1. What is Child Abuse & Neglect?
Abuse is mental, emotional, physical, or sexual injury to a child
Neglect:
Neglect of a child includes (1) failure to provide a child with food, clothing, shelter and/or medical care; and/or (2) leaving a child in a situation where the child is at risk of harm

2. Types of Child Neglect Neglectful supervision
Includes 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.
The National SAFEKIDS Campaign recommends that no child under the age of 12 be left home alone.
Medical neglect
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.

3. Types of Child Neglect (continued)
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

4. Types of Child Abuse Physical Abuse Sexual Abuse Emotional Abuse
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 Abuse
Sexual conduct harmful to a child's mental, emotional, or physical welfare. Any sexual act between an adult and a minor, or between two minors, when one exerts power over the other. This includes fondling a child’s genitals, penetration, indecent exposure, and exploitation through prostitution or producing pornography. It also includes non-contact acts such as exhibitionism, exposure to pornography, voyeurism and communicating in a sexual manner by phone or Internet.
Emotional Abuse
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. Caregivers involvement in criminal activity or immoral behavior that influences/forces the child to participate in that behavior is also considered emotional abuse.

5. 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 and anger.
Some children display no negative signs.

6. 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
Pale, listless, begs or steals food, frequently absent from school
Falls asleep in class or regularly displays fatigue
Self-destructive behaviors

7. 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., an iron 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

8. 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
Abnormal discharge

9. Signs of Possible Emotional Abuse
Overcome compliance
Low self-esteem
Severe depression, anxiety, or aggression
Difficulty making friends or doing things with other children
Lagging in physical, emotional, and intellectual development
Caregiver who belittles the child, withholds love, and seems unconcerned about the child’s problems

10. The Greatest Risk to Children Doesn’t Come from Strangers
90% of children who are sexually abused know their abuser.
30% are abused by family members.
60% are abused by people the family trusts. Those who abuse gain access to the child in a school, church, sports club, etc. and often move into a position of trust within the family.
Only about 10% are abused by strangers.
40% are abused by older or larger youth, like babysitters or cousins.

11. Child Abuse
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!

12. Texas Family Code: Persons Required To report; Time To Report.
A person having 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 provided by this subchapter.
“Professional” means an individual who is licensed or certified by the state and in the normal course of official duties has direct contact with children. The term includes teachers, nurses, doctors, day-care employees, employees of a clinic or health care facility….
The professional shall make a report not later than the 48th hour after the hour the professional first suspects that the child has been or may be abuse or neglected or is a victim of an offense under Penal Code.
A professional may not delegate to or rely on another person to make the report.
**TEXAS IMPOSES A BROAD DUTY TO REPORT CHILD ABUSE OR NEGLECT ON ALL CITIZENS**

13. Contents of a Report The person making the report shall identify, if
known the following information:
The name and address of the child;
The name and address of the person responsible for the care, custody, or welfare of the child; and
Any other pertinent information concerning the alleged or suspected abuse or neglect

14. Consequences of not reporting suspected child abuse/neglect
You
May be placing a child at risk of continued
abuse/neglect
Are violating the law and may be subject to legal
penalties, including criminal sanctions;
Class A Misdemeanor
Arrested
Are violating Board policy FFG Legal, subject to disciplinary action, including possible termination;
Your certification may be suspended, revoked, or cancelled by the State Board of Educator Certification

15. Principal, counselor and two teachers charged with failing to notice child abuse and neglect POSTED 10:56 AM, MAY 26, 2017, BY BOB BRENZING, UPDATED AT 11:15AM, MAY 26, 2017
ST. JOSEPH, Mich. – The Berrien County Prosecutor is charging four educators for failing to report the abuse of a child in 2015 and Michael Sepic made the announcement Friday morning. The case stems from a case where a 12-year-old boy was found August 11, 2016 near some railroad tracks in Galien Township. The boy had run away from home and weighed 47 pounds. He was found to also be bruised, dehydrated, and to have suffered injuries of a cut lip and cigarette burns. The boy was exceptionally skinny and each rib could be seen. The boy told police that his father and step-mother had kept him from eating and he ran away because he “was tired being treated like a dog and he didn’t think he would reach his 13th birthday.” The boy’s father and step-mother, Aaron and Alicia Zemke were arrested and charged with child abuse and other charges. They pleaded “no contest” and are now serving sentences of between 20 and 80 years. Through the investigation, the prosecutor determined that school personnel at Three Oaks Elementary allegedly had noticed the boy’s condition and not filed reports to the Department of Health and Human Services or police. The prosecutor alleges the four should have noticed things like the boy’s weight, his aggressive behavior in obtaining food and his physical well-being over time. Heidi Clark, the principal, Matt Cook, the guidance counselor, Diane Balling, a special education teacher and Sherrie Bender, a teacher, have all been charged with two counts of Failing to Report Suspected Child Abuse or Neglect. One count is for instances in 2015 and the other for instances in Each count is a 93 day misdemeanor. The four will next be in court during the week of June 5.

17. DO NOT Try to determine if the abuse really happened.
Have the victim repeat to others what happened.
Tell the family members that you will investigate.
Question the witnesses.

18. Procedures
Any employee who suspects Child Abuse or Neglect to which an outcry is made completes Alleged Child Abuse or Neglect Reporting Form. Employee must contact CPS Hotline ( ) as soon as possible but within 48 hours and documents case number. If report is made online ( employee downloads confirmation page.
Employee records case number/report number on Alleged Child Abuse or Neglect Reporting Form and immediately provides copy of form to Principal/Supervisor. (If report is made online, employee must attach a copy of CPS confirmation page to Alleged Child Abuse or Neglect Reporting Form.) Texas Family Code CH
Principal/Supervisor contacts Director of Employee Relations/Human Resources/Asst. Superintendent to confirm their receipt of Alleged Child Abuse Reporting form. Principal/Supervisor maintains documents / case number assigned by CPS.

19. Procedures (continued)
Any employee who suspects child abuse / neglect or to whom an outcry is made must complete the form: Alleged Child Abuse or Neglect Reporting Form.
For forms, select Child Abuse and Neglect Procedures
(continued)

20. REMEMBER
Person reporting does not need to be certain that child is being abused or neglected, only to have a reason for believing.
Concerned citizens should not try to investigate or intervene in the suspected abuse themselves – REPORT!!!
Any time a child discloses abuse to an adult, the adult has reason to make a report.

21. Sexual Abuse Prevention Training
Visit Darkness to Light for Sexual Abuse Prevention Training at
Recognition of Maltreatment of Children and Child Abuse Reporting Training at