1. CHILD ABUSE AND NEGLECT
2015 Mandated Reporter Training

2. Definition: What is Child Abuse?
Harm or threatened harm
to a child’s health or safety by a person responsible for the child’s health and
safety.
Includes non-accidental physical abuse, neglect, sexual abuse or exploitation, or emotional abuse.
A child is any person under the age of 18.

3. Definitions: Child Abuse & Neglect
A person responsible for a child is defined
as one who is responsible for the child’s health
or safety, such as
Parents or legal guardians
Foster parents
A person 18 years of age or older with whom
the child is cohabiting
Any other adult residing in the home

4. Definition: Physical Abuse
Non-accidental physical injury to a child under the age of 18
Physical abuse can be more obvious than sexual abuse
or neglect but the abuse is often hidden under clothing.
Can be one time event or a pattern of behavior.
Can be an injury that doesn’t fit the explanation.
Delays in seeking medical attention should serve as
red flags.

5. Indicators: Physical Abuse
Consider the possibility of physical
abuse when the child exhibits:
unexplained bruises, especially in various stages of healing
welts, lacerations, or abrasions
burns, especially cigarette burns
patterned marks, such as belt or loop marks

6. Indicators: Physical Abuse
injuries on two or more places of the
child’s body such as the buttocks
and arms
cuts or punctures
bald spots
head injuries

7. Indicators: Physical Abuse
wears clothing inappropriate for the
weather to cover the body
limited verbal ability
limited self esteem
cognitive or intellectual deficits

8. Definition: Child Neglect
Failure or omission to provide
food, clothing, shelter, medical
care, supervision or special care
made necessary by the physical
or mental condition of a child.

9. Types of Maltreatment
There are six basic types of maltreatment recognized in Wisconsin’s laws:
Physical neglect
Physical abuse
Sexual abuse
Emotional abuse
Methamphetamine manufacture
Threatened abuse or neglect

10. Indicators: Child Neglect
Consider the possibility of neglect
when the child exhibits:
listlessness or apathy
consistent hunger
developmental delays
consistent lack of supervision
especially in dangerous activities
or for long periods of time

11. Indicators: Child Neglect
depression
frequent absences from school
language delays or disorders
low self esteem
poor social skills
a high incidence of juvenile delinquency
passivity tending toward helplessness
inappropriate dress for the weather

12. Types: Child Neglect Failure to Protect Inadequate Shelter
Lack of Supervision
Substance Abuse by Parent
Lack of Physical Care
Need of Medical Care
Inadequate Nutrition
Educational Neglect
Abandonment
Need Psychological Attention

13. Types: Sexual Abuse or Exploitation
Includes but not limited to:
Rape
Incest
Lewd or indecent acts/proposals
Allowing, permitting, or encouraging a child
to engage in prostitution or pornography.

14. Indicators: Sexual Abuse
Consider the possibility of sexual abuse
when the child has:
torn, stained or bloody underclothing
sexually transmitted diseases
inflammation, bruises, bite marks, pain
or itching in the genital area
frequent urinary infections

15. Definition: Emotional Abuse
Difficult to define.
Has not received as much focus as other forms of abuse.
Can occur alone but is most often found
in conjunction with other forms of abuse.
Impact on the child’s development.

16. Indicators: Emotional Abuse
Consider the possibility of emotional
abuse when the child exhibits:
eating disorders
inappropriate wetting or soiling
speech disorder or stuttering
attachment problems
reduced emotional responsiveness
habit disorders, such as head banging

17. Indicators: Emotional Abuse
poor peer relationships
behavioral extremes
poor self esteem
repeats negative comments
chronic academic underachievement
self destructive behavior, oblivious
to the hazards or risks

18. Methamphetamine Manufacture
The criminal manufacture of methamphetamines is defined as child abuse when it is done under any of the following circumstances:
1. A child is present 2. It is manufactured in a child’s home, on the premises of a child’s home, or in a motor vehicle on the premises of a child’s home.
3. It is manufactured under any other circumstances where a reasonable person should have known that the manufacture would be seen, smelled, or heard by a child

19. Threatened Abuse/Neglect
There is no statutory definition for the phrase “threatened with abuse or neglect”, so common sense definitions are applied. Threatened abuse and neglect” refers to behaviors or conditions the child is exposed to that are dangerous to the child and likely to result in abuse or neglect. Let’s say, for example a man is beating his wife while their toddler hangs on to her leg. If the child is injured, it is physical abuse. If the child is not injured, it is threatened abuse, as a reasonable person could predict such behavior could result in serious injury to the child. Threatened abuse or neglect also includes instance s when someone verbally threatens to injure a child, if you believe he or she is serious about carrying out the threat.

20. Who is Required to Report?
Mandated Reporters by Wisconsin Statutes [s (2)] are:
physician
Coroner
Medical examiner
Nurse
Dentist
Chiropractor
Optometrist
Acupuncturist
Any other medical or mental health professional
Social worker
Marriage and family therapist
Professional counselor
Public assistance worker
Financial and employment planner employed by a Wisconsin Works agency
Mediator providing family court services
Alcohol or other drug abuse counselor
School teacher
School administrator
School counselor
Any other school employee
Child care worker in a day care center
Day care provider
Child care worker in a group home or residential care center for children and youth
Treatment staff employed by/under contract with a county human/social services department or county mental health AODA
Treatment staff employed by/under contract with a county department providing mental health, AODA, or developmental disabilities services
Treatment staff of a residential care center for children and youth
Physical therapist
Physical therapist assistant
Occupational therapist
Dietitian
Speech-language pathologist
Audiologist
Emergency medical technician
First responder
Police or law enforcement officer
Court appointed special advocate
Member of the clergy

21. Reporting as Required by Law
Immediately” report, By phone or in person
To Child Protective Services (CPS)
Reporting is an individual responsibility.
If you report in good faith, by law you are
immune from prosecution.
No person is exempt from reporting.

22. Things to remember when Talking to a Child if you Suspect Abuse/Neglect
Talk to the child where others cannot overhear.
Try to make the child as comfortable as possible. Consider the child’s age and development and use words, phrases, and references that the child can understand
Avoid putting words in the child’s mouth: Ask only open-ended questions, such as “How did that happen?” Do not ask closed, leading questions, such as “Did your dad do that to you?” A child’s testimony might later be considered not trustworthy if the child was asked leading questions.
If the child chooses not to respond to your questions, don’t pressure.
Avoid asking the child too many questions. Remember, it is the responsibility of CPS and law enforcement systems to conduct interviews of the child; and multiple interviews can traumatize a child as well as have a negative impact on the CPS assessment or criminal investigation.
Answer any questions the child may ask of you honestly, keeping your answers appropriate to the child’s age and development.

23. Reporting Continued Penalty:
Persons required to report and who intentionally
fail to report suspected child abuse or neglect may be fined up to $1,000 or imprisoned for up to 6 months or both.
Persons who report in good faith are immune from civil or criminal liability.

24. Making a Report PROMPTLY call CPS in the county
where the abuse occurred or the
statewide 24 hour hotline.
Division of Milwaukee Child Protective Services
To report Child Abuse/Neglect: (414) 220-SAFE (7233)
After hours number: (414) 220-SAFE (7233)

25. Reporting: Related to Schools
CPS is responsible for notifying
the parents that a child was interviewed
regarding a child abuse investigation.
DO NOT delve into a child’s situation beyond
determining whether there is reason to believe
the child is being abused or neglected, or child
is in danger of being abused or neglected.

26. Confidentiality
Do professional codes of conduct regarding confidentiality prohibit professionals from reporting
child abuse and neglect?
Wisconsin Law is very clear.
The duty to report supersedes
professionals’ confidentiality codes
when there is reason to believe that
a child is abused or neglected.