Prevent Child Abuse Northwest District Contact Cindy Brown Student Services (office) (fax)

Prevent Child Abuse Northwest ISD is dedicated to the prevention of child abuse in the Northwest ISD community through awareness, education, and reporting.

Objectives of This Training To educate Northwest ISD employees on Texas child abuse and neglect laws. To educate Northwest ISD employees on how to recognize the signs and symptoms of child abuse and neglect. To provide Northwest ISD employees with the tools to report suspected child abuse and neglect.

TX Child Abuse & Neglect Laws The Texas Family Code (a) states: Any person who has cause to believe that a child’s physical or mental health or welfare has been adversely affected by abuse or neglect by any person shall immediately make a report as required by law. Any professional who has cause to believe that a child has been or may be abused or neglected shall make a report as required by law. The report must be made within 48 hours after the professional first suspects abuse or neglect.. The complete statute can be found at

TX Child Abuse & Neglect Laws This means anyone/everyone who thinks a child may be abused or neglected is required by law to report it to the Texas Department of Family and Protective Services (DFPS) Call the Child Abuse Hotline toll-free 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, nationwide. OR Make your report through a secure web site and you will receive a response within 24 hours Emergencies—If this is a life threatening or emergency situation, call your local law enforcement agency or 911 immediately reports of suspected abuse or neglect are not acceptable. You do not have to have proof— only a suspicion that a child is being abused or neglected. You can call to make an anonymous/confidential report.

What is Child Abuse & Neglect? Neglect- any serious disregard for a child’s supervision, care or discipline. Child abuse- a non-accidental injury or pattern of injuries to a child. Dependency- the child has no parent, guardian or custodian able to provide care and supervision.

Types of Child Neglect Improper Care Includes insufficient food, clothing, hygiene, education, parenting. Improper Supervision Children must be supervised based on their maturity and ability to be safe. The National SAFEKIDS Campaign recommends that no child under the age of 12 be left home alone.National SAFEKIDS Campaign Improper Discipline Physical discipline resulting in bruises or abrasions

Types of Child Neglect (continued) Abandonment Absent parent/caregiver who has not made arrangements for an alternate caregiver to provide for child’s essential needs. Lack of Necessary Medical Care or other Remedial Care Failure to seek needed treatment or failure to provide medicine for life-threatening conditions. Environment Injuries Safety problems such as exposed wiring, unsafe heating units, broken glass, fire hazards, rats, other vermin/pests, unsafe sleeping area, housekeeping practices that expose the child to possible disease, infections, or injuries. Parents engage in behaviors that endanger a child; child is put at risk of sexual abuse, physical abuse, or neglect by a caregiver’s relationship with another person.

Types of Child Abuse Physical- Examples of physical abuse include, but are not limited to: beating, harmful restraint, use of a weapon or instrument, or actions that result in or could result in serious physical injury. Sexual- Any sexual behavior imposed on a child. This involves a range of activities, including fondling the genital area, masturbation, oral sex, or vaginal or anal penetration by a finger, penis or other object. It includes exhibitionism, child pornography, and suggestive behaviors or comments. Emotional- serious emotional damage that creates severe anxiety, depression, withdrawal or aggressive behaviors. Moral Turpitude- caregivers involvement in criminal activity or immoral behavior that influences/forces the child to participate in that behavior; caregiver unwilling to attempt to correct child’s criminal or immoral behavior.

Identifying Child Abuse Abuse & neglect are usually a pattern of behaviors that can be observed over time. A child may not tell anyone. Children may “act out” to express their hurt & anger. Some children display no negative signs.

Child Abuse Following this slide you will see signs of possible abuse & neglect that will help you identify areas of concern. It is important to note that if you see any or all of the signs it does not necessarily mean a child is being abused. However, you should pay close attention, look for patterns, discuss it with your principal/supervisor, and if you think a child may be at risk you must report!

If you have concerns about a child or if a child tells you that they are being abused you must report immediately by calling or 911. DO NOT question the child or family about your suspicions as this may put the child in harms way. DFPS staff have been specifically trained to interview children and families in order to maximize their safety.

Signs of Possible Neglect Abandonment by a parent or caregiver Unattended medical needs Consistent lack of supervision Consistent hunger, inappropriate dress or poor hygiene Poor social skills Indiscriminate with affection Pale, listless, begs or steals food, frequently absent from school Falls asleep in class or regularly displays fatigue Self-destructive behaviors

Signs of Possible Physical Abuse Unexplained bruises in different stages of healing (especially bruises that are shaped like an instrument, i.e., belt, stick, electrical cord, etc.) Self-destructive behavior Welts, human bite marks, bald spots Unexplained burns (may look like a specific item, i.e., a glove or cigarette) Unexplained broken bones, cuts, scrapes, or other injuries Nervous, hyper-active, aggressive, disruptive and destructive behaviors Unusually wary of physical contact Unduly frightened of parent or caregiver Expresses little or no emotion when hurt Unusually shy, withdrawn, or passive

Signs of Possible Sexual Abuse Engages in sexual activity not appropriate for the child’s age Has a detailed and sophisticated understanding of sexual behavior Goes back to behaviors previously mastered like bed-wetting, thumb sucking, soiling pants Suffers sleep disturbances or nightmares Pain, itching, bruising, or bleeding in the private area Has a sexually transmitted disease Has frequent urinary tract or yeast infections

If you suspect Child Abuse or Neglect Call DFPS Hotline OR Report online at ORwww.txabusehotline.org Call 911 or local law enforcement for emergencies or life-threatening situations You do not have to have proof, only a reasonable cause to suspect that child abuse, neglect or dependency is present. Your call can be anonymous & confidential.

Making the Report. Provide as much information as possible – the more details available to DFPS the better able they are to fully assess the situation. You may not know all the information that DFPS asks for but remember they are working hard to make a comprehensive assessment. DFPS can accept an anonymous report and keeps reporter information confidential. However, often parents can figure out who made the report. Remember- your report helps to protect the child!

What to expect after the report. DFPS will determine if there is enough evidence to investigate. If there is enough evidence they will respond. The child may be interviewed at the school and/or home. Law Enforcement & DFPS often conducts interviews/investigations together. This keeps everyone safe and reduces the number of interviews needed. Depending on confidentiality guidelines DFPS may give feedback that indicates that you were right in making a referral and the agency will be working with the family.

Prevent Child Abuse Learn more about Child Abuse! Prevent Child Abuse Texas Prevent Child Abuse American Keep Kids Healthy Department of Family Protective Services Texas Attorney General Office Texas Council on Family Violence Child Welfare League of America

Prevent Child Abuse Northwest ISD Contact Info: Cindy Brown Student Services (office) (fax)