1. Social Work Presentation Child Abuse /Neglect

2. Goal
To provide all Baltimore City Public School-based personnel with the knowledge to recognize and report the suspicion of child abuse and/or neglect

3. Objectives
To inform all Baltimore City Public Schools employees of the code of Maryland requirements for reporting child abuse and/or neglect
To inform all Baltimore City Public Schools employees of the consequences for not reporting suspected child abuse and/or neglect
To increase awareness for the need to take steps to protect children from maltreatment and assist their families with treatment services

4. Need to Know Definition of child abuse
Those who are responsible for reporting child abuse
Where and how does one report child abuse and neglect
What the timeframe is for reporting
What happens after the report is made
What the sanctions are for failing to report
Available resources

5. Mandatory Reporters
That’s you!

6. WHO IS RESPONSIBLE FOR REPORTING?
Any health practitioner, police officer, educator, human service worker, other school employee or volunteer acting in a professional capacity, who believes or has reason to believe that a child has been abused or subjected to abuse

7. DEFINITIONS
Types of Abuse

8. WHAT IS CHILD MALTREATMENT?
The physical, sexual or mental injury of a child by any parent or other person who has permanent or temporary care or custody or responsibility for supervision of a child or by any household or family member under circumstances that indicate that the child’s welfare is significantly harmed or at risk of being significantly harmed; Or sexual abuse, whether physical injuries are sustained or not
(COMAR )

9. Types of Child Abuse
Physical Abuse
Sexual Abuse
Neglect
Mental Injury

10. Physical Abuse
HOW TO RECOGNIZE

11. Physical Signs of Physical Abuse
Bruises or welts
Burns
Lacerations or abrasions
Head injuries
Skeletal injuries
Internal injuries

12. Behavioral Indicators of Physical Abuse
Uncomfortable with adults
Fear of contact
Withdrawn
Arrives early for school or stays late
Complains of soreness
Wears inappropriate clothes to hide body
Physical and verbally aggressive
Excessive daydreaming
Child does not look to parents for comfort

13. SEXUAL ABUSE
HOW TO RECOGNIZE

14. PHYSICAL SIGNS of sexual abuse
Difficulty in walking or sitting
Pain or itching in genital area
Recurrent urinary tract infections
Poor anal sphincter tone
Sexually Transmitted Diseases
Pregnancy

15. Behavioral Indicators of Sexual Abuse
Sleep disorders
Poor peer relationships
Social isolation
Bizarre, sophisticated or unusual sexual knowledge or behavior
Suicidal ideation
Promiscuity
Poor self-esteem
Sudden school difficulties
Threatened by physical contact
Hysteria
Unwillingness to change for gym

16. Child Sexual Abuse
An individual may notify the local department or the appropriate law enforcement agency if he/she has reason to believe that:
A parent, guardian, or caregiver of the child allows a child to reside or regularly associate with a specified individual other than the parent or guardian
AND
1. the person is on the registry as a child sex offender
2. there is additional information suggesting substantial risk of sexual abuse to the child

17. Neglect
HOW TO RECOGNIZE

18. What is Child Neglect?
Failure to give proper care and attention to a child by the child’s parent, guardian, or custodian under circumstances that indicate the child’s health or welfare is at risk of significant harm

19. Types of Neglect Abandonment Lack of supervision Nutritional neglect
Medical and dental neglect
Educational neglect
Inappropriate or insufficient clothing
Environmental neglect
Emotional neglect
Social neglect
Exploitation

20. Physical signs of Neglect
Poor hygiene
Inappropriate clothing for the weather
Fatigue
Constant hunger
Lack of supervision
Significant weight loss

21. Behavioral Indicators of Neglect
Stealing food
Begging
Assumes adult responsibility
Constant fatigue
delinquency

22. Mental Injury
How to Recognize

23. Possible Behavioral Indicators of Mental Injury
Pseudo-mature behavior
Sexually precocious behavior
Lying, cheating , and stealing
Psychiatric symptoms
Tantrums
Bizarre behavior
Lacks self-esteem
Aggressive, domineering behavior
Controlling but lacks self-control
Seeks love and acceptance outside of home
School learning problems
Lack of exploration and curiosity

24. Assessing Mental Injury
2 assessments must be completed by any of the following licensed professionals
Licensed Physician
Licensed Social Worker
Licensed Psychologist

25. Reporting Abuse/Neglect
Steps

26. What to do if child abuse/neglect disclosed to you
Support child’s decision to disclose information
Make it clear child did the right thing by disclosing
Respect the child’s privacy
Report

27. Contact your discipline supervisor
SUPPORT FOR REPORTING
Contact your discipline supervisor
Consult a colleague to discuss the situation

28. Referral Process (Suspected Child Abuse by Caretaker)
Complete written report (Form 180)
Provide oral report to intake worker at the Department of Social Services
Mail written report within 48 hours to DSS
Mail a copy to your immediate supervisor marked confidential to the Office of Related Services-Social Work
Maintain a copy of the written report in your personal files

29. Content of Oral & Written Report
Student identifying information
Current location of the child
Parent/guardian identifying information
Nature and extent of the abuse and /or alleged neglect
Any information that will assist in substantiating the abuse

30. Referral Process [Suspected Child Abuse by B C P S Personnel]
Complete written referral
Provide oral report to intake worker at BCDSS
Mail written report within 48 hours to BCDSS
Copy written report to alleged abuser’s direct supervisor immediately
Copy to your immediate supervisor marked confidential to the Office of Related Services at 200 E. North Avenue
Copy written report to Office of Labor Relations immediately at

31. Investigation Outcomes
What happens after reporting?

32. AFTER REPORTING
Local school system shall permit local DSS or police officer to question a student during a child abuse investigation (COMAR 13A )
School officials are not required to notify parents or guardians

33. Talking with Parents (If Parents Approach School Staff)
Be supportive whenever possible
Do not try to prove abuse or neglect by accusations or demands
Keep the focus upon the welfare of the child
Take a non-judgmental stance when talking with parent
Explain to parent the legal responsibility to make a referral to the appropriate agency

34. Three Outcomes Indicated Unsubstantiated Ruled Out
Findings indicate the abuse occurred
The abuse may have happened, but at the current time there is not enough information to be certain
There is no indication that the alleged abuse happened

35. Additional support for For Reporters
Resources
Additional support for For Reporters

36. To Whom Must You Report Baltimore City Department of Social Services
Child Protective Services Unit
1900 North Howard Street
Baltimore, Maryland 21218

37. REPORTER RIGHTS
Section provides immunity from civil liability or criminal penalty to anyone who in good faith makes a report of suspected child abuse and/or neglect or participates in an investigation, or in any judicial proceeding resulting from the report

38. Confidentiality
The name of the mandated reporter can only be revealed by court order
Disclosure of the identity of any person whose life or safety is likely to be endangered related to allegation cannot be revealed
Disclose only information relevant to the best interest of the child
Use professional discretion in revealing information for treatment purposes

39. Failure to Report

40. Consequences for Failure to report
Sanctions
An employee of the local educational authority who knowingly fails to report suspected child abuse will face progressive disciplinary action ranging from written reprimand to suspension to termination from the local educational authority
Additionally, certificated and licensed professionals may have their certificate or license suspended or revoked in 2 circumstances:
Termination from the LEA for knowingly failing to report suspected child abuse/neglect
Conviction of crime involving child abuse, contributing to the delinquency of a minor; and moral turpitude (COMAR 6-202[Educators]; COMAR [Social Work and other Mental Health Providers])

41. REMINDER: Baltimore City Department of Social Services
Child Protective Services Unit
1900 North Howard Street
Baltimore, Maryland 21218

42. REVIEW Definition of child abuse?
Who is responsible for reporting child abuse?
Where and how does one report child abuse and neglect?
What the timeframe is for reporting?
What happens after the report is made?
What the sanctions are for failing to report?
What are the available resources?

43. QUESTIONS/CONCERNS?