Mandated Reporter Training

1. Mandated Reporter Training Kids count on you!

2. Who is a mandated reporter? • Georgia law requires all school personnel who come in contact with children to report suspected child abuse.

3. Child Abuse in Georgia

4. In Georgia… • Once every 30 minutes a child is the victim of confirmed abuse or neglect. • 66% of child deaths related to abuse and neglect were determined to be preventable. • The majority of maltreaters (83%) are the parents of the child.

5. Throughout the Nation…

6. National Statistics: • Over half of all victims are under the age of seven • 90% of adult prisoners report being abused as a child • Over 75% of child fatalities reported as a result of child abuse and neglect occur in children under the age of four. • The leading cause of maltreatment death is neglect • 73% of children who were sexually abused had their abuse last more than five years.

7. Parental and Family Factors that May Lead to Child Abuse & Neglect • Parental / Caregiver Immaturity

8. Very young and or inexperienced parents/ caregivers may not understand a child’s behaviors and needs and may not know what to expect at each stage of the child’s development.

9. Parental and Family Factors that May Lead to Child Abuse & Neglect • Parental / Caregiver Immaturity • Unrealistic Expectations

10. Expectations of the child are beyond what he/she is developmentally capable of performing.

11. Parental and Family Factors that May Lead to Child Abuse & Neglect • Parental / Caregiver Immaturity • Unrealistic Expectations • Social Isolation

12. A lack of friends or family to help with the demands of parenting or to provide adult companionship and support for the parent / caregiver.

13. Parental and Family Factors that May Lead to Child Abuse & Neglect • Parental / Caregiver Immaturity • Unrealistic Expectations • Social Isolation • Unmet Emotional Needs

14. Parents who are not relating well to other adults may turn to their child to satisfy their need for love, acceptance, and self-esteem.

15. Parental and Family Factors that May Lead to Child Abuse & Neglect • Parental / Caregiver Immaturity • Unrealistic Expectations • Social Isolation • Unmet Emotional Needs • Frequent Crisis

16. Financial, job, marital, and legal stresses / problems as well as major illness, etc., may contribute to abuse or neglect of children.

17. Parental and Family Factors that May Lead to Child Abuse & Neglect • Parental / Caregiver Immaturity • Unrealistic Expectations • Social Isolation • Unmet Emotional Needs • Frequent Crisis • Poor Childhood Experiences

18. Many abusive adults were mistreated as children and may not have learned or developed the ability to relate to children in an appropriate, nonviolent manner.

19. Parental and Family Factors that May Lead to Child Abuse & Neglect • Parental / Caregiver Immaturity • Unrealistic Expectations • Social Isolation • Unmet Emotional Needs • Frequent Crisis • Poor Childhood Experiences • Drug or Alcohol Problems

20. Such problems impair parental ability to care properly for children and may expose the children to danger.

21. Parental and Family Factors that May Lead to Child Abuse & Neglect • Parental / Caregiver Immaturity • Unrealistic Expectations • Social Isolation • Unmet Emotional Needs • Frequent Crisis • Poor Childhood Experiences • Drug or Alcohol Problems • Mental Illness

22. Untreated and / or chronic mental illness could lead to abuse and neglect.

23. Parental and Family Factors that May Lead to Child Abuse & Neglect • Parental / Caregiver Immaturity • Unrealistic Expectations • Social Isolation • Unmet Emotional Needs • Frequent Crisis • Poor Childhood Experiences • Drug or Alcohol Problems • Mental Illness • Poor Family Boundaries

24. Failure to protect a child from harm can include: unlimited access to the home by many outsiders, access to medications, dangerous objects and animals, lack of adequate supervision, etc.

25. Indicators of Possible Abuse Please see first two pages of your Mandated Reporter training manual.

26. Training manual, pages 3-5: • What to do When a Child Discloses • Types of Disclosures • When You Suspect a Child is Being Abused

27. Who must report? Georgia law requires all school personnel who come in contact with children to report suspected child abuse. Each school has an internal child abuse reporting protocol.

28. Rights of the Mandated Reporter • Anonymity or confidentiality. • Knowledge of the outcome only of a report

29. What are the penalties for not reporting? • Any person or official required by Georgia law to report suspected cases of child abuse and who knowingly and willfully fails to do so shall be guilty of a misdemeanor. You may also be disciplined by your school system or lose your position.

30. Role of Child Protective Services • Interview the child and parents/caregivers. • Arrange for the medical examination of a child if the child is believed to have sustained injuries. • Assess the parents’/caregivers’ abilities to care for the child • Provide support services to enable parents/caregivers to care for the child

31. Role of Child Protective Services • Request immediate temporary custody of a child from the judge in juvenile court when a report of abuse and/or neglect is substantiated. • Petition the court for permanent custody of a child when the parents/guardians, when given support and assistance, fail to demonstrate an ability or willingness to care for the child

32. What happens when you make a report? • DFCS determines if there is an existing open case. • DFCS provides law enforcement with a copy of the referral. • DFCS assigns investigation priority. • Children, parents, and others are interviewed.

33. Factors for Prevention • Express positive expectations • Encourage goal setting and mastery • Encourage pro-social development (altruism, empathy, cooperation) • Provide opportunities for leadership • Foster active involvement for all students • Utilize cooperative learning • Involve parents • Model pro-social behavior