Cabinet for Health and Family Services

1. Cabinet for Health and Family Services Department for Community Based Services Southern Bluegrass Service Region Central Intake Presentation Reporting Abuse, Neglect, Domestic Violence and Exploitation Doug Abrams, MPA (859) 245-5258 doug.abrams @ky.gov

2. Reportable Information • If you suspect that a child or an adult is being neglected or abused that information is reportable. However… • Central Intake (CI) does not function like a 911 call center; meaning, CI documents all reports made, but only send reports to Investigative Teams for investigation that Meet Acceptance Criteria. • The purpose of this presentation is to provide reporters of suspected child abuse and neglect with information that will assist Central Intake in the screening process of reports of suspected child abuse and neglect. Cabinet for Health and Family Services

3. Kentucky Child/Adult Protective Services Reporting System Kentucky Child / Adult Protective Services Reporting System This reporting system has been provided for your convenience to report suspected instances of abuse / neglect which occurred in Kentucky and does not require an emergency response. A situation where a child or adult is at immediate risk of abuse / neglect that could result in death or serious harm is considered an emergency and should be reported to 911 immediately. To access this web site go to: https://prd.chfs.ky.gov/ReportAbuse/home.aspx Cabinet for Health and Family Services

4. Advantages of Using the Non-Emergency Reporting Option • You get an immediate e-mail response that your report was made; • You do not have to call the CI unit inquiring about the status of your report; because • If your report does not meet acceptance criteria you will receive e-mail notification from the CI unit that your report did not meet acceptance; see example below Web ID # This e-mail is to advise that the report you submitted via the web based reporting system for the Commonwealth of Kentucky did not meet acceptance criteria. If you have additional information or concerns not included in the original report, please call the abuse hotline at 1-877-597-2331. Thank you, Cabinet for Health and Family Services

5. Southern Bluegrass Service Region Reporting Phone, FAX & e-mail Reporting • Monday—Friday 8 a.m.—4:30 p.m. Call (859) 245-5258 • E-mail reports to: Intake.SBSR@ky.gov • FAX (859) 271-3624 e-mail inbox and FAX machine are monitored continuously 8 a.m.—4:30 p.m. Monday—Friday excluding weekends and state holidays. Cabinet for Health and Family Services

6. After Hours Call (800) 752-6200 OR Your Local Law Enforcement Agency Cabinet for Health and Family Services

7. Helpful Information Needed to Make A CPS Report • The names and addresses of the child(ren) and his or her parents or other persons exercising custodial control or supervision; • The child's age, date of birth and social security number if you have it; • As much detail regarding the alleged abuse , neglect or dependency, including witnesses and previous instances of abuse, neglect or dependency to this child or his or her siblings that you are aware of; • The name and address of the person allegedly responsible for the abuse or neglect; and • Do you think there are safety hazards for a social worker visiting the home, e.g., firearms, threats of violence by parents, dangerous animals etc.. Cabinet for Health and Family Services

8. Physical Abuse PHYSICAL ABUSE • Physical abuse is the injury by other than accidental means of a child under 18 years of age which is the result of actions by a parent, guardian, or other designated (temporary or permanent) caretaker. EXAMPLES: • Hitting, kicking, biting • Harmful restraint (choking) • Beating (repeated blows) • Use of weapon or instrument • Action resulting in substantial pain Cabinet for Health and Family Services

9. Reporting Physical Abuse When reporting physical abuse, it is helpful if you can: • Describe observable injuries inflicted by a caretaker; • If possible, described the severity of the injury; • Indicate where on the child’s body s/he has been hit; especially if the child has been hit in critical areas which include the head, face, ears, neck, genitals, abdomen or kidney area; • Indicate if the child reports s/he has been punched, kicked, strangled or suffocated; • Has been exposed to bizarre or cruel forms of punishment or inappropriate restraint. Cabinet for Health and Family Services

10. Reporting Risk of Physical Harm to a Child If you suspect that a child is at risk of physical harm it is helpful to indicate if; • The child or other family member being threatened with a weapon; • A child being verbally threatened in a manner that creates fear of bodily harm or death to self and/or others; • Bizarre behavior by a caretaker when there is reason to believe that the caretaker may lose control, which may result in injury to the child; • Self-reports from parents or guardians who state they are unable to cope or who feel they may hurt their children. Cabinet for Health and Family Services

11. Reporting Medical Neglect When reporting medical neglect it is helpful if you can indicate that: • The lack of medical attention could be life-threatening; • The lack of medical attention could result in permanent impairment; • The lack of medical attention could interfere with normal physical functioning and worsen without treatment; or • Be a serious threat to the child’s health due to the outbreak of a vaccine preventable disease. Cabinet for Health and Family Services

12. Reporting Supervision Neglect When reporting lack of appropriate supervision it is helpful if you can indicate: • Is the child currently alone; • If known is the child experiencing a current emergency; • How long the child has been left alone; • Does the child have disabilities; • Does the child know what to do in case of an emergency, e.g., contact law enforcement of fire department. • Has the parent provided the child a list of emergency contacts and access to a phone to contact those persons; • Is the child age appropriate, i.e., a teen who lacks the maturity expected for his or her age; • Is the child in the caretaking role of other children. Cabinet for Health and Family Services

13. Reporting Parental Substance Abuse When reporting neglect due to a caregivers alcohol and or drug use, it is helpful if you can indicate: • Is the parent in a caretaking role when using alcohol and drugs; • Describe how the alcohol and or drug use impairs the ability to provided for the needs of the child; • If you suspect current intoxication, describe what behaviors or physical indicators you have observed; • Is the parent driving while intoxicated with the child in the vehicle; • Does the child have access to drugs or alcohol; • Has law enforcement been notified? Also • Has the parent permitted a child to use drugs or alcohol under circumstances that create a risk to the physical health of the child; Cabinet for Health and Family Services

14. Reporting Food Neglect When reporting that a family has a lack of adequate food to meet the nutritional needs of the child, it is helpful to indicate: • If the child has special dietary needs that are not being met or unexplained weight loss; • That because of the lack of food the child shows symptoms of dehydration, food poisoning, malnutrition or failure to thrive; • If the family has been offered assistance and still can’t meet the nutritional needs of the child. • Does the child frequently go to a neighbors home asking for food? Cabinet for Health and Family Services

15. Reporting Environmental & Hygiene & Clothing Neglect When reporting environmental neglect, it is helpful to indicate: • How, if known, the presence of the health and safety hazard is or may be affecting the physical health of the child; and • If the caretaker has been made aware of the concern, has s/he failed to take appropriate action to eliminate the problem. When reporting hygiene/clothing neglect it is helpful to indicate: • How, if known, the child's physical health and safety is negatively affected due to an act or omission by the caretaker; and • Has the caretaker failed to address the concern or been offered assistance to address the concern. Cabinet for Health and Family Services

16. Reporting Educational Neglect When reporting educational neglect it is helpful to indicate: • The child’s educational needs that are not being met by the caretaker; • The number of days absent or tardy and how many of those are unexcused; • Disabilities, if any, of the child; • The impact that the alleged educational neglect is having on the child’s school performance and development. • Any documented efforts by the school to address the concern and the caretaker’s response; Cabinet for Health and Family Services

17. Emotional Injury EMOTIONAL INJURY • Emotional injury is any injury to the mental or psychological capacity or emotional stability of a child noted and evidenced by a substantial and observable impairment in his or her ability to function within a normal range of performance and behavior with regard to the child’s age, development, culture, and environment (as testified to by a mental health professional). EXAMPLES: • Withdrawal of love • Ignoring • Name calling • Ridiculing • Threats • Isolating • Scapegoating • Cruel or bizarre punishment • Terrorization • Total rejection Cabinet for Health and Family Services

18. Reporting Child Exploitation Report a child exploitation if you suspect: • A caretaker is/has used a child or a child’s financial resources for personal gain, such as money or drugs;  • A caretaker is/has enticed a child to become involved in criminal activities; or • One (1) or more child(ren) have been subjected to engage in criminal activity involving forced labor services or commercial sexual activity regardless of whether or not force, fraud or coercion is involved. Cabinet for Health and Family Services

19. Reporting Child Sexual Abuse When reporting child sexual abuse it is helpful if you can indicate: • If the child has made specific statements of being touched, kissed or fondled in a sexual manner by a caretaker; • The exact language that the child used to disclose the sexual abuse to you; • If the child is exhibiting sexualized behaviors; • If the caretaker is allowing or forcing the child to participate in pornography; Cabinet for Health and Family Services

20. Risk of Sexual Harm If you suspect that a child may be at risk of sexual harm it is helpful to indicate if; • There are specific statements alleging past sexual abuse where the caretaker was the perpetrator; • A child exhibiting physical or behavioral indicators of sexual abuse, e.g.; • statements indicating precocious sexual knowledge, • a child making sexual advances to adults • Sexually explicit drawings (not open to interpretation) • Sexual aggression toward younger or more naïve children • Suspicious circumstances that would cause a person to believe that an act of sexual abuse may occur; or • A child is left unsupervised with a person listed on the Sexual Offender Registry. Cabinet for Health and Family Services

21. Risk of Harm to a Child in Domestic Violence Situations When a child is present during a DV incident it is helpful if you can report the following: • The alleged perpetrator assaults the non-offending parent/victim while holding the child; • Items are thrown or weapons are used in the vicinity of the child; • The alleged perpetrator uses a firearm during the DV incident; • A child intervenes in an incident of DV, even if uninjured; or • A child is restrained or restricted from leaving during the DV incident. Cabinet for Health and Family Services

22. Questions Cabinet for Health and Family Services