1. Recognizing Child Abuse and Neglect…and What to Do About It
CASA of Union County

2. What is Child Abuse and Neglect
A child who is under the age of 18 is considered to be abused or neglected when a parent or caregiver:
Inflicts or allows to be inflicted physical injury other than accidental means that creates substantial harm or risk of substantial harm
Fails to provide proper supervision or adequate food, clothing, shelter, education or medical care although financially able or assisted to do so
Commits or allows to be committed an act of sexual abuse against a child

3. In NJ: Reports to Child Abuse / Neglect Hotline
Approximately 70,000 referrals are received each year, which include:
Reports of child abuse and neglect
Requests for child welfare services
Requests for information and referral
Approximately 50,000 referrals result in child abuse or neglect investigations
About 10% of investigated cases are substantiated

4. Child Abuse / Neglect Hotline
The Department of Children and Families’ (DCF) Child Abuse / Neglect Hotline, also known as the State Central Registry (SCR), operates 24 hours a day, 7 days a week to receive reports
1-877-NJ-ABUSE
Reports of suspected child abuse and neglect and requests for child welfare services are screened
All calls are recorded for quality assurance purposes
All reports of child abuse and neglect are investigated within 24 hours

5. How Do I Make Report?
All reports of child abuse should be made immediately by YOU by calling NJ-ABUSE ( )
Some agency policies require that the person reporting the alleged abuse and / or neglect shall inform a supervisor that a report has been made to DCPP
However, the supervisor need not be given notice if the reported feels it may endanger the reporter or child
Make sure you are familiar with your agency’s policies

6. Call 1-877-NJ-ABUSE If There is Reasonable Belief of Risk to a Child
You do not need to investigate the situation before calling
You do not need proof
Call as soon as possible when:
You see signs of abuse or neglect
A child tells you of abuse or neglect
You witness abuse or neglect
A parent or other individual tells you about abuse
Call early in the day: The investigator will have time to plan a response and may be able to see the child at school
Be supportive of the child

7. What Are My Obligations to Report Child Abuse / Neglect?
By state laws (N.J.S.A. 9:6-8.10), any person having reasonable cause to believe that a child has been abused or neglected is required to notify the Division Child Protection and Permanency (DCPP)
By law (N.J.S.A. 9:6-8.13), you are protected from civil or criminal liability, discharge from employment and discrimination, if you make a report “in good faith”

8. YOU SHOULD KNOW:
Names of reporters of child abuse and neglect are confidential
However, in the event of court action, their identities may be revealed during litigation
Calls can be made anonymously, but
The investigator may need to clarify information with the reporter or have additional questions
Reporters may be entitled to feedback, under certain circumstances (e.g., reporters can be informed whether the services will be provided to the family or child involved)

9. Just Give Us the Facts Details Make a Difference – If You Know
Who - Identify the people involved - the child, the alleged perpetrator, the perpetrator’s relationship to the child; parents, siblings, others in the home; dates of birth, addresses
What - What type of abuse/neglect is suspected? Describe the incident. What happened that caused your concern? What is the child’s current condition?
Where – Where did the incident take place? Where is the child now? Does the alleged perpetrator have access to the child now?

10. Just the Facts
When – When did the incident happen? What is the frequency of the abuse/neglect? When did you learn about it?
How – How urgent is the need for intervention? Is there a likelihood of danger for the caseworker?
Agency personnel should also let DCPP know when and how the child will be released from program to ensure the child’s safety

11. What if I Suspect Abuse and DO NOT Report it?
Knowingly not reporting abuse or neglect can have devastating consequences on a child and legal consequences on YOU
Any person who knowingly fails to report suspected abuse according to the law is a disorderly person and subject to a fine up to $1,000, up to 6 months in prison, or BOTH

12. What Happens After the Report?
SCR determines case direction
A. CPS – Investigation immediate or 24 hours
B. CWS – May stay in local office
CPS investigations must be completed within 60 days. At completion, another decision is made: whether to close or transfer to permanency
CWS services are completely voluntary

13. Purpose of Investigation
Asses safety, take action to ensure immediate safety
Determine harm to child
Assess risk of future harm to child
Determine finding
Assess service needs, begin intervention
Assess both parent and child strengths and needs for transfer cases

14. Purpose of a Child Welfare Assessment
In conjunction with CPS or individual referral, a child welfare assessment includes addressing
Concerns about child/family’s abilities, functioning, resources
How lack of ability/functioning or resources could affect child’s growth, development and overall well-being

15. Investigation Findings
Unfounded: used for allegations that are completely untrue and no abuse occurred
Not Established: used for when an incident occurred but may not have risen to abuse/neglect and no conclusive proof was found
Established: there is a preponderance of evidence to support the allegation that a child has been abused or neglected by a parent or caregiver but the acts committed or omitted do not warrant a finding of substantiation upon consideration of aggravating and mitigating factors.
Substantiated: there is a preponderance of evidence to support the allegation that a child has been abused or neglected by a parent or caregiver

16. Aggravating Factors Mitigating Factors
Institutional abuse or neglect;
The perpetrator's failure to comply with court orders or clearly established or agreed-upon conditions designed to ensure the child’s safety, such as a child safety plan or case plan;
The tender age, delayed developmental status or other vulnerability of the child;
Any significant or lasting physical, psychological, or emotional impact on the child;
An attempt to inflict any significant or lasting physical, psychological, or emotional harm on the child;
Evidence suggesting a repetition or pattern of abuse or neglect;
The child’s safety requires separation of the child from the perpetrator.
Remedial action taken by the alleged perpetrator before the investigation was concluded;
Extraordinary, situational, or temporary stressors that caused the parent or guardian to act in an uncharacteristic abusive or neglectful manner;
The isolated or aberrational nature of the abuse or neglect; and
The limited, minor , or negligible physical, psychological, or emotional impact of the abuse or neglect on the child.

17. Absolutely Substantiating Circumstances
The death or near death of a child as a result of abuse or neglect;
Subjecting a child to sexual activity or exposure to inappropriate sexual activity or materials;
The infliction of injury or creation of a condition requiring a child to be hospitalized or to receive significant medical attention;
Repeated instances of physical abuse committed by the perpetrator against any child;
Failure to take reasonable action to protect a child from sexual abuse or repeated instances of physical abuse under circumstances where the parent or guardian knew or should have known that such abuse was occurring; or
Depriving a child of necessary care which either caused serious harm or created a substantial risk of serious harm.

18. Permanency Options FOSTER CARE IS USUALLY TEMPORARY
Child returns home in most cases
Relative caregivers apply to TANF
Kinship Legal Guardian
After living together for 1 year, no parental right termination, relatives get stipend, DCPP out
Adoption
Parental rights terminated, DCPP has provided “reasonable efforts,” subsidy avail, DCPP out

19. What About Children with Behavioral Problems?
DCF’s Division of Child Behavioral Health Services will assist families with children who have behavioral or emotional health challenges
DCF Child Behavioral Health Services Access Line ( )
Referrals to CMO/FSO, YCM, Mobile Response or community-based services
LCSW DCPP Liaison to assist

20. The Courts
DCPP Court is Civil (Family) Court – custody and permanency issues
Standard of proof is the preponderance of evidence
Some abuse/neglect cases rise to the level of criminal charges  DCPP coordinates with the local police or prosecutors office
Standard of proof is beyond a reasonable doubt

21. Safe Haven Act
Infants less than 30 days old can be turned over anonymously at a hospital or police station
DCPP will place infant in foster/adoptive home
No shame, no blame, no names
2011: 4 unsafe abandonments, 3 Safe Haven Surrenders

22. Case Practice Model
Case Practice Model: Focusing on the strengths of the family. Worker engages WITH family rather than TELLING family what to do
Recognizes that families know themselves best and are capable of sustainable change
Using respect, empathy, genuineness and competence as the core condition
Family drive, the division is co-pilot to safety

23. DCF Case Practice: Focusing on Families
DCF/DCPP Case Practice model aims to see a family’s whole life picture, including it’s natural supports (such as community organizations, family members, neighbors) and any issues effecting the family's success (such as unemployment, substance abuse, housing, education, domestic violence, physical and mental health, etc.)

24. DCF Case Practice: Focusing on Families
Families must be our most powerful ally to ensure safety, improve well being and achieve permanency for children
Case specific practice focuses on engaging families in a robust and constructive way
Allows focus on children while strengthening their family and formal and natural supports to help make good decisions affecting their safety and well being

25. DCF Case Practice: Focusing on Families
Most families have the capacity to make positive change with the support of individualized plans for supports and services
Engagement is the foundation to build trust and mutually beneficial relationships among children, youth, family members and DCF/DCPP staff
Must listen to, assess and address the needs of children, youth and families in a respectful and responsive manner that builds upon their strengths

26. Importance of Family Engagement
Engagement involves understanding the culture of a family and helping the family identify all potential supports
Engagement does NOT mean we lost objectivity about safety risks to children
Engagement means that, whenever safe and appropriate, youth and parents will be included in decision-making about what they need to find solutions to family issues and concerns about child safety

27. Working with Family Teams
Building a family team has multiple benefits:
Teams are useful for gathering important information about the strengths and needs of families that contribute to the family’s current life situation
Teams can assist the family throughout the involvement with DCF/DCPP and help staff facilitate a successful service plan
When it is time for the family to end its involvement with DCPP, the team can help support the family’s transition

28. Who is Part of the Family Team?
A family team is made up of everyone important in the life of the child, including interested family members, foster/adoptive parents, neighbors, friends, clergy, as well as representatives from the child’s formal support system, such as school staff, therapists, service providers, CASA, the court service and legal systems
Parents, children and youth (when age appropriate) and team members do become active participants in making decisions about what services and supports are needed, how and who should deliver the services and how to identify success

29. Difference Between a Case Conference and Family Team Meeting
Family identifies the agenda
Family tells the story
Family sets guest list
Family sets goals
Family designs all activities
Case Conference
Staff sets the agenda
Staff tells family story
Staff decides who attends
Staff sets goals
Staff identify the activities to meet goals

30. Family Teaming
The family team meeting is a process that brings together (a) family (b) interested people such as friends, neighbors, community members and (c) formal resources such as child welfare, mental health, education and other agencies with the family to:
Learn what the family hopes to accomplish
Set reasonable and meaningful goals
Recognize and affirm the family strengths
Assess family needs
Find solutions to meet family needs
Design individualized supports and services that match the family’s needs and build their strengths
Achieve clarity about who is responsible for agreed upon tasks
Agree on the next steps

31. Partnering
Each year, DCPP contracts with many community-based agencies throughout the state to provide services to children and families. Such services include counseling, parenting skills classes, substance abuse treatment, in-home services, foster care and residential placement

33. Resources NJ State Data: National Data: Local Child Protection Center
National Data:
Local Child Protection Center
Local Victim's Advocacy