FL DCF Child Care Identifying and Reporting Child Abuse and Neglect (CAAN) 2019
Physical signs are observable in the appearance of a child. For example, you may see:
-Bruises and welts in various stages of healing -Missing hair or visible scalp -Handprints or fingerprints -Broken or fractured bones -Burns
The three categories that place children at risk for maltreatment are:
-Child risk factors -Parental and family risk factors -Social and environmental risk factors
Behavioral signs are observable in the way a child acts. For example, children may:
-Have nightmares -Flinch when a hand or object comes close -Sound depressed -Hurt themselves on purpose -Bully others
To prevent Shaken Baby Syndrome:
-Make sure those who care for young children know the dangers of shaking a baby -Be careful during play or physical activity
The four ways abuse and neglect reports can be made to the Florida Abuse Hotline are:
-Online, -telephone, -Florida Relay/TTY (teletypwrite/telephone for Deaf), -fax.
Types of Child Abuse
-Physical abuse harms and/or impairs a child's physical health. -Emotional abuse harms and/or impairs a child's mental health. -Sexual abuse harms and/or impairs both a child's mental and physical health.
Phone Number for Reporting Abuse
1-800-96ABUSE (1-800-962-2873)
How many people report child abuse when faced with an actual situation?
1/3
On average, child abuse is reported somewhere in the United States every:
10 seconds
When was the first child abuse case reported?
1873 Mary-Ellen (victim)
Shaken Baby Syndrome
A specific type of physical abuse. It is caused by someone shaking an infant and causing injury or death. Shaking an infant can cause severe injury because they have weak neck muscles, growing brains, and thin skulls.
Reporting Abuse
All child care professionals must provide their names when reporting suspicions of child abuse, abandonment, and/or neglect; everyone else can make an anonymous report, if they prefer.
Child
Any person under the age of 18 years.
Child Abuse
Any willful act or threatened act that results in any physical, mental, or sexual abuse, injury, or harm that causes or is likely to cause the child's physical, mental, or emotional health to be significantly impaired.
Harm
Anything to a child's health or welfare that can occur when any person: a) inflicts, or allows to be inflicted, upon the child physical, mental, or emotional injury; b) commits, or allows to be committed, sexual battery, or lewd or lascivious acts against a child; c) allows, encourages, or forces the sexual exploitation of a child; d) exploits a child, or allows a child to be exploited; e) abandons the child; f) neglects the child; g) exposes a child to a controlled substance or alcohol; h) uses mechanical devices, unreasonable restraints, or extended periods of isolation to control a child; i) engages in violent behavior that demonstrates a wanton disregard for the presence of a child and could reasonably result in serious injury to the child: j) negligently fails to protect a child in his or her care from inflicted physical, cognitive, or sexual injury caused by the acts of another; k) has allowed a child's sibling to die as a result of abuse, abandonment, or neglect. l) makes the child unavailable for the purpose of impeding or avoiding a protective investigation unless the court determines that the parent, legal custodian, or caregiver was fleeing from a situation involving domestic violence.
Indicators of trauma in children ages birth to 5
Attachment behaviors toward caretakers Sleep disturbances, particularly nightmares Immobility Does not explore Regression in behavior Failure to Thrive Thumb sucking, whining, and loss of acquired speech Prolonged uncontrollable crying Hyper-vigilance Biting, kicking, tantrums, unprovoked aggression
Behavioral Indicator of Physical Neglect
Begs For or Steals Food
What are some examples of things that might be observed or shared with you that could help you recognize the signs of abuse or neglect?
Blames or belittles the child Talks about the child as bad or evil Smells of alcohol/drugs or seems to be under the influence Fails to keep appointments Seems unconcerned with the child Mentions financial problems Talks about divorce, death, or illness Admits to alcohol or substance abuse Talks about domestic violence or shows signs of it
What is the single, leading cause of death for children ages four and younger?
Child abuse and neglect
Three children die as a result of child abuse in the home in the United States each:
Day
Physical Indicator of Sexual Abuse
Difficulty in Walking or Sitting
How to Handle Accusations of Child Abuse and Neglect
Don't become defensive. Cooperate fully and factually with authorities. Get statements from colleagues about your character. Know the laws related to abuse and neglect. Talk to a lawyer to ensure your rights and those of family members. Remember that protective policies you have put in place, such as your discipline procedures and incident reports, will help you. Work with your director and colleagues to handle the impact of the accusation on the school, other parents, and children.
Child Abuse and Neglect Statistics
Each year, the Florida Abuse Hotline receives about 300,000 phone calls, faxes, and web reports in the state of Florida regarding child abuse, neglect and abandonment. About 80% of those are sent off to the local county to be investigated by a Child Protective Investigator (CPI). 55% of all reports to the Florida Abuse Hotline are from reporters who are required to provide their name.
Behavioral Indicator of Physical Abuse
Easily Startled
Immunity
Exemption from civil or criminal charges resulting from reporting "in good faith."
The Impact of Trauma, Abuse, and Neglect
Extreme anxiety Depression Inability to form healthy relationships Memory loss Short attention span Easily distracted Poor self-esteem Sleeping or eating disorders
Physical Indicator of Emotional Abuse or Neglect
Failure to Thrive
Child Neglect
Failure to provide support, acceptance, attention, warmth, supervision, and normal living experiences for a child is considered child neglect. Withholding these things can cause a child to not function normally in performance and behavior.
Emotional Neglect
Failure to provide support, acceptance, attention, warmth, supervision, and normal living experiences for a child to the extent that the child is impaired in ability to function normally in performance and behavior.
Key Point
Failure to report suspected abuse or neglect is a third degree felony in the State of Florida.
True or False? Child molesters get their sexual gratification only from children.
False, many child molesters also have sexual relationships with adults.
True or False? Strangers pose the greatest risk of sexual abuse to children.
False, most children are abused by people they know.
Confidentiality and Immunity
Florida law ensures that confidentiality will be maintained for child care workers reporting suspected cases of child abuse and/or neglect. The law ensures that civil or criminal immunity (protection from being sued) will be given to a person reporting a suspected case of child abuse, abandonment, or neglect.
Behavioral Indicators of Emotional Abuse or Neglect
Habit Disorders, Such as Biting or Rocking
List the actions that can help stop child abuse and neglect?
Helping a stressed-out parent by baby-sitting, making a meal for their family, or lending an understanding ear Learning the signs and symptoms of child abuse so you can recognize them when you see the "red flags" Reporting known or suspected child abuse to the police or local child protective services agency
Both abuse and neglect are crimes and violations of children's human rights.
If an adult intentionally withholds food, shelter or any other necessity as a punishment, then it is abuse; but if things needed to survive are withheld by circumstance or lack of awareness, care, or education, then it is an act of neglect.
The average age that child molesters first attack a child is when the molesters are:
In their teens
Working with Abused and Neglected Children
It takes understanding, patience, and skills to work with abused and neglected children.
Examples of Child Neglect
Leaving a child alone Leaving a child in a place that is not safe Lack of attention Not providing food, clothing, or shelter for a child Not providing necessary medical attention for a child Not providing appropriate schooling Not providing protection from hazards
If a child discloses sexual abuse, is the best thing to do is to get details for the investigators?
NO The best thing to do is to stay calm and approachable, listen carefully, and tell the child you are glad they told you. Call the Florida Abuse Hotline at 1-800-FL-ABUSE immediately after the child has finished speaking with you. If the child is in immediate danger, call 9-1-1.
Do children lie about being abused?
NO Children who are being abused tend to keep it secret because they fear retaliation, disbelief, and rejection.
Is it hard to predict where sexual abuse may occur because there are no known risk factors?
NO Children who live with one or no biological parent, are female, are not supported by a working adult, live in poverty, have a developmental delay or disability, or live in areas of high crime are more likely to be sexually abused. It is also less likely to be reported and treated.
Is it true that in most cases of sexual abuse, the perpetrator is a stranger?
NO In most cases, perpetrators are people the parents know and trust. Friendship is often used as a way to gain a child's trust and silence.
Is all child sexual abuse is physical?
NO Sexual abuse includes non-touching acts, such as exposing a child to pornography, conversing with a child about sex for sexual gratification, prostituting children, and more.
Research has shown that the following protective factors are linked to a lower incidence of child abuse and neglect:
Nurturing and attachment Knowledge of parenting and of child and youth development Parental resilience Social connections Concrete supports for parents
Shaking a baby or young child can cause:
Permanent brain damage Paralysis Blindness Seizures Developmental delays Broken bones Death
Parental/Family Risk Factors
Personality factors Feeling of insecurity Lack of trust Low tolerance for frustration Poor impulse control Controlling Depression, anxiety, or mental illness Childhood history of abuse Social isolation/lack of support Family structure - single parent with lack of support, grandparent with new responsibility Marital problems and divorce Death and/or illness Age Abuse of alcohol or other drugs Lack of parenting skills or living skills Financial problems or unemployment
Observable indicators associated with abuse and neglect are:
Physical and Behavioral
Persons in the following professions must provide their names when filing a report
Physician, osteopathic physician, medical examiner, chiropractic physician, nurse, or hospital personnel engaged in the admission, examination, care, or treatment of persons; Health or mental health professional other than one listed in subparagraph a; Practitioner who relies solely on spiritual means for healing; School teacher or other school official or personnel; Social worker, day care center worker, or other professional child care, foster care, residential, or institutional worker; Law enforcement officer; or Judge.
Child Risk Factors
Premature birth and/or birth defect Chronic or serious illness Physical, cognitive, or emotional disability Temperament- slow or difficult to warm up to others Aggressive behavior problems Attention Deficit Disorder Childhood trauma A personal attribute/characteristic identified by a parent as undesirable
Who is Mandated to Report Abuse?
Section 39.201, Florida Statutes (F.S.) states all Floridians must report any child abuse, abandonment, and/or neglect they suspect. Failure to report is a third degree felony in the State of Florida.
Sexual Abuse
Sexual contact or interaction between a child and an adult or older child. Includes indecent exposure, fondling, touching sexual organs, forcible rape, sodomy, exploitation, and showing pornography.
Institutional Abuse or Neglect
Situations of known or suspected child abuse or neglect that occur at a private school, public or private child care center, residential home, institution, facility, or agency where the alleged perpetrator is an employee or any other person at such institution responsible for the child's care.
Behavioral Indicator of Sexual Abuse
Sophisticated Sexual Knowledge
Social/Environmental Risk Factors
Stressful life or community events (for example, hurricanes) Low socioeconomic status/poverty Homelessness Lack of access to medical care, health insurance, child care, and/or social services Dangerous/violent neighborhood Community violence Cultural acceptance of abuse
You can cope with a crying baby or child by:
Taking deep, slow breaths Taking a break Asking for help Counting to 10
Key Point
The Department of Children and Families' child abuse website is a good source of information.
Physical Abuse
The mistreatment of a child by a person responsible for the child's welfare that results in injury or harm to the child.
Trauma-Informed Care
The most important ways to help are to make sure children feel connected, cared about, and safe.
Key point
There are local community resources that provide help for abused children, their families, and abusers
How to Make a Report
Through the Florida Abuse Hotline which was established in 1971.
Physical Indicator of Physical Neglect
Unattended Medical Needs
Physical Indicator of Physical Abuse
Unexplained Burns
Inadequate Supervision
When a child is left alone in a situation beyond their physical and emotional development level or when a child is left in the care of someone who does not provide adequate supervision.
Lack of Adequate Clothing/Good Hygiene
When a child suffers, or is likely to suffer, from physical or emotional health conditions resulting from inadequate clothing, improper hygiene, and uncleanness.
Lack of Dental/Medical Care
When a medical or dental condition is left untreated, possibly resulting in serious or long-term harm to the child.
Lack of Providing Access to Education
When education is not enforced by the parents, thereby contributing to the child's absence from school - leading to the lack of education and leading to truancy.
Lack of Adequate Nutrition
When the caretaker has regularly failed to provide, or make available, adequate food to the child, which can cause malnutrition over a long period of time.
Lack of Adequate Shelter
When the child is exposed to structurally unsafe housing, exposed wiring, inadequate or unsafe heating, or unsanitary housing conditions.
Lack of Love and Attention (Failure to Thrive)
When the parents deny satisfying or fulfilling relationships, thus avoiding most interactions as a method of avoiding rejection and failure. The lack of support, emotional care, or love can cause the infant and/or child's weight to fall below the fifth percentile for age.
Is one of the signs that a child may be a victim of sexual abuse is the display of sexual behaviors that are not age appropriate?
YES For example, no four-year-old should have knowledge of the mechanics of sex.
Do most children who have been abused face life-long mental health issues and many physical conditions that are linked to such trauma?
YES Childhood abuse in all of its forms has been linked to depression, substance abuse, and diseases that are made worse by stress, such as heart disease.
Is abuse and neglect seen among people of all ages, genders, ethnic groups, family structures, races, socioeconomic statuses, and sexual orientations?
YES There are no groups of individuals exempt from incidences of abuse and neglect.
Is it true that many victims of child abuse do not display physical signs?
YES This is why it is very important to be familiar with behavioral indicators as well as physical indicators.
Recent scientific studies of the brain reveal that the first years of a child's life
are critical to development.
Negative experiences, like trauma or abuse,
are extremely detrimental in early years. The effects of abuse on a child can begin before a mother even gives birth.
Medical Programs and Community Agencies
are places where staff members provide attention to victims of child abuse and neglect and provide counseling for the abused, the abuser, or family members.
Failure to Thrive
can be an outcome of emotional abuse or emotional neglect. A lack of holding, hugging, rocking, singing, touching, and loving that occurs during infancy and early childhood can cause an infant's or child's weight to drop to below the fifth percentile.
Child abuse and neglect
can occur in families of any socioeconomic status
Experiences throughout childhood can impair mental abilities and may
cause a child to respond with aggression or violence to stressful or frustrating situations.
The effects of child abuse and neglect can be serious and permanently affect children's...
cognitive, physical, and emotional development.
Different types of abuse and neglect
have observable indicators or signs. There are behavioral and physical indicators. The presence of one sign does not necessarily mean abuse or neglect has occurred.
Law Enforcement and State Attorney's Offices
investigate cases of child abuse and neglect and have victim advocacy programs to provide information and support through the legal system.
Post traumatic Stress Disorder, or PTSD
is diagnosed when children are still displaying behaviors and emotions caused by trauma three to six months after a traumatic event or events have ended.
Child Protective Services (CPS)
is the designated social service agency (in most communities) to receive and investigate abuse reports and provide rehabilitation services to children and families with problems of child maltreatment.
Human trafficking
is the use of any person under the age of 18 for sexual purposes in exchange for—or for the promise of—money, goods, or services by a non-caregiver.
Child Care Workers
not only have a moral obligation to intervene, but you have a legal obligation to report it.
The Department of Children and Families
provides a spectrum of services to preserve and protect the well-being of children and families.
Interaction with Child and Family
provides information that may further help the caregiver in recognizing possible cases of abuse and/or neglect.
The physical and emotional consequences of child abuse and neglect affect...
the child, family, caregiver, community, and society.
A child must receive adequate stimulation...
to ensure that nerve cells in the brain develop fully.
Emotional Abuse
• Conveying messages that a child is worthless, unwanted, or unloved • Terrorizing a child • Witnessing domestic violence • Demeaning, ridiculing, or belittling a child • Not allowing the child to have friends • Name calling • Not letting a child eat, drink, or use the bathroom
Physical Abuse
• Scalding a child with hot water • Slapping, hitting, shaking, or shoving a child • Beating with a belt, shoe, or other object • Pulling a child's hair • Burning a child with a lighter, matches, cigarettes, iron, or other hot object • Breaking a child's bones • Restraint or imprisonment • Painful punishments, such as kneeling or standing for long periods of time
Sexual Abuse
• Using a child in pornography • Having intercourse or oral sex with a child • Fondling a child's genitals • Having sex in front of a child • Having a child touch another person's genitals • Showing x-rated material to a child