Virginia 4-H Camping Volunteer Training Modules

1. Virginia 4-H CampingVolunteer Training Modules MODULE 9: CHILD ABUSE AND NEGLECT Developed by Barry A. Garst, Ph.D., Assistant Professor and Extension Specialist 4-H Youth Development, March 2006

2. How to Use this Information • If you are a 4-H adult volunteer leader: • 1. Review the 4-H camp-related information contained in this presentation. • 2. Consider the “Discussion Questions” listed on the last page. • 3. Contact your local 4-H Extension Agent (or other person responsible for 4-H camping in your county/city) to review this information. • If you are a VCE faculty or staff member responsible for 4-H camping in your unit: • 1. Review the 4-H camp-related information contained in this presentation. • 2. Use this presentation to support your 4-H camp teen/adult volunteer leader training. • 3. Use the “Discussion Questions” listed on the last page as a resource in reviewing this information with your 4-H camp volunteers.

3. Overview • The 4-H Camp Environment • Neglect and Abuse • Types of Neglect and Abuse • Indicators of Child Maltreatment • What do you do when a child tells you that he/she has been abused?

4. Why do you think campers and teens sometimes disclose abuse at 4-H camp?

5. The 4-H Camp Environment • It is not uncommon for youth to disclose that they have been neglected and/or abused. Youth often perceive the 4-H camp environment as a safe place where they feel cared for and supported. This “caring environment” makes it easier for a camper or teen to disclose neglect or abuse.

6. The 4-H Camp Environment • Because 4-H camp volunteers (teens and adults) work so closely with 4-H youth campers, they may be the first to learn of such abuse or neglect. • Therefore, it is important that all 4-H camp volunteers are familiar with the types, indicators, and reporting process for neglect and child abuse.

7. Defining Child Maltreatment • Child maltreatment includes child abuse and neglect. • Child maltreatment is defined as, “any recent act or failure to act on the part of a parent or caretaker which results in death, serious physical or emotional harm, sexual abuse or exploitation, or an act or failure to act which presents an imminent risk of serious harm.”

8. Neglect • Characterized by a failure to provide for a child’s basic needs. Neglect can be physical, educational, or emotional. • Sometimes cultural values, standards of care in a particular community, and the poverty level in a community can contribute to neglect. • See handout, “What is Child Abuse and Neglect?” for more information.

9. Types of Neglect • Physical neglect- failure to provide food and shelter; lack of appropriate supervision • Medical neglect- failure to provide medical care or mental health treatment • Educational neglect- failure to educate a child or attend to special education needs • Emotional neglect- inattention to a child’s needs; failure to provide psychological care, permitting a child to use alcohol/drugs

10. Types of Abuse • Physical abuse • Characterized by the infliction of physical injury as a result of punching, beating, kicking, biting, burning, shaking, or otherwise harming a child. • The parent or caretaker may not have intended to hurt the child; rather, the injury may have resulted from over-discipline or physical punishment.

11. Types of Abuse • Sexual abuse • Includes fondling of child’ genitals, intercourse, incest, rape, sodomy, exhibitionism, and commercial exploitation through prostitution or the production of pornographic materials.

12. Types of Abuse • Emotional abuse • Includes acts or omissions by the parents or other caregivers that have caused, or could cause, serious behavioral, cognitive, emotional, or mental disorders. (See handout, “What is Child Maltreatment?” for more information)

13. Indicators of Child Maltreatment • There are many signs and symptoms that suggest the presence of abuse - but no single sign necessarily indicates abuse. • Some abused children present none of the following signs, while others exhibit a pattern or combination of symptoms and behaviors.

14. Indicators of Child MaltreatmentVirginia Department of Social Services • NEGLECT- Begging or stealing food, extended stays away from home, fatigue or frequently tardy from school. • PHYSICAL ABUSE- Questionable bruises, welts, burns, fractures, lacerations or abrasions. • SEXUAL ABUSE- Difficulty in walking; torn, stained or bloody clothing; bleeding or bruises in external genitalia, vaginal or anal area. • EMOTIONAL ABUSE- Habits disorders, destructive, sleep disorders, behavior extremes or self-destructive.

15. What do volunteers do when a 4-H camper discloses maltreatment? • Suspicion is defined as “reasonable cause to believe that an individual has been abused or neglected.” Your suspicion may be triggered because a child discloses the abuse to you. • A child who tells you that he/she has been abused is probably feeling scared, guilty, ashamed, angry and/or powerless. They are turning to you for help.

16. What do volunteers do when a 4-H camper discloses maltreatment? • Though you may feel a sense of outrage, disgust, sadness, anger or disbelief, it is important to remain calm and in control of your feelings. • You must handle this disclosure with sensitivity. • Be understanding and reassure the child that something will be done to keep him/her safe.

17. What do volunteers do when a 4-H camper discloses maltreatment? • Do not panic, do not criticize anyone involved, and remain objective. • Respect the privacy of all those involved.

18. What do volunteers do when a 4-H camper discloses maltreatment? • Report the suspicion of child abuse to your 4-H Extension Agent, the H Center Program Director, or 4-H Center Director. • You may need to separate the individuals who are involved (if both are 4-H camp participants).

19. What will happen next? • For a county/city-based camp, the unit Extension faculty/staff in charge of the 4-H camp will take the following actions: • Conduct discussions with those involved, those making the allegations or accusations, and those against whom the allegations or accusations are made (if appropriate), and document in writing their account of the alleged incident. They will always have a witness present. • If the allegation develops into a suspicion, then the Extension faculty/staff person will call Child Protective Services or the Department of Social Services

20. What will happen next? • For Junior 4-H camp conducted at a 4-H Center, the unit Extension faculty/staff in charge of the 4-H camp and the 4-H Center Program Director will meet to make each other aware of the suspicion of child abuse and to determine who will call Child Protective Services or the Department of Social Services. Then the following actions will be taken: • Interview individuals involved, those making the allegations or accusations, and those against whom the allegations or accusations are made (if appropriate), and document in writing their account of the alleged incident. They will always have a witness present. • If the allegation develops into a suspicion, then the identified person will call Child Protective Services or the Department of Social Services.

21. It is not your responsibility to determine whether or not a child is telling the truth!!! • Determining whether or not a 4-H camp participant is telling the truth is not the responsibility of paid and volunteer staff. • Any suspicion must be reported!

22. State Law on Reporting • According to Virginia law (Section 63.1-248.et.seq.), “any representative in a professional capacity involving the education or care of children who has reason to suspect that a minor is an abused or neglected child, shall report the matter immediately to the local Social Services Department of the county or city wherein the child resides or wherein the abuse or neglect is believed to have occurred”

23. Information to Have When Calling Child Protective Services • Call with whatever information you have, no matter how basic. If possible, try to have the following information: • Names (including family members), • Ages, • Grade level, • Phone number, • Address, • Emergency contact numbers, and • Other information about the family.

24. Information to Have When Calling Child Protective Services • Share any and all information known about the family even if you are not sure whether it is relevant (for example: grandparents recently moved in with them; a parent is unemployed; there are other adults in the home; there are special medical conditions in the family, etc).

25. Criteria for Child Maltreatment • The Department of Social Services will use the following criteria in determining if a complaint is valid. • the child must be under the age of 18 at the time of the complaint. • the alleged abuser must be the child’s parent or caretaker. • the report must be made in the city or county where the child lives, where the abuse occurred, or, if neither of these is known, where the abuse is discovered. • the circumstances must meet the state definition of abuse and neglect.

26. Discussion Questions • What are the different types of neglect? • What are the different types of child abuse? • What is your role in reporting child maltreatment? What is the role of your 4-H Extension Agent (or other person responsible for your county/city 4-H camping program) in reporting child maltreatment?

27. Discussion Questions • What is the first thing that you would do if a child reported that he/she was abused? • What do you think is the most important thing that should be remembered from this module?

28. References • Garst, B.A. (2005). Virginia 4-H Camping Handbook. Virginia Cooperative Extension. Publication 388-562. • National Clearinghouse on Child Abuse and Neglect Information (2004). What is Child Abuse and Neglect? U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. • Virginia Cooperative Extension. (2004). Risk Management Information. Retrieved on March 19, 2004 from http://www.ext.vt.edu/vce/policies/riskmgt.html