Title: Child Abuse and Neglect Overview for Child Care Providers
1Child Abuse and NeglectOverview for Child Care
Providers
2Child Abuse NeglectNational Statistics
- Over 3 million reports of child
- abuse and neglect are reported each year
- Neglect 60
- Physical 20
- Sexual 10
- Emotional 7
-
3Child Abuse NeglectNational Statistics
- Incidence three times greater than reported
- Abusive head trauma leading cause of infant
deaths - 25 of shaken baby syndrome children die
majority have brain damage - Every 10 seconds a child is abused
4Who is Considered a Mandatory Reporter?
- For example
- Health care providers (nurses, dentists,
physicians) - School personnel (teachers, principals,
secretaries other staff) - Police officers, fire fighters
- WORKERS IN A FAMILY CARE HOME OR CHILD CARE CENTER
5Childrens Code
C.R.S. 19-3-309
- Any person,
- other than the perpetrator,
- who makes a report
- shall be immune from any liability,
- civil or criminal, or termination of
- employment that might result from
- such reporting
-
6Reporting
- You should report
- ANY
- reasonable suspicion of abuse
-
7Why Abuse is Not Reported
- Little or no training
- Afraid of reprisals or being sued
- Bureaucratic tape
- Personal feeling for child/family
- Very stressful
-
8The Child Care Provider
- Usually, the only
- other person
- outside immediate
- family members
- who sees a child
- on an on-going basis
-
9Reasonable Suspicion
- The most important thing
- to remember is that
- you should report any
- reasonable suspicion of abuse
- YOU DO NOT NEED TO
- PROVE IT!
-
10Risk Factors
- Lack of parenting skills
- Overuse of physical punishment
- Poor coping skills
- Marital difficulties
11Risk Factors
- Lack of knowledge of normal growth and
development - Criminal behavior
- Immaturity
12Children with Special Needs
- In addition to the fact that
- children with disabilities
- are at increased risk of abuse,
- is the reality that child abuse
- can cause disabilities.
13Children with Special Needs
- Exact number of disabilities caused by abuse is
unknown. - Estimated to represent at least 25 of all
developmental disabilities!
-
14Child Abuse Prevention Techniques for Children
with Special Needs
- Teach children personal safety skills
- Know all care providers and observe interactions,
since the child is so dependent on the caregiver.
15Child Abuse Prevention Techniques for Children
with Special Needs
- Participate in prevention training programs.
- Develop relationships with local community
agencies and schools that serve children with
disabilities.
16Physical Abuse
-
- Any physical injury to a child that is not
accidental -
17Types of Physical Injuries
- Bruises
- Human bite marks
- Burns
- Fractures
- Head/brain injuries
- Poisoning
-
-
-
18Shaken Baby Syndrome
- Brain damage that may result in the following
- Spinal injury/paralysis
- Blindness
- Deafness
- Seizures
- Retardation
- Impaired motor/sensory skills
- Death
-
19Shaken Baby SyndromeSigns and Symptoms
- Swelling of soft spot
- Larger head than normal
- Bleeding in the eyes
- Unable to lift/turn head
- Irritability
20Shaken Baby SyndromeSigns and symptoms
- Excessive drowsiness
- Difficulty breathing
- Seizures
- Projectile vomiting
- Unresponsiveness
-
21Harmless Activities?
- Tossing child in air repeatedly
- Jogging with infant on back/shoulders
- Riding a horse
- Cracking the whip
-
22Shaken Baby Syndrome Prevention
- Never ever, ever shake a baby!!
- ALWAYS support the babys head
- Learn strategies to deal with crying
- If shaken, take to ER immediately
-
23 Cultural Practices
- Vietnamese folk practice
- Coining - Cao Gio
- Mexican-American practice
- Burns - cupping
- Head Injuries - fallen fontanelle
-
-
- OH
24Natural Marks
- Mongolian Spots
- Salmon Patches
- Strawberry Marks
-
25Emotional Abuse
- Pattern of behavior
- that interferes with the
- positive emotional
- development
- and sense of self-worth
-
26Emotional Abuse
- Rejection
- Verbal assault
- Withholding love
- Terrorizing the child
-
27Emotional Abuse
- Not providing basic nurturing
- Refusing help for childs mental health needs
- Failure to provide physical/mental stimulation to
grow - Exposure to domestic violence
28Sexual Abuse and Unlawful Sexual Behavior
- Touching offenses, such as
- Fondling
- Intercourse, rape, sodomy
- Child forced to touch perpetrator in sexual
manner
29Sexual Abuse and Unlawful Sexual Behavior
- Non-touching offenses, such as
- Indecent exposure or exhibitionism
- Exposing children to pornographic material
- Masturbating in front of a child
30Symptoms of Sexual Abuse
- Symptoms can be physical, behavioral, or
emotional, such as - Poor peer relationships
- Pregnancy or sexually transmitted disease
- Sexual acting out or sexual knowledge beyond that
appropriate for age
31Child Neglect
- Failure to provide basic necessities
- food
- clothing
- shelter
- medical care
-
32Types of Neglect
- Safety or Supervisional Neglect
- inadequate supervision, abandonment, failure to
safely store weapons or toxic materials - Educational Neglect
- failure to enroll a child in school or attend to
the childs educational needs - Medical Neglect
- withholding important medical care necessary to
the childs well being and health -
33What to do!!
- Believe
- Listen
- Reassure
- Rephrase
- Inform
- Report
-
34What NOT to do!!
- Promise confidentiality
- Panic or act shocked
- Ask leading questions
- Make negative comments about perpetrator
- Suggest the abuse did not happen or the child is
mistaken
35Child Protection
- Contact your supervisor
- Follow center policies and procedures
36Child Protection
- Reporting
- Investigation
- Child Protection Team
- Court Process
- Central Registry
37ReportingChild Abuse/Neglect in Your County
- Know your local department of human services
child protection hotline - You can find this information on-line
- www.cdhs.state.co.us/cyf/child_welfare/county_phon
e_numbers.htm