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Reporting Child Abuse & Neglect. Policy Council Training Kenna Pruitt Family & Community Partnerships Manager.
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Reporting Child Abuse & Neglect Policy Council Training Kenna PruittFamily & Community Partnerships Manager
In Texas, anyone who suspects that a child is being abused or neglected has a legal obligation to report it. Professional reporters are required to report suspicion of abuse or neglect within 48 hours. • A Professional Reporter is anyone licensed or certified by the state or works for an agency or facility licensed or certified by the state and has contact with children as a result of their normal duties. By law, professionals may not delegate their duty to report to another person such as a coworker or family member. • Professional reporters include, but are not limited to: • Teachers • Nurses • Doctors • Daycare employees • Employees of a clinic or health care facility that provides reproductive services • Juvenile probation, detention or correctional officers • It is the responsibility of professionals to report and the responsibility of the Texas Department of Family and Protective Services to investigate allegations or suspicions of abuse or neglect.
SPCAA Reporting CA/N Policy • Staff must report suspected abuse within 48 hours. Staff can call (800) 252-5400 or the Secure Reporting Website: https://reportabuse.ws • The Family & Community Partnerships Manager serves as the designee for matters involving child abuse/neglect and is a primary contact for requests for information for CPS cases. • The only person staff are asked to notify about the report is the FCP Manager
Types of Abuse • Physical is a physical injury that results in substantial harm to the child, such as bruises, fractures, or death. It also can include a genuine threat of harm even if there is no visible injury. • Sexual 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. • Emotional 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.
Types of Neglect • Neglectful supervision means placing a child in a situation that requires judgment or actions beyond what the child is physically or mentally capable of doing and that results in bodily injury or a substantial risk of immediate harm to a child. • Medical neglect is failing to get or follow up with medical care for a child when the lack of care results in physical injury or in a marked impact on a child's growth, development, or functioning. • Physical neglect is the failure to provide a child with food, clothing, or shelter necessary to sustain the life or health of the child. Physical neglect can include a situation where the home environment presents a health or safety threat to children. • Abandonment and refusal to accept parental responsibility are two other categories of neglect. • Failing to protect a child from any situation described above also falls under the definitions of abuse and neglect.
In Texas • More than 4 children die from child abuse or neglect on average every week, 176 children are confirmed victims every day, and 7 children are abused or neglected every hour.
In Texas Person Reporting Abuse/Neglect: • School Professionals: 17.6% • Medical Professionals: 16.9% • Law Enforcement: 16% • Relatives: 11.7%
Texas • Leads the nation in child abuse fatalities • 212 children died due to Child Abuse and Neglect in 2012 • Child abuse fatalities increased 122% from 1997 to 2012.
In Texas Age groups of Confirmed Victims: • 15.2% are Under 1 • 24.8% are 1-3 Years • 21.0% are 4-6 Years • 15.4% are 7-9 Years • 12.1% are 10-12 Years • 13.0% are 13-17 Years
In Texas Type of Abuse: • Neglectful Supervision (66%) • Physical abuse (15.9%) • Sexual Abuse (8.0%) • Physical Neglect (6.3%) • Emotional Abuse (.6%) http://youtu.be/iRtfeGs5ogo