Child Abuse, Neglect and Exploitation Prevention

1. Child Abuse, Neglect and Exploitation Prevention MitzyDanell Flores, RN School Nurse October 2013

2. Introduction • Every child has the basic human right to be safe. Child abuse and neglect threaten a child’s safety by placing him/her at risk for physical and emotional injuries and even death. Child abuse and neglect occur in all cultural, ethnic, occupational, and socioeconomic groups. Washington State Department of Social & Health Services. 2010.

3. 2009 report from the US Department of Health and Human Services, Administration and Families, Administration on Children, Youth and Families, Children Bureau, Child Maltreatment Statistics

4. Purpose of the Child Abuse Reporting Law • LAWS • The purpose of the Washington State Law, Revised Code of Washington (RWC) Chapter 22.44, is to protect children who have been non-accidentally injured, sexually exploited, or deprived of the right to minimal nurture, health, and safety by their parents, custodian, or guardian. • WHY YOU ARE IMPORTANT • “Mandated reporters” are persons or groups who have frequent contact with children and families and are required by Washington’s State law to report suspected cases of child abuse and neglect to Child Protected Services or to the appropriate law enforcement agency (RCW 26.44.030). • MLSD REPORTING RESPOSIBILITIES • Staff are reminded of their obligation as district employees to report child abuse, and professional staff are reminded of their legal obligation to make such a report. Staff are also reminded of their IMMUNITY from potential liability for doing so. • Washington State Department of Social & Health Services. 2010. • MLSD Board Procedure. 2009

5. Reporting Protocol • Student Teacher/Paraprofessional/Staff School Principal School CPS Counselor Nurse ALL REPORTS ARE GIVEN TO: Child Protection Services/ Department of Social And Health Services • If the designated persons listed above are not available , a report may also be submitted to the police, sheriff, or prosecutor’s office. • The report must be made within 48 hours of suspected abuse. • Staff should advise the principal regarding instances of suspected abuse or neglect and reports of suspected abuse have been made to state authorities or law enforcement.

6. What Happens After Reporting? • Once the initial phone report is made from the staff to CPS, a written report must also be submitted. • A written report shall be submitted promptly and it should include: • * The name, address and age of the child • The name and address of the parent or person having custody of the child • The nature and extent of the suspected abuse or neglect • Any evidence of previous abuse or any other information that may relate to the cause or extent of the abuse or neglect • The identity, if known, of the person accused of inflicting the abuse • Please note that a follow up will be made between staff and initial school reporter (principal, counselor, school nurse). Side Note: CPS might not have further communicatation with initial reporter due to a strict investigation process. Communication depends on a case by case situation. • Mandated reporters may request information about the decision to investigate and receive a brief summary of CPS activity in response to the referral. CPS may not divulge information about the child or family unless there is a continuing service plan and the reporter is a professional helping to treat the child abuse or neglect issue.

7. Responding to the child • DO: • Remain calm. A child may retract information or stop talking if he/she senses a strong reaction. • Find a private place to talk without interruption (if possible have conversation in a room with windows ((in the principal’s office, or counselor's office)). • Use the child’s vocabulary. • Let the child know what you will do: “ We need to tell (Name). He/she knows how to help children and families”. • Support the child: “I'm sorry that happened to you”. • Reassure the child that he/she is not in trouble • Washington State Department of Social & Health Services. 2010

8. Responding to the child • DO NOT: • Press for details. You do not need to prove abuse or neglect. • Use leading questions, when listening to a child rather use non-leading inquiries: “tell me what happened”. • Promise you will not tell anyone about the child’s disclosure of possible abuse or neglect. • Investigate a case yourself. Call the police or CPS. • Make angry or critical comments about the alleged perpetrators. The child often knows, ;loves or likes this person. Washington State Department of Social & Health Services. 2010

9. Types of Abuse • Physical Abuse:means the non-accidental inflictions of physical mistreatment of a child. Physical abuse includes, but not limited to, such actions as: • Throwing, kicking, burning, or cutting a child • Striking a child with a closed fist • Shaking a child under age three • Interfering with a child’s breathing • Threatening a child with a deadly weapon • Doing any other act that is likely to cause and which does cause bodily harm greater than transient pain or minor temporary marks or which is injurious to the child’s health, welfare, and safety. (WAC 388-15-009). • Washington State Department of Social & Health Services. 2010

10. Types of Abuse • Sexual Abuse: means committing or allowing to be committed any sexual offense against a child as defined in the criminal code. The intentional touching, either directly or through the clothing, of the sexual or other intimate parts of a child or allowing, permitting, compelling, encouraging, aiding, or otherwise causing a child to engage in touching the sexual or other intimate parts of another for the purpose of gratifying the sexual desire of the person touching the child, the child or a third party. A parent or guardian of a child, a person authorized by the parent or guardian to provide childcare for the child, or a person providing medically recognized services for the child, may touch a child in the sexual or other intimate parts for the purpose of providing hygiene, child care, and medical treatment or diagnosis. • * Sexual Exploitation: prostitution, sexually explicit, obscene, or pornographic activity to be photographed, filmed, or electronically reproduced, or transmitted, or for a live performance for the benefit of sexual gratification. • Washington State Department of Social & Health Services. 2010

11. Types of Abuse • Negligent Treatment or Maltreatment: means an act or a failure to act, or the cumulative effects of a pattern of conduct, behavior, or inaction, on the part of a child’s parent, legal custodian, guardian, or caregiver that shows a serious disregard of the consequences to the child of such magnitude that it creates a clear and present danger to the child’s health, welfare, or safety. A child does not have to suffer actual damage or physical or emotional harm to be in circumstances which create a clear and present danger to the child’s health, welfare, or safety. • 1) Failure to provide adequate food, shelter, clothing, supervision, or health care necessary for a child’s health, welfare, or safety. Poverty and/or homelessness do not constitute negligent treatment or maltreatment in and of themselves. • Washington State Department of Social & Health Services. 2010

12. Recognizing Child Abuse and Neglect: Signs and Symptoms • The Child: • Shows sudden changes in behavior or school performance • Has not received help for physical or medical problems brought to the parents’ attention • Has learning problems (or difficulty concentrating) that cannot be attributed to specific physical or psychological causes • Is always watchful, as through preparing for something bad to happen • Lacks adult supervision • Is overly compliant, passive, or withdrawn • Comes to school or other activities early, stays late, or does not want to go home • Washington State Department of Social & Health Services. 2010

13. Summary • Help to protect our children. • Know the signs of child abuse and neglect • When children have the courage to tell you about abuse or neglect, take them seriously. • When you suspect or know of incidents of child abuse or neglect, contact the principal, the school counselor, the school nurse, CPS or local law enforcement agency. • Healthy People 2020 strives to: • Identify nationwide health improvement priorities. Increase public awareness and understanding of the determinants of health, disease, and disability and the opportunities for progress. Provide measurable objectives and goals that are applicable at the national, State, and local levels. Engage multiple sectors to take actions to strengthen policies and improve practices that are driven by the best available evidence and knowledge. Identify critical research, evaluation, and data collection needs.

14. Summary Continued • **Targets to meet • IVP–37: Reduce child maltreatment deaths. Target: 2.2 deaths per 100,000 children. Baseline: 2.4 child maltreatment deaths per 100,000 children under age 18 years occurred in 2008. Target setting method: 10 percent improvement. Data source: National Child Abuse and Neglect Data System (NCANDS), ACYF, ACF, HHS. IVP–38: Reduce nonfatal child maltreatment. Target: 8.5 maltreatment victims per 1,000 children aged 17 years and under. Baseline: 9.4 victims of nonfatal child maltreatment per 1,000 children under age 18 years were reported in 2008. Target setting method: 10 percent improvement. Data source: National Child Abuse and Neglect Data System (NCANDS), ACYF, ACF, HHS. • IVP–40: (Developmental) Reduce sexual violence. IVP–40.1 (Developmental) Reduce rape or attempted rape. Potential data source: National Intimate Partner and Sexual Violence Surveillance (NISVS) System, CDC, NCIPC. IVP–40.2 (Developmental) Reduce abusive sexual contact other than rape or attempted rape. Potential data source: National Intimate Partner and Sexual Violence Surveillance (NISVS) System, CDC, NCIPC. IVP–40.3 (Developmental) Reduce non-contact sexual abuse. Potential data source: National Intimate Partner and Sexual Violence Surveillance (NISVS) System, CDC, NCIPC. • IVP-42: Reduce children’s exposure to violence. Target: 54.5 percent. Baseline: 60.6 percent of children were exposed to any form of violence, crime and abuse measured in 2008. Target setting method: 10 percent improvement. Data Source: National Survey of Children’s Exposure to Violence (NatSCEV), DOJ, OJJDP. IVP–43: Increase the number of States and the District of Columbia that link data on violent deaths from death certificates, law enforcement, and coroner and medical examiner reports to inform prevention efforts at the State and local levels. Target: 51 States (including the District of Columbia). Baseline: 16 States linked data on violent deaths from death certificates, law enforcement, and coroner and medical examiner reports to inform prevention efforts at the State and local levels in 2009. Target setting method: Total coverage. Data source: National Violent Death Reporting System (NVDRS), CDC, NCIPC.

15. References • MLSD. (2009). MLSD Board Policy: Child abuse, neglect and exploitation prevention. Policy 3421 & 3421P • United States Census Bureau. (2012). Law Enforcement, Courts, & Prisons: Juvenile Delinquency, Child Abuse. Retrieved on March 20, 2012 from http://www.census.gov/compendia/statab /cats/law_enforcement_courts_prisons/juvenile_delinquency_child _abuse.html • U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. (2012). Injury and Violence Prevention. Retrieved on March 20, 2012 from http://www.healthypeople.gov/2020/topicsobjectives2020/objectiv eslist.aspx?topicId=24 • Washington State Department of Social & Health Services. (2010). Protecting the Abused & Neglected Child: A guide for recognizing & reporting child abuse & Neglect. Retrieved on April 1, 2012 from http://www.dshs.wa.gov/ca/safety/prevAbuse.asp?1