Making a Difference: Mandate to Report, Responsibility to Prevent Child Abuse Webinar for WV School-based Health Centers, Oct. 4, 2012

1. MAKING A
DIFFERENCE
Mandate to Report, Responsibility to Prevent
Child Abuse & Neglect
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2. Overview
This webinar will explore how to identify
and report suspected abuse and neglect,
and examine ways to build protective
factors that prevent child abuse and
neglect.
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3. Learning Objectives
Demonstrate knowledge of signs of child
abuse and neglect.
Demonstrate understanding how to report
suspected child abuse and neglect.
Identify research-based protective factors
that prevent child maltreatment.
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4. About Child Abuse and Neglect
Section 1.
About Abuse & Neglect
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5. Facts about Child Maltreatment
130 years since first recognition of child
abuse in U.S.
Child maltreatment remains a serious
problem in U.S.
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6. Adverse Childhood Experiences
(ACEs) have long-term effects.
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7. Facts about Child Maltreatment
The estimated costs of treating the effects
of child maltreatment are over $80 billion
per year.
(Source: Prevent Child Abuse America)
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8. Facts about Child Maltreatment
In the nation (2010)
 3.3 million CPS referrals of child maltreatment.
 695,000 child victims.
 Over 75% of all substantiated maltreatment is
neglect
 Over 80% of perpetrators are parents
 Nearly 80% of deaths are < 4 years old.
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9. Facts about Child Maltreatment
In West Virginia (2010)
 32,244 CPS referrals.
 4,133 substantiated cases.
 3,961 child victims.
 8 children died.
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10. Child Abuse is Declining in WV
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11. What are some potential
warning signs and indicators?
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12. What are some physical indicators of
possible physical abuse?
Physical Indicators
Questionable bruises
Questionable burns
Questionable fractures (in various stages
of healing)
Questionable cuts and scrapes (to mouth,
eyes, external genitalia)

13. What are some behavioral indicators
of possible physical abuse?
Behavioral Indicators
 Uncomfortable with physical contact
 Wary of adult contacts
 Behavioral extremes
 Afraid to go home
 Wears inappropriate clothing for season to
hide injuries
 Self destructive

14. What are some physical indicators of
possible child neglect?
Physical Indicators
Consistent hunger, poor hygiene,
inappropriate clothing
Consistent lack of supervision
Unattended physical or health problems
Abandonment

15. What are some behavioral indicators
of possible child neglect?
Behavioral Indicators
Begging, stealing food
Constant fatigue, falling asleep
States there is no caregiver
Frequently absent
Shunned by peers
Self destructive

16. What are some physical indicators of
possible sexual abuse?
Physical Indicators
Difficulty walking or sitting
Torn, stained or bloody underwear / diaper
Bruises or bleeding in external genitalia
Massive weight change

17. What are some behavioral indicators
of possible sexual abuse?
Behavioral Indicators
 Withdrawal, chronic depression
 Overly compliant, passive behavior aimed at
maintaining a low profile.
 Hostility or aggression.
 Unusual sexual behavior or knowledge.
 Unusually seductive behaviors with peers
and adults.

18. What are some physical indicators of
possible emotional abuse?
Physical Indicators
Speech disorders
Lags in physical development
Failure to thrive

19. What are some behavioral indicators
of possible emotional abuse?
Behavioral Indicators
 Behavior extremes: compliant, passive,
aggressive, demanding, rageful.
 Overly adaptive behavior: “Parents” other
children inappropriately.
 Inappropriately infantile or emotionally needy.
 Self-destructive, attempted suicide.

20. Mandate to Report
Section 2.
All About Reporting
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21. Who Must Report
WV Code §49-6A-6
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22. New Mandated Reporters
Who Must Report
Per SB 161 (effective June 8, 2012)
 youth camp administrator or counselor
 employee, coach or volunteer of an entity that
provides organized activities for children
 commercial film or photographic print
processor
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23. Additional Requirements Regarding
Child Sexual Abuse Reporting
Per SB 161 (effective June 8, 2012)
 Any person over 18 who receives a disclosure
from a credible witness or observes any sexual
abuse or sexual assault of a child shall report
the circumstances or cause a report to be made
to the Department or the State Police or other
law-enforcement agency having jurisdiction.
 Reports shall be made immediately and not
more than 48 hours after receiving such a
disclosure or observing the sexual abuse.
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24. Additional Requirements Regarding
Child Sexual Abuse Reporting
Per SB 161 (effective June 8, 2012)
 If the reporter feels that reporting the alleged sexual
abuse will expose themselves, the child, the
reporter's children or other children in the subjects
household to an increased threat of serious
bodily injury, the individual may delay making the
report while he or she undertakes measures to
remove themselves or the affected children from the
perceived threat of additional harm.
 The individual must make the report as soon as
practical after the threat of harm has been reduced.
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25. Types of Disclosure
 Indirect Hints
• "My babysitter keeps bothering me."
 Disguised Disclosures
• "I know someone who is being touched in a bad way."
 Disclosures with Strings Attached
• "I have a problem, but if I tell you about it, you have to
promise not to tell."

26. What should you do when a
parent or child discloses?
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27. Disclosure
What to do when a parent or child discloses?
1. Find a private place to talk with the person.
2. Reassure the person making the disclosure ("I believe you.”)
3. Listen openly and calmly, with minimal interruptions.
4. Write down the facts and words as the person has stated
them. (Exact words are important to investigators.)
5. Do not promise not to tell, but respect the person’s
confidentiality by not telling others who don’t need to know.
6. Tell the truth.
7. Be specific. Let the child know what is going to happen.
8. Assess the child’s immediate safety.
9. Be supportive. Report the disclosure within 48 hrs to CPS.

28. Disclosure
What NOT to Say When Someone Discloses To You
1. Don’t ask “why” questions such as:
• “Why didn't you stop him or her?”
• “Why are you telling me this?”
2. Don't say "Are you sure?"
3. Don't ask "Are you telling the truth?"
4. Don't say "Let me know if it happens again."
5. Avoid leading questions ("Did your uncle touch
you too? Was he wearing a blue jacket?”)

29. How do you make a report?
 You should contact CPS whenever you
reasonably suspect a child has been abused or
neglected or is subject to conditions where
abuse or neglect is likely to occur.
 CPS will accept your report and determine “Is
the child safe or does the child need protected?”
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30. To Whom Do You Report?
WV Child Abuse and Neglect Hotline
1-800-352-6513
24 hours a day - 7 days a week
For serious physical abuse and sexual abuse, also contact
the state police and local law enforcement.
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31. Responsibility to Prevent
Section 3.
What Child Abuse Prevention
Looks Like
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32. Responsibility to Prevent
“No epidemic has ever been resolved by
paying attention to the treatment of the
affected individual.”
-- George W. Albee, Ph.D.
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33. Protective Factors:
A New Prevention Framework
 Suitable for universal, positive approach to
families (no “risk” factors or deficit approach)
 Easily communicated to all audiences
 Based on hard evidence
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35. Protective Factors
“Circles of Caring”
 Knowledge of Parenting & Child
Development
 Parental Resilience
 Social Connections
 Social & Emotional Development of Children
 Concrete Support in Times of Need

36. Knowledge of Parenting & Child
Development
Information about how children
develop
How to deal with challenging
behaviors
Alternatives to how we were raised

37. Parental Resilience
Able to solve problems
Feel supported
Ability to bounce back

38. Social Connections
Relationships
Community norms
Mutual assistance networks

39. Social and Emotional
Development of Children
 Positive parent-child interaction.
 Appropriate adult response to challenging
behaviors or when development is not on track.
 Children learn to express themselves and their
emotions.

40. Concrete Support in Times of Need
Response to crisis.
Assistance with daily needs.
Services for children and parents.

41. Remember…
WV Child Abuse and Neglect Hotline
1-800-352-6513
24 hours a day - 7 days a week
For serious physical abuse and sexual abuse, also contact
the state police and local law enforcement.

42. For More Information Contact:
The TEAM for West Virginia Children
1-866-4KIDSWV
304-697-0340
Email: pcawv@teamwv.org
Twitter: @TEAM4WVChildren
http://slideshare.net/PCAWV
http://www.preventchildabusewv.org
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