1. Mandatory Reporting and You
Understanding Mandatory Reporting and Recognizing Abuse and Neglect: Laws, Definitions, and Procedures

2. What is Mandatory Reporting ?
Mandatory Reporting is the lawful requirement for certain professionals, caretakers and child care professionals to report suspected abuse or neglect to the authorities.

3. Who is a Mandatory Reporter?
Teachers and school employees, doctors and nurses, social workers, probation officers, police officers, private care givers, anyone who provides full or part time child care for pay.
Any person over 18 who has received training approved by VDSS to recognize abuse or neglect
YOU ARE!

4. To Whom Do You Report? Virginia Department of Social Services
Child Protective Services Division (CPS)
Child Abuse and Neglect Hotline
1(800) (Toll Free)
1(804) (Virginia)
Reports are generally of suspicion of maltreatment. Proof is not required.
It is the job of CPS to investigate and find proof or not.

5. What are you Reporting Child Abuse Child Neglect
Abuse or Neglect toward a child by a person caring for that child.
Parent, other family member, teacher, coach, caretaker, nanny, babysitter, etc.

6. Child Abuse/Neglect IS…
Section of the Code of Virginia defines an abused or neglected child as any child under 18 whose parent or other person responsible for the child’s care:
Causes or threatens to cause a nonaccidental physical or mental injury
Neglects or refuses to provide adequate food, clothing, shelter, emotional nurturing or health care

7. Child Abuse/Neglect IS…
Abandons the child
Fails to develop adequate supervision in relation to the child’s age and development level
Commits or allows to be committed any illegal sexual act upon a child including, incest, rape, fondling, indecent exposure, and prostitution or allows a child to be photographed in sexually explicit material
Knowingly leaves child in care of a nonrelated adult who has been convicted of an offense against a minor

8. Situations Outside the Scope of Child Abuse/Neglect
Education Neglect (handled by school system)
Failure to provide immunizations and or preventative care
Failure to use safety belts
Non caretaker sexual abuse (handled by Police)
Abuse that did not occur in VA*
Poverty

9. Signs of Physical Abuse
Physical Indicators
Unexplained bruises on face, torso, thighs, buttocks
Multiple injuries in various stages of healing
Bruises or welts resembling instruments, belt, cord, etc.
Injuries regularly appearing after absence
Behavioral Indicators
Reports injury by caretaker
Uncomfortable with physical contact
Complains of soreness
Wears clothing inappropriate for season (Covers up in summer)
Afraid to go home
Behavior extremes (withdrawn, aggressive)

10. Signs of Physical Neglect
Physical Indicators
Consistent hunger, poor hygiene
Unattended physical problems or medical needs
Consistent lack of supervision
Abandonment
Behavioral Indicators
Reports no caretaker at home
Begs or steals food
Constant fatigue, listlessness, or falling asleep in class
Shunned by peers

11. Signs of Sexual Abuse Physical Indicators Behavioral Indicators STDs
Pregnancy
Difficulty walking or sitting
Pain or itching in genital area
Torn stained or bloody underclothing
Bruises or bleeding in external genitalia
Behavioral Indicators
Reports sexual abuse
Highly sexualized play
Detailed age inappropriate understand of sexual behavior
Role reversal, overly concerned for siblings
Excessive seductiveness
Sudden noticeable behavior change

12. Signs of Emotional Maltreatment
Physical Indicators
Speech disorders
Delayed physical development
Learning problems
Behavioral Indicators
Habit disorders (sucking, biting, rocking, in older child)
Antisocial, destructive
Passive and aggressive behavior extremes
Appears to derive pleasure form hurting others or animals

13. Notes on Signs of Abuse & Neglect
A combination or pattern of indicators should alert you to the possibility of maltreatment, abuse and/or neglect. Indicators should be considered together with the explanation provided, the child’s developmental and physical capabilities, and behavior changes.
In other words: Take it case by case, children will exhibit different signs and no one definition or indicator will be the same in all children.

14. How YOU Will Report
At the MCC we take the issue of child abuse and neglect very seriously.
If you suspect a child in any of our programs has experienced child abuse or neglect, tell Ryan, Ashley, or Mike immediately.
We will go through the reporting process together and see it through to the end.

15. Training Website