1. MANDATORY REPORTING DUTIES FOR CHILD NEGLECT, ABUSE AND EXPLOITATION G. Andrew H. Benjamin, J.D., Ph.D., ABPP http://www.linkedin.com/in/andybenjamin music generously provided by: Professor Paula Lustbader Seattle University School of Law http://www.linkedin.com/in/andybenjamin

2. “There can be no keener revelation of a society’s soul than the way it treats its children.” ~ Nelson Mandela

3. Scope of Problem  In 2007, approximately 5.8 million children were involved in 3.2 million child abuse reports and allegations out of 75,512,062 kids  1,569,592 kids, with 79000 in the great state of Washington allegedly abused or neglected  Many more go unreported Consider 1 out of 3 girl children and 1 out of 5 boy children are sexually abused SEE: http://www.childwelfare.gov/http://www.childwelfare.gov/ or http://www.childhelp.org/pages/statistics

4. The cycle of abuse  According to a 2006 U.S. Department of Health and Human Services study: One third of abused and neglected children will later abuse their own children.

5. THE LAW-RCW 26.44  All professional school personnel (RCW.26.44.020(8))  Must report to CPS at 1 st opportunity, but in case no longer than 48hrs,.if reasonable cause to believe the child.has suffered abuse or neglect (RCW 26.44.030(1))

6. ABUSE OR NEGLECT MEANS  Physical injury  Sexual abuse  Sexual exploitation  Negligent treatment or maltreatment of a child by any person… which indicate that the child’s health, welfare, and safety is harmed (RCW 26.44.030 (12))

7. Sometimes

8. Signs of Physical Abuse (Injury)  Bruises  Burns  Cuts  Bullying But sometimes acts that are considered physical abuse and cause more than just transient pain are not obvious (e.g., shaking a child, smothering the child, threatening child with deadly weapon)

9. Signs of Physical Abuse  Bruises on uncommonly injured body surfaces  Blunt instrument marks or burns  Human hand marks or bite marks  Multiple injuries at different stages of healing  Evidence of poor care or failure to thrive  Circumferential immersion burns  Unexplained retinal hemorrhages  Acts that cause more than just transient pain are not obvious (e.g., shaking a child, smothering the child, threatening child with deadly weapon)  Bruises on uncommonly injured body surfaces  Blunt instrument marks or burns  Human hand marks or bite marks  Multiple injuries at different stages of healing  Evidence of poor care or failure to thrive  Circumferential immersion burns  Unexplained retinal hemorrhages  Acts that cause more than just transient pain are not obvious (e.g., shaking a child, smothering the child, threatening child with deadly weapon)

10. Signs of Sexual Abuse  Sudden change in behavior or appearance  Eating disorders  Wetting or fouling of self  Complaining of pain while urinating or having a bowel movement  Isolation/separateness  Sexually inappropriate behavior directed at peers

11. “Don’t talk to strangers” doesn’t apply here…  93% of juvenile sexual assault victims know their attacker.  34.2% of attackers were family members.  58.7% were acquaintances.  Only 7% of the perpetrators were strangers to the victim. Rape, Abuse, & Incest National Network

12. Signs of Negligent Treatment or Maltreatment  Age-inappropriate behaviors  Sleep problems  Daytime anxieties and unrealistic fears  Behavioral extremes/self-destructive behavior  Rocking, thumb sucking, enuresis or other habitual problems

13. Signs of Neglect  Clothes are ill-fitting, filthy, or inappropriate for the weather  Hygiene is consistently bad  Untreated illnesses and physical injuries.  Is frequently unsupervised or left  Is frequently late or missing from school or falling asleep in school, or coming very early and leaving very late

14. This is How I Feel

15. Examples of Emotional Abuse  ignoring, withdrawal of attention, or rejection  lack of physical affection such as hugs  lack of praise, positive reinforcement  yelling or screaming  threatening or frightening negative comparisons to others

16. More Examples  belittling; telling the child he or she is "no good," "worthless," "bad," or "a mistake"  using derogatory terms to describe the child, name-calling  shaming or humiliating  habitual blaming  terrorizing a child

17. Signs of Emotional Abuse  Apathy  Depression  Lack of concentration  Appears defensive, shy, dependent  Is verbally abusive- ?using same language and demeaning terms endured elsewhere  Multiple signs emerge

18. Themes of our Class Decision-making about mandatory reporting always involves a process This process involves acting congruently with your values Good law, good values, and good teaching go hand-in-hand Never worry alone

19. Frame the evidence of abuse or neglect that crosses the line When the act or omission evidences a serious disregard of consequences of such magnitude as to constitute a clear and present danger to the child’s health, welfare, and safety  Almost without exception a pattern of awful behavior has been endured by the child

20. When reasonable cause emerges CPS- toll free 866 END HARM Information to have prepared:  The name, address and age of the child  The name and address of the child's parent, guardian or other persons having custody of the child  The nature and extent of the abuse or neglect  Any evidence of previous incidences http://www.dshs.wa.gov/ca/safety/abuseReport.asp?2

21. Resources  Child Welfare Information Gateway http://www.childwelfare.gov/ http://www.childwelfare.gov/  Childhelp http://www.childhelp.org  Domestic Abuse Project http://www.mndap.org/  King County Domestic Violence Homepage http://www.kingcounty.gov/courts/DistrictCourt/ Protection%20Order/DomesticViolence.aspx

22. More Resources de Benedictis Ph.D., T., Jaffe Ph.D., J., Segal Ph.D., J., (2004) Child Abuse: Types, Signs, Symptoms, Causes and Help. Help Guide Web site: http://www.helpguide.org/mental/child_abuse_physical_emot ional_sexual_neglect.htm#emotional http://www.helpguide.org/mental/child_abuse_physical_emot ional_sexual_neglect.htm#emotional Washington State Department of Social and Health Services. (2009). Protecting the abused & neglected child: a guide for mandated reporters in recognizing & reporting child abuse & neglect. (DSHS Publication No. DSHS 22-163 Rev. 7/09). Retrieved from: http://www.dshs.wa.gov/pdf/publications/22- 163.pdfhttp://www.dshs.wa.gov/pdf/publications/22- 163.pdf

23. Andy Benjamin, J.D., Ph.D., ABPP Director, Parenting Evaluation/Training Program University of Washington E-mail: gahb54@u.washington.edu Web sites http://depts.washington.edu/petp or http://www.linkedin.com/in/andybenjamin or http://depts.washington.edu/petp http://www.linkedin.com/in/andybenjamin http://washington.academia.edu/GAndrewHBenjamin/About