Child Abuse Reporting Policy

1. Child Abuse Reporting Policy Child Abuse Reporting Policy

2. Child Abuse Reporting in PA “Knowledge is a powerful tool in our continuing efforts to protect children and youth from abuse and neglect. With concrete information about the scope of theproblem we can make informed decisions about policy, inspire resolute action, and make necessary changes toour programs to work for the prevention of abuse . . . Protecting children from abuse is an ongoing struggle, yet it is one in which we cannot afford to rest.”Edward G. Rendell, former Governor of PA

3. Video: KenCrest Revised Policy

4. TRAINING OBJECTIVES Participants in this training will: Review the roles and responsibilities of KenCrest staff, contractors and volunteers in reporting suspected abuse and neglect. Identify indicators of child abuse and neglect Examine new laws related to child abuse reporting in Pennsylvania

5. Nationally, 12 out of every 1,000 children are victims of abuse The most frequent victims of abuse are children under the age of 3 A child is abused every 10 seconds in the US 58% of all fatalities in abuse cases occurred with children under the age of one Did You Know . . .

6. Being abused or neglected as a child almost doubles the odds that the child will commit a crime as a juvenile Being victimized as a child significantly increases the likelihood that an individual will victimize others Forty-five percent of abused children become alcoholics as adults Did You Know . . .

7. 75% of child abuse is committed by a parent or another person who is related to the victim. Did You Know . . .

8. There were nearly 25, 000 reports of suspected child abuse. Nearly 4,000 reports of suspected abuse were substantiated. Mandated reporters referred over 18, 000 reports (75% of all suspected abuse reports). One hundred forty seven cases involved children abused in child care settings. Thirty three children died from abuse. Statistics of Child Abuse in Pennsylvania - 2010 DOWNLOAD PENNSYLVANIA DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC WELFARE 2010 ANNUAL CHILD ABUSE REPORT

9. Child Abuse Case Numbers 2010

10. Parental Characteristics Low self-esteem /depression/ abused as a child Poor impulse control/Punitive child rearing style/unrealistic expectations of child’s behavior Substance Abuse Teenage Parent Risk Factors for Child Abuse/Neglect

11. Family Factors Isolation/Single Parent Family/Domestic Violence Non-biologically-related male in the home Poverty/Unemployment/Financial problems Violence towards pets Social /Situational Stresses

12. Risk Factors for Child Abuse/Neglect Child Characteristics • Premature Birth • Colic • Physical Disabilities • Developmental Disabilities • Chronic Illness • Emotional/Behavioral Difficulties • Unwanted Children

13. Poor attachment Delayed developmental milestones Aggressive behavior Social Isolation Learning problems School failure and school dropout Delinquency and later criminal behavior CONSEQUENCES OFCHILD MALTREATMENT

14. Physical Signs Torn clothing, trouble walking or sitting, pain or itching in the genital area, bruises or bleeding in the genital area or a sexually transmitted disease Sexual Abuse

15. Behavioral signs Unusual knowledge of sex, fear of a particular person, appearing withdrawn or depressed, sudden weight loss or weight gain, shying away from physical contact Sexual Abuse

16. Can derail normal development trajectory Can contribute to emotional and behavioral dysregulation Children often have difficulties forming attachments in childhood and later life May have sleep problems or disorders IMPACT OF TRAUMAON CHILDREN

17. Safe Haven gives a mother a safe, legal and confidential alternative to abandoning their newborn baby. Parents can relinquish newborns up to 28 days old to any hospital in Pennsylvania providing the parent expresses orally or writing that the hospital can accept the baby and the child has not been abused. SAFE HAVEN OF PENNSYLVANIA To learn more about Safe Haven… www.secretsafe.org

18. As a provider of services to children, KenCrest is responsible for ensuring that its employees adhere to laws intended to protect children from abuse. All KenCrest personnel (staff, volunteers, contractors) who have contact with children on behalf of the agency are required to adhere to the reporting requirements of the Child Protective Service Law (CPSL). WHAT IS THE PURPOSE OF CHILD ABUSE REPORTING POLICY? DOWNLOAD KENCREST CHILD ABUSE REPORTING POLICY

19. Video: Changes in Legislation

20. As defined by Child Protective Services Law (CPSL), a mandated reported is person who in the course of their employment, occupation or practice of a profession comes into contact with children. A mandated reporter shall report or cause a report to be made when the person has reasonable cause to suspect that a child under the care, supervision, guidance or training of that person or of KenCrest is a victim of child abuse. Who is a Mandated Reporter? DOWNLOAD PA DPW MANDATED REPORTER Q & A

21. All mandated reporters at KenCrest are required to bring to the attention of appropriate supervisory or administrative staff any incident which affects or threatens to affect the health and /or safety of any child receiving services from KenCrest. Mandated Reporters at KenCrest

22. A child does not need to directly come before you in your professional capacity in order to report suspected abuse. Mandated reporters are required to report any incident of suspected abuse of children served by the agency. In the event you learn about a case of suspected abuse outside the agency, you may report that suspicion as a non mandated reporter. Mandated Reporters at KenCrest

23. In order for an incident to be a reportable case of child abuse, the following elements are necessary: The victim must be a child (under age 18) The person alleged to have committed the abuse must fit the definition of a perpetrator (parent of a child, person responsible for the welfare of the child, an individual residing in the same home as the child or a paramour of the child’s parent) or school employee There has been some act, or a failure to act, resulting in abuse of the child Reportable Incidents

24. Child abuse is defined under the CPSL as : Any recent act or failure to act by a perpetrator which causes non accidental serious physical injury to a child An act of failure to act by a perpetrator which causes non accidental serious mental injury to a child An act of failure to act by a perpetrator which causes sexual abuse or sexual exploitation of a child WHAT IS THE DEFINITIONOF CHILD ABUSE?

25. Child abuse is defined under the CPSL as : Serious physical neglect caused by the act or failure to act of a perpetrator which endangers a child’s life or development or impairs the child’s functioning Any recent act, failure to act, or series of such acts or failures to act by a perpetrator which creates an imminent risk of serious physical injury to or sexual abuse or sexual exploitation of a child. DEFINITION OF CHILD ABUSE

26. A person required to report a case of suspected child abuse who willfully fails to do so commits a misdemeanor of the third degree for the first violation and misdemeanor of the second degree for a second or subsequent violation. Failure to Report Abuse

27. A staff member, volunteer or contractor who has reason to suspect child abuse he/she shall immediately notify the Program Coordinator of the suspicion. The Program Coordinator and his/her designee will immediately collect pertinent information related to the suspicion. WHAT ARE THE PENALTIES OF FAILURE TO REPORT CHILD ABUSE? DOWNLOAD FLOW CHART FOR REPORTING SUSPECTED ABUSE

28. If appropriate, any or all of the following will occur: Observe the child’s physical appearance Record observations If injuries are evident on child’s body, take photographs Record child’s comments related to concerns Note a change in the child’s behavior (evidence of anxiety, withdrawal, fear, agitation) PROCEDURE

29. The Program Coordinator and his/her designees, in consultation with the staff member, volunteer or contractor, will immediately review all available information to determine what information should be reported. Reporting Procedure

30. Once all pertinent information is collected, adecision will be made (along with the originalmandated reporter) whether therereasonable cause to suspect the child is a victim of childabuse. Original mandated reporter will be involved inall aspects of the decision making process. Reporting PROCEDURE

31. INFORMING PARENTS OFSUSPECTED ABUSE The decision as to whether to inform the parents of the existence of the report of child abuse will be made on a case-by-case basis after a review of the potential harm to the child.

32. A copy of the CY47 will be forwarded to the KenCrest Director of Program Services and submitted to the County office. A separate confidential file must be kept by the Program Coordinator that includes of a copy of the CY47 and all other documentation and photographs. If a CY47 is filed, the Director of Program Services or his/her designee will follow policy and procedures for filing any additional required reports. KenCrest will cooperate fully with the agency or department legally mandated to conduct child abuse investigations. PROCEDURES FOR CY47

33. All documentation that led to this decision will be kept in a separate confidential file. File will include a written account of any and all conversations with the child’s parents, physician and any other person (s), pictures and any other pertinent reports IF AREPORT IS NOT WARRANTED . . .

34. All conversations and observations must be signed, dated, documented and kept in a confidential file at the program location. Obtain the name and job title of the CHILDLINE personnel when filing the telephone report of the CY47 The CY47 form must be an original document (cannot be photocopied) OTHERPERTNENT INFORMATION

35. If investigating agency asks for written information KenCrest will request that a written request is sent on agency letterhead This request will be kept in a separate confidential file containing the report and all other pertinent information regarding the CY47. OTHER PERTNENT INFORMATION DOWNLOAD THE CY47 FORM

36. For birth to three programs, the Early Intervention Reportable Incident From must be completed and faxed to the County EI program within 24 hours of the suspected abuse case committed by an EI service provider (EI-08#01- March, 2008) In addition to reporting to ChildLine, the County office must be notified within 24 hours of observation or knowledge of suspected abuse alleged to have been committed by an EI service provider. PROCEDURESBIRTH TO THREE SERVICES

37. The Reportable Incident form will be used to notify the County EI Program, The county office will then forward a copy of the EI Reportable Incident form to OCDEL (717-346-9330) within 24 hours of receipt of the form. The sender of the incident report shall call the County EI birth to three program or OCDEL prior to faxing the report to assure confidentiality. PROCEDURESBIRTH TO THREE SERVICES

38. KenCrest is responsible for investigating reportable incidents alleged to involve staff employed or under contract. KenCrest is responsible for investigating reportable incidents alleged to involve independent providers who are not affiliated with an agency. Investigations will be conducted in a manner so as not to interfere with the local CYS or law enforcement agency investigation activities. KenCrest must adhere to all timelines and procedures in the investigative process WHEN EI PERSONNEL ARE SUSPECTED OF ABUSE . . .

39. KenCrest has policies and procedures in place that ensure the safety of infants and toddlers receiving EI services during an investigation of an EI service provider. These policies and procedures include disciplinary action or removal of the service provider when warranted. • WHEN EI PERSONNEL ARE SUSPECTED OF ABUSE . . . DOWNLOAD FLOW CHART FOR REPORTING EI PERSONNEL OF SUSPECTED CHILD ABUSE

40. If it is agreed that a report of child abuse is not warranted, KenCrest will retain all documentation that led to this decision in a separate confidential file. The file will include a written account of any and all conversations with the child’s parents, physician, and any other person (s) providing information. The file should also include any pictures or reports in KenCrest’s possession. PROCEDURES FOR CY47

41. Community-based Programs: A staff member, volunteer or contractor who has reason to suspect child abuse he/she shall immediately notify the Program Coordinator of the suspicion. The Program Coordinator and his/her designee will immediately collect pertinent information related to the suspicion The Program Coordinator, if appropriate, will notify the community site director where the child is enrolled that a report of child abuse has been made to the appropriate authorities. PROCEDURES FOR ALL PROGRAMS WHEN ABUSE IS SUSPECTED

42. KenCrest has developed these policies and procedures to ensure the safety of the children we serve. We ask that all mandated reporters follow the guidelines set forth in our policy so that we may do everything possible to protect the safety and well being of young children. Conclusion

43. Pennsylvania Department of Public Welfare-Office of Children and Youth www.dpw.state.pa.us ABA Center on Children and the Law www.abanet.org/child/home.html ChildHelp USA www.childhelp.org WEBSITES

44. COMPLETION INSTRUCTIONS • Please download this document to complete this training module; the instructions are as follows: • Complete the Child Abuse Reporting Quiz and return to your program coordinator. • Fill in the Sign In Sheet and return to your program coordinator for signature. • Add your name to the Certificate of Completion and ask your program coordinator to sign, verifying your completion of the training module. Keep the original certificate for your records. Thank you for completing this online training module.