Child Abuse & Neglect

Your Role as a Mandated Reporter

Pretest:

What is a Mandated Reporter?

What is a Mandated Reporter?

Anyone whose professional role brings them into contact with children, and creates a relationship of trust is considered to be a mandated reporter.

You may be a mandated reporter in some situations, but not in others

The Abused and Neglected Child Reporting Act (ANCRA) defines your obligations.

In your role as a mandated reporter, you are required by law to report any suspicions of child abuse or neglect by first calling the hotline, and then following up with a written report within 48 hours.

Acknowledgement Form

What is Abuse?

What is Neglect?

Definitions: Child = anyone under 18

Abuse = the willful infliction of harm upon another who is in your care

Perpetrator = the individual inflicting the abuse or neglect – DCFS can only get involved when the perpetrator is someone responsible for the child’s well being- otherwise it is considered assault and is a criminal matter

Neglect = The willful denial of basic needs to an individual in your care

Disclosure = Telling a trusted adult what has happened

Unfounded Report = There is not sufficient evidence to prove abuse or neglect has taken place

Indicated Report = There is sufficient evidence to prove that abuse or neglect has taken place

SCR = State Central Registry – IL hotline

Types of Abuse

Physical Abuse Sexual Abuse Emotional Abuse Neglect

More than one type of abuse may be present in a situation, but ANY abuse must be reported

Abuse happens in ALL types of families! Some children may show many signs or symptoms Some children may show NONE It is estimated that as much as 60% of abuse may go

unreported

Emotional Abuse:

This is the least recognized, and hardest to prove when not associated with other types

Currently represents about 8% of indicated cases Represents the destruction of the child’s psyche Mostly evidenced through child’s behavior, but may

also be seen in adult’s actions Includes ignoring, rejecting, isolating, exploiting,

corrupting, verbally assaulting, terrorizing IS NOT a short term negative attitude or one time

action – Everyone has bad days

Sings & Symptoms:

May include visible marks May include behavioral changes or

characteristics May involve patterns of behavior in either the

child OR family May involve statements from a child – up to

and including disclosure

Visible Marks

Injuries in multiple stages of healing Injuries on multiple facings of the body Injuries in patterns – ex. offset pyramid of fingers – or

clusters, or shapes of objects Bruising that curves around a body part “Donut” burns, “glove” or “sock” burns these are

immersion burns Raccoon Eyes Recurring pain, or itching in genital or anal area STDs or Recurring bladder infections Bloody undergarments, deformation in genitial or anal

area

Examples:

Offset pyramid of fingertips

Examples:

Following the curvature of the body

Examples:

Multiple Facings of the body

Examples:

Multiple Stages of Healing

Bruises-1.Begin as pink or red2.Turn blue/purple3.Gradually fade through browns to greenish then yellow-ish, and back to skin tone

Behavioral Signs & Patterns:

Sudden change in personality Withdrawn or poor social interactions Fearful of adults or others- Hyper vigilance Harming animals Bullying Regression Inappropriate sexual knowledge or acting out Frequently absent of Mondays Isolated Inconsistent explanations of injuries

Caution:

While the physical signs may be easier to recognize, the behavioral/emotional may not be

It is important to realize, that there may be other explanations for some of the behavioral patterns or changes you are seeing in a child

The behavioral/emotional responses to abuse & neglect are typically due to the trauma they cause in a child’s life – other traumas or conditions may produce some of the same changes

However – your job is to report suspected abuse or neglect – NOT to prove one way or the other

Disclosure:

If a child confides in you that they have been abused or neglected in some way, this is called disclosure

Always be open to children sharing their experiences with you Avoid sharing your shock, disgust, fear, or other reactions to what they tell

you DO NOT probe for additional details – you are not the trained investigator,

and repeated discussion may further traumatize the child DO NOT promise the child you will not tell anyone OR make any promises

you can not keep– you must report it, and you do not want to destroy the child’s trust in you

DO NOT treat the child differently after a disclosure – they felt comfortable with you prior, and that is the relationship they are seeking

DO NOT use large words that are above the child’s comprehension DO reassure the child that you still feel just as positively about them as a

person DO reassure the child they were right to tell you

What To Do: Your first step is to follow the appropriate procedures for the

program you are involved with! This may include sharing concerns with a supervisor – However, sending it up the chain of command DOES NOT eliminate your responsibility to report

Prepare for the Call – gather the information Make the Call!

Get your hotline worker’s full name, the date and time of your call(s) – keep for your records

If you DO NOT agree with the decision to accept or decline your report, you have the right to speak to the Hotline worker’s supervisor

If report is accepted, follow up with written form within 48 hours

DO NOT “grill” the child or photograph marks – this is the investigator’s job for which they have been trained.

Hotline Numbers:

Voice:

1-800-252-2783

TTY

1-800-358-5117

What information should you gather?

CANTS 5 – written follow up to a hotline call

The Process:

Gather appropriate information You make the call, may require a “call back” You share information - Report either accepted or not If accepted, you follow up with written report The report is sent to appropriate local office Investigation takes place – initial contact within 24

hours or less Determination is made (indicated or unfounded) You receive a letter with investigation results- (note:

not all states provide this feed back) If you do not agree with the final decision, you have

the right to request a second review

Why Might People Hesitate?

Why Might People Hesitate?

Fear Uncertainty Ignorance of the Law, of the signs &

symptoms or importance Not wanting to get involved Feeling it has been handled at a higher level

Bottom Line:

You are REQUIRED by law to report ANY suspected abuse or neglect you encounter through your professional role

As long as you are reporting in good faith, there can be no successful legal action taken against you for reporting

Failing to report represents a Class A Misdemeanor The goal for DCFS is not to tear families apart, but to

protect children and provide families with the services they need

You are doing this to Protect the child – Have the guts to call!

Post Test

Now, review your quiz – make any changes necessary to your answers – make sure your name is on the top – pass it forward to document your attendance today.