9%)  48 Counselors (5%),  40 were clerical staff (4%)  3 were Behavioral Specialists  2 were Social Workers.

Question 1: “Have you received any type of training related to child abuse and identification in the past 2 years?”

Question 2: Are You Interested In Receiving Training Related to Child Abuse and Identification and Reporting?

Question 3: Does Your School have a Procedure in Place for reporting suspected cases of child abuse and neglect?

Question 6: “How many times have you contacted DCS in the past five years?”

Question 8: “Have you called or faxed in a report in the last six months to TN DCS using the centralized intake number”?

Question 12: Rate your experience with reporting to TN Department of Children’s Services centralized intake.

Very Satisfied-Satisfied 17% Very Satisfied-Satisfied 17% Not Satisfied 10% Not Satisfied 10% N/A 74% N/A 74%

Question 11: Have you ever experienced a negative consequence from your reporting to CI? Of the 70 who reported neg consequences: Parents were angry 27% Nothing was done by DCS 26% Principal reprimanded teacher for making report 10%

Question 11: Have you ever experienced a negative consequence from your reporting to CI? Felt like child was in more danger after the report as a result of DCS intervention “child begged me to never mention the abuse to anyone again” Length of time it took for the investigation to begin

Shelby County Schools: Top 5 reasons did not report if suspected Total 259 Respondents. I reported the case to school admin 29% I reported the case to school admin 29% Unsure what I saw constituted abuse or neglect 14% Unsure what I saw constituted abuse or neglect 14%

Shelby County Top 5 Reasons… The policy at my school is to report school admin or guidance counselor 11% The policy at my school is to report school admin or guidance counselor 11% I was unsure of the procedure to follow 8% I was unsure of the procedure to follow 8% I reported to school admin but they decided not to report it 7% I reported to school admin but they decided not to report it 7%

Question 9: If you have called or faxed within the last 6 months how were you treated?

Question 10 “If you requested information when you called or faxed centralized intake on the outcome of a report(s), did you receive it?”

Lessons Learned Wording of questions regarding individual reporting Teachers having concerns must report it to the principal and/or guidance counselor. The teacher could have assumed that the principal made the report to DCS.

Lessons Learned Continued This affected perceptions of feedback/satisfaction of DCS Some principals “investigate” on their own Be sure to speak with those distributing survey to ensure consistent questions…e.g.., n/a versus no response

Trends The majority of teachers are aware of the school policy for child abuse. However, many comments show confusion about the reporting/procedures The majority of teachers are aware of the school policy for child abuse. However, many comments show confusion about the reporting/procedures  e.g., does their report to the administration (principle and/or counselor) meet the legal mandate for the reporting suspected child abuse

Trends There is inconsistency on individual responses regarding the view of DCS response to their report. There is inconsistency on individual responses regarding the view of DCS response to their report. Teachers perceive that they don’t generally get feedback from DCS Teachers perceive that they don’t generally get feedback from DCS There appears to be limited experience with central intake or apparent knowledge of the change. There appears to be limited experience with central intake or apparent knowledge of the change.  One explanation may be that school policy requires only a report to others within their system.

Recommendations Provide mandated training throughout the educational systems, consistently and routinely. Provide mandated training throughout the educational systems, consistently and routinely. Schools and DCS review and evaluate the content of the training presented for consistency and accuracy. Schools and DCS review and evaluate the content of the training presented for consistency and accuracy. Schools have a contact person within DCS…or personal connection Schools have a contact person within DCS…or personal connection Clarify role of school administration in the reporting process. Clarify role of school administration in the reporting process.  The process can work to protect the teacher, but makes the reporting open to lack of detail and inaccuracies

Recommendations Clarify the role and responsibility of those (DCS and administration) giving feedback to the teacher or other initial reporter. Clarify the role and responsibility of those (DCS and administration) giving feedback to the teacher or other initial reporter. Work with City and County Schools to develop a consistent method of reporting within both systems Work with City and County Schools to develop a consistent method of reporting within both systems Follow-up by teachers after concerns were shared to admin to ensure report was made Follow-up by teachers after concerns were shared to admin to ensure report was made Resolution of mandated reporting when a suspecting professional does not make the call Resolution of mandated reporting when a suspecting professional does not make the call