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Eagle Mountain-Saginaw ISD. Reporting. Child Abuse. It's not just what's right... IT'S THE LAW!. Child Abuse and Neglect. What the Law R equires Warning Signs of Abuse Warning Signs of Neglect Reporting Procedures . Child Abuse and Neglect. Report of Suspected Child Abuse/Neglect.
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Eagle Mountain-Saginaw ISD Reporting Child Abuse It's not just what's right... IT'S THE LAW!
Child Abuse and Neglect What the Law Requires Warning Signs of Abuse Warning Signs of Neglect Reporting Procedures
Child Abuse and Neglect Report of Suspected Child Abuse/Neglect • TX Statue 261.101 requires a person having cause to believe that a child’s physical, mental health or welfare has been adversely affected by abuse or neglect by any person to immediately make a report. • The person shall make a report no later than the 48th hour the professional first suspects the child has been or may be abused or neglected. • A professional may not delegate to or rely on another person to make the report for them. • TX Statue 261.109 declares a person commits an offense if the person has cause to believe that a child’s physical, mental health, or welfare has been or may be adversely affected by abuse or neglect and knowingly fails to make a report. An offense under this section is a Class B misdemeanorand is punishable by a fine of up to $2,000, 180 days in jail, or both.
Child Abuse and Neglect Physical Abuse • Physical abuse is a physical injury that results in substantial harm to the child, such as bruises, fractures, or death. It can also include a genuine threat of harm, even if there is no visible injury. • Warning Signs • Frequent injuries • Burns or bruises in an unusual pattern • Injuries that appear after child isn’t seen for several days • Frequent complaints of pain without obvious injury • Fear of going home or seeing parent • Frequent absences without reasonable explanation • Wearing unseasonable clothes • Lack of reaction to pain • Reluctance to sit down • Passive, withdrawn, and/or emotionless behavior • Change in behavior
Child Abuse and Neglect Emotional Abuse • Emotional abuse is an action that results in a marked impact on a child's growth, development, or psychological functioning. Emotional abuse includes extreme forms of punishment such as confining a child in a dark closet, habitual scapegoating, or belittling to the point that it results in noticeable effects on the child's daily functioning. • Warning Signs • Excessively withdrawn, fearful, or anxious about doing something wrong • Shows extremes in behavior • Doesn’t seem to be attached to the parent or caregiver • Acts either inappropriately adult or inappropriately infantile
Child Abuse and Neglect Sexual Abuse • Sexual abuse is sexual conduct harmful to a child's mental, emotional, or physical welfare. This includes fondling a child’s genitals, penetration, indecent exposure, and exploitation through prostitution or producing pornography. • Warning Signs • Difficulty in sitting or walking • Physical signs of sexually transmitted disease(s) • Physical signs of injury to the genital area • Pregnancy in a young girl • Extreme fear of being alone with adults, especially of a particular sex • Sexually suggestive, inappropriate, or promiscuous behavior • Knowledge about sexual relations that is not age appropriate • Drawings/writings with strong or bizarre sexual themes • Sexual victimization of other children
Child Abuse and Neglect Neglect • There are various types of neglect including: • Neglectful supervision • Medical neglect • Physical neglect • Abandonment and refusal to accept parental responsibility • Failure to protect a child • Warning Signs • Obvious malnutrition • Torn and/or dirty clothes • Lack of personal cleanliness • Obvious fatigue and listlessness • Begs for, or steals, food • Unattended for long periods of time • Needs glasses, dental care, or other medical attention • Frequent absence or tardiness without reasonable explanation
Child Abuse and Neglect CPS Reporting Procedures • Any person making a report to DFPS is immune from civil or criminal liability as long as the report is made in good faith. • The reporter’s name is confidential. • Call the Texas abuse and neglect hotline at 1-800-252-5400. • Non-emergency reports can be made online at www.txabusehotline.org. • Be specific and provide as much information as possible, including demographic information. • Document the date and time of the report and the case number. • Follow up with a counselor and/or administrator any time you feel it would benefit the child.
Child Abuse and Neglect What Happens When a Report is Made? • The Department of Family and Protective Services (DFPS) takes the information from the person reporting. They will take as little or as much information as you can provide. • It is helpful if you can provide name, age, address of child and/or siblings, parent contact information, brief description of situation, current injuries and your contact information. • CPS may choose to do nothing with the information. • CPS may choose to send the information out for investigation. When this happens they will speak to the child and family within 10 days. They may also contact you for follow up questions. • Your identity is confidential and is not revealed to the family when a report is made.
Child Abuse and Neglect What If I Am Unsure of What To Do? • Come speak to a counselor! We are all available to give you guidance on whether certain situations need to be reported to CPS or not. • Trust your instincts—if you are not comfortable with the information you learned, it probably needs to be reported to CPS.
Suicidal Ideation Suicide Warning Signs • Sudden disinterest in favorite extracurricular activities • Substance abuse, including alcohol and drugs (illegal or legal) • Behavioral problems • Withdrawing from family and friends • Sleep changes • Changes in eating habits • Begins to neglect hygiene or personal appearance • Emotional distress brings on physical distress (aches, fatigues, migraines) • Hard time concentrating and paying attention
Suicidal Ideation Suicide Warning Signs (Continued) • Risk taking behaviors • Complains more frequently of boredom • Does not respond as before to praise • Declining grades • Loss of interest in schoolwork • Not all of these warning signs will be present in cases of possible suicidal ideation. Just because one of these symptoms is present does not necessarily mean that a student is experiencing suicidal thoughts.
Suicidal Ideation Indications of a Suicide Plan • The following are things that may indicate someone is contemplating or planning suicide: • Making statements like…“I’m thinking of committing suicide” or “I want to kill myself” or “I wish I could die” • Using verbal hints such as: “I want you to know something, in case something happens to me” or “ I won’t trouble you anymore” • Giving away favorite belongings, or promising them to friends and family members • Throwing away important possessions • Showing signs of extreme cheerfulness following periods of depression • Creating suicide notes • Expressing bizarre or unsettling thoughts on occasion
Suicidal Ideation Seeking Help • Suicide warning signs are serious calls for help. Acknowledging these warning signs and seeking help for the problem can help prevent suicide. • School Employees who identify a student as expressing the desire to harm themselves or others are REQUIRED to IMMEDIATELYcontact the intervention counselor, counselor or administrator. • The student is to remain under adult supervision at all times. • If you can not reach a counselor please contact an administrator and they will notify the appropriate personnel.