1. EDUCATORS & CHILD ABUSE: LET’S GET REAL
Cyndi Watson
Tuffree Middle School
Placentia Yorba Linda USD
(714) x7606
I teach 7th grade health, Physical Education, and Peer Assistant leadership. I have been teaching for 28 years now in Orange Co. and live in Monrovia. This is a great conference for me

2. How much do you know about child abuse and reporting child abuse?
When I went to a child abuse workshop in Orange county, I had to take a brief test of my knowledge about c.a. So, I thought, why not have you take it also. Don’t worry, no grading, as a matter of fact the answers will be circled.

3. Did you know that the Child Abuse Law is based on the Animal Protection Law?

4. The first child was removed from his home in 1865 based on the Animal Protection Law. Child Abuse Laws did not exist until the 20th Century

5. Under the Child Abuse and Neglect Reporting Act, a mandated reporter is required to report suspected abuse to:
His or her employer or supervisor
Local child protective authorities
The child’s parents
The California Department of Justice 

6. “Negligent failure of a person having the care or custody of a child to protect the child from severe malnutrition or failure to thrive” is a definition of:
General neglect
Unintentional neglect
Aggravated neglect
Severe neglect 

7. A person who knowingly develops, duplicated, prints, or exchanges a photograph of a child engaged in a sex act is guilty of:
Sexual assault
Statutory rape
Lewd acts upon a child
Sexual exploitation 

8. After observing suspected child abuse or neglect, a mandated reporter must call a child protective agency:
Within 36 hours
Within 24 hours
Immediately or as soon as possible
The law doesn’t specify when the mandated reporter must report 

9. Suspected cases of severe emotional abuse that constitutes willful cruelty or unjustifiable punishment of a child must be reported. 
True
False

10. A person who fails to make a required report may be punished by up to six months in jail and/or up to a $1,000 fine. 
True
False

11. Which of the following does not describe a typical location of an injury resulting from abuse?
Injuries to several different parts of the body
Injuries to the back surface of a child’s body from neck to knees
Injuries to the shins, elbows, knees, or forehead
Injuries to the face 

12. Socio-economic status, religion, education, and ethnic background are good indicators of whether a parent might commit child abuse.
True
False 

13. An extremely filthy home should put you on the alert for signs of child abuse.
True
False

14. You can often tell by the type and location of a child’s injury whether it was caused by an accident or by physical abuse.
True
False 

15. In a case of emotional abuse, cumulative documentation over time may be necessary before a child protective agency can intervene. 
True
False

16. A child that recants a disclosure of abuse was probably never abused.
True
False 

17. A written report must be filed on:
Your employer’s letterhead
A Department of Justice form
A Department of Child Welfare form
Any type of paper 

18. Which of the following is not a circumstance where the identity of a mandated reporter may be disclosed?
To the child’s parent or guardian
Between child protective agencies
To the district attorney in a criminal prosecution
By court order 

19. Law enforcement agencies and child protective agencies are required to cross-report reports of abuse:
Within 48 hours
Within 36 hours
Within 24 hours
Immediately, or as soon as possible 

20. After investigating a report of child abuse, the investigating agency provides feedback about the result of the investigation, and any action the agency is taking, to:
The child’s parent or guardian
The employer of the mandated reporter
The mandated reporter
All of the above 

21. A mandated reporter should report child abuse only if they have investigated the abuse fully and have absolute proof that it occurred.
True
False 
Love this reporter!!

22. To guarantee confidentiality, mandated reporters are not required to give their names when reporting suspected abuse. 
True
False

23. Violating the confidentiality of the contents of a report is punishable by up to 6 months in county jail, or by a fine of $500, or both.
True
False 

24. At the same time a child welfare department forwards a report to the CACI, it also must notify, in writing, the known or suspected abuser that he or she has been reported to the CACI. 
True
False

25. STATISTICS

26. National Statistics
                                                                          
903,000 cases were reported in 2001

27. California Statistics
243,312 cases were reported in 2000

28. 2001 US Abuse Statistics 59.2% - Neglect 18.6% - Physical abuse
9.6% - Sexual abuse
6.8% - Emotional abuse
5.8% - Other

29. More than 2.67 million reports of possible maltreatment involving 3 million children were made to child protective service agencies in calendar year 2001

30. Gender Statistics
Girls – 51%
Boys – 49%

31. Ethnicity Statistics Anglo – 52% African American - 25%
Hispanic – 14.5%
American Indian/Alaska Natives – 2.0%
Asian/Pacific – 1.3%

32. Other Statistics 50% of child abuse cases are age 7 or younger
25% of child abuse cases are younger than 4 years old
Every day 3 children are murdered by a parent or caretaker

33. Child Abuse is reported on average every 10 seconds

34. Nine in 10 Americans polled regard child abuse as a serious problem, yet only 1 in 3 reported abuse when confronted with an actual situation

35. Who are the Abusers?
In the US, 80% - 90% of the abusers are family members or close friends of the family

36. TEACHING THE MIDDLE SCHOOL CHILD ABOUT ABUSE
Now, why teach the middle school child about abuse, well it’s in our books and we are told too, but shouldn’t we be teaching it out of advocacy for the child. How can we teach the adolescent about it without alarming them or opening a can of worms?

37. Teaching the Middle School Child about Abuse
Definition
Reasons
Signs & Symptoms
Ways to Prevent
How to get Help
Statistics
7 Basic Rights
Websites
Pamphlet
What I do, I start with a open conversation about the fact that we need to teach this and that if anyone is bothered by it, let me know. I try to make it fun, interesting and non-threatening.What is up here, is basically what I cover. I have included some basic information on the following slides as to what I tell the kids.

38. CHILD ABUSE PAMPHLET

39. Child Abuse Pamphlet

48. IDENTIFYING ABUSED CHILDREN

49. Look into the Future Through the Eyes of a Child

50. Identifying Abused Children

51. The actual incidents of abuse and neglect are estimated to be 3 times greater than the number reported to authorities.

52. Reasons Why Kids Don’t Tell
They are afraid they’ll be taken away
They feel responsible
They fear disbelief from adults
They are taught not to tattle

53. Reasons Why Kids Don’t Tell
They are taught to be respectful of adults
They resist talking about “nasty” things
They are unaware it is wrong
They believe threats from the offender

54. POTENTIAL EFFECTS OF CHILD ABUSE

55. Potential Effects of Child Abuse
Effects in the Classroom
Short-term Effects
Long-term Effects
Generational Effects

56. Reporting Requirements
Who is responsible to report?
What are the immediate reporting requirements?
Anonymity and disclosure

57. Reporting Requirements
Who do you notify?
Reporting versus “investigating”
Confidentiality

58. As child advocates, it is our responsibility not only to teach, but to protect the children

59. Each incident of child abuse is a tragedy
Each incident of child abuse is a tragedy. No civilized society can overlook the maltreatment of children without losing some of its soul. As an educator, you are in a unique position to assist abused children.