CCEI112A: Child Abuse: Signs of Abuse and Reporting ...

1 CCEI112A: Child Abuse : Signs of Abuse and Reporting Requirements for Early Childhood Professionals Handout Welcome to CCEI112A Child care professionals sometimes find themselves on the "front lines" in the fight against Child Abuse and neglect. That is because, aside from parents or guardians, Child care professionals are likely to spend more time with children than anyone else. As a result, they are often in a position to identify possible Signs of Abuse and neglect. Aside from moral obligations, Child care professionals are often legally required to report possible Signs to proper authorities. Objectives: By taking notes on the handout and successfully answering assessment questions, participants will meet the following objectives as a result of taking this course: Define the term mandated reporter Identify Signs of potential physical Abuse Differentiate between various forms of emotional Abuse Identify the basic characteristics of sexual Abuse Define major types and identify indicators of Child neglect Define battered Child syndrome Identify common behaviors of abusive parents Identify proper procedures and practices for effective documentation and Reporting of Child Abuse References: 1.

2 American Academy of Pediatrics, American Public Health Association, & National Resource Center for Health and Safety in Child Care and Early Education. (2019). Caring for Our Children: National Health and Safety Performance Standards Guidelines for Early Care and Education Programs, 4th edition. Retrieved from 2. Child Welfare Information Gateway. ( ). How to Report Child Abuse and Neglect. Department of Health & Human Services. Retrieved from 3. Cole, P. (2013). To Prevent Child Abuse , Strengthen Families. Zero to Three. Retrieved from 4. Feeney, S., Moravcik, E., & Nolte, S. (2018). Who Am I in the Lives of Children? An Introduction to Early Childhood Education, 11th edition. Merrill Publishing.

3 5. Herr, J. (2020). Working with Young Children, 9th edition. Goodheart-Willcox. 6. MedlinePlus. (2021). Child Abuse . National Library of Medicine. 7. National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC). (2011). Code of Ethical Conduct and Statement of Commitment. Retrieved from 8. Prevent Child Abuse America. ( ). Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs). Retrieved from 1 of 199. Smith, M., Robinson, L., & Segal, J. (2020). " Child Abuse and Neglect." Retrieved from 10. Zero to Three. (2021). Child Welfare. Retrieved from Child Abuse is defined as: Child neglect is defined as: Child Abuse Prevention in the United States Let s go over some statistics from the Department of Health and Human Services, starting with these two stunning facts: A report of Child Abuse is made every _____ seconds.

4 Almost ___ children die every day as a result of Child Abuse . More than _____ out of _____ are under the age of four. A Brief History of Child Abuse Laws Important Fact By 1968, all 50 states required the Reporting of Child Abuse to Child protection agencies. _____, was passed on January 31, 1974. This act provided funding for Child Abuse recognition and prevention programs. What are the responsibilities of a mandated reporter? The following professionals are considered mandated reporters: 2 of 19 Basic Rules and Requirements 1. What type of information should be reported? 2. What is the local Reporting agency, and how does someone contact them? 3. What happens if a caregiver fails to report suspected Abuse or neglect?

5 4. Will the Child s parent(s) and/or other caregiver(s) find out who reported them? What if the reporter is wrong? Daily Visual Health Check and Documentation Visual Health Check: Documenting Injuries Sustained in Child Care Injury Report: The injury report serves three important purposes: 1. 2. 3 of 193. Types of Child Abuse Physical Abuse Physical Abuse is: Physical Abuse includes: 1. 2. 3. 4. Behavioral indicators of physical Abuse include: 4 of 19 Emotional indicators of physical Abuse include: Emotional Abuse Emotional Abuse is: The five main types of emotional Abuse are: 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. Physical indicators of emotional Abuse include: Behavioral indicators of emotional Abuse include: 5 of 19 Sexual Abuse Sexual Abuse is defined as: Sexual exploitation is: Physical indicators of sexual Abuse include: Behavioral indicators of sexual Abuse include: 6 of 19 Neglect Neglect is defined as: Physical Neglect Physical neglect accounts for the majority of cases of Child Abuse .

6 It includes: Emotional Neglect Emotional neglect is a failure to provide the affection and support necessary for the development and well-being of a Child . It can include: Educational Neglect Medical Neglect 7 of 19 Behavioral indicators of neglected children include: Physical indicators of neglect include: Battered Child Syndrome: The Signs of battered Child syndrome include: Indicators from Abusive Parents Behaviors and actions by parents may indicate Abuse in cases of: Physical Abuse : 8 of 19 Emotional Abuse : Sexual Abuse : Neglect: Taking Action So, what exactly should a caregiver do if they have reason to believe that a Child is suffering from Abuse ?

7 1. 2. 3. 4. 9 of 195. 6. Documentation and Helpful Tips Try This! Children s Health Journal As a teacher, it is always a good idea to keep a classroom journal to jot down good ideas as well as notes about activities that did or did not work. It is also a good idea to keep a separate journal to record notes about behavioral or physical changes in individual children. Rather than calling it an " Abuse journal," the teacher can call it their "Children s Health Journal." In the journal they should record date, time, and a brief description for each of the following: Unusual behaviors or emotional changes. Physical Signs or symptoms that seem out of the ordinary. Unusual actions or behaviors by parents.

8 The names of other adults who witnessed the event or noticed the Child s symptoms. Important Fact Good documentation is based on facts, not just the feelings of the teacher. Facts are real events or observations. Try This! Hotline Keep the number to the Child Abuse hotline near the phone in your room or center. Most states have 800 number hotlines to facilitate fast Reporting of possible Child Abuse . There are national hotlines, as well, such as the Childhelp National Abuse Hotline, which is 1 800 4 A Child . Try This! Practice Reports Most state Child protection agencies have official forms for Reporting Child Abuse cases. Get a copy of a blank form and read over it thoroughly so you know exactly what kind of information investigators will need.

9 Knowing how to fill out the report will help ensure that you file an effective, thorough report should you ever need to do so. Also, you can practice calling to report Abuse with a coworker or friend. This is an unpleasant topic and is very hard to talk about sometimes. Practice a phone call or two to be more comfortable when Reporting suspected Abuse . Internet Resources Zero To Three is the website of the National Center for Infants, Toddlers, and Families. It provides valuable resources on a wide range of early childhood topics including maltreatment. Prevent Child Abuse America has facts and information for parents and kids. Childhelp has information about which local agency you should report Abuse to.

10 Remember 10 of 19A caregiver might be the one that helps a Child out of an abusive situation. Their actions will serve the best interests of the Child and may save a life. 11 of 19 Children s Bureau/ACYF/ | Email: | Is Child Abuse and Neglect? Recognizing the Signs and SymptomsThe first step in helping children who have been abused or neglected is learning to recognize the Signs of maltreatment. The presence of a single sign does not necessarily mean that Child maltreatment is occurring in a family, but a closer look at the situation may be warranted when these Signs appear repeatedly or in combination. This factsheet is intended to help you better understand the Federal definition of Child Abuse and neglect; learn about the different types of Abuse and neglect, including human trafficking; and recognize their Signs and symptoms.