Identifying and Reporting Child Abuse and Neglect

indicators of trauma in children up to 5 years old

- 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

impact of trauma, abuse, and neglect on children

- Extreme anxiety - Depression - Inability to form healthy relationships - Memory loss - Short attention span - Easily distracted - Poor self-esteem - Sleeping or eating disorders

Who can you call for crisis counselors?

- Florida Coalition Against Domestic Violence - Florida Council Against Sexual Violence - 2-1-1 (trauma-informed care specialists)

how to help young children after a traumatic event

- Give these very young children a lot of verbal support - Take a deep breath before holding or picking them up and focus on them, not the trauma - Get down to their eye level and speak in a calm, gentle voice using words they can understand - Tell them that you care for them and will continue to take care of them - Do everything you can to make them feel safe

What 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

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

what protective factors are linked to a lower incidence of child abuse/neglect?

- Nurturing and attachment - Knowledge of parenting and of child and youth development - Parental resilience - Social connections - Concrete supports for parents

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

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

society 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

what NOT to do when a child is telling you about their neglect/abuse

- ask leading question or suggest answers to the child ask for details suggest that the story may not be true show body language such as shock, anger, or surprise while the child is talking communicate feeling of shock, anger or surprise force child to remove clothing to show signs of physical abuse leave the child alone with a stranger ask "why" questions

behavioral indicator of physical neglect

- begs for, steals food - extended stays at school (early arrival, late departure) - constant fatigue, listlessness, or falling asleep in class - alcohol or drug abuse - delinquency (thefts) - states there is no caregiver

what to do when a child is telling you about their neglect/abuse

- believe what the child tells you - be someone the child trusts and respects - conduct the conversation in a quiet, private, and non-threatening place - gather enough info to make an informed report to the FL Abuse hotline - reassure the child that he/she has done nothing wrong - allow the child to tell you what happened in a free/open manner - let the child set the pace and use language that is comfortable to them - ask the child to clarify unfamiliar terms

physical indicator of physical neglect

- consistent hunger, poor hygiene, over/under dressed for the climate - consistent lack of supervision, especially in dangerous activities over long periods of time - unattended physical problems or medical needs (anemia, urinary infections, diarrhea, malnutrition) - abandonment

behavioral indicator of emotional abuse/neglect

- habit disorders (sucking, biting, rocking) - conduct disorders (antisocial, destructive) - neurotic traits (sleep disorders, inhibition of play) - psychoneurotic reactions (hysteria, obsession, compulsion, phobias) -behavior extremes (compliant/passive, aggressive/demanding) - overly-adaptive behavior (inappropriate adult, inappropriate infant) - developmental lags (mental, emotional) - self-destructive behavior or attempted suicide

law enforcement and state attorney's offices role in preventing/intervening in child abuse/neglect

- investigate cases of child abuse and neglect - have victim advocacy programs to provide information and support through the legal system

medical programs and community agencies role in preventing/intervening in child abuse/neglect

- places where staff members provide attention to victims of child abuse and neglect - provide counseling for the abused, the abuser, or family members.

Dep. of Children+ Families role in preventing/intervening in child abuse/neglect

- provides a spectrum of services to preserve - protect the well-being of children and families

physical indicator of emotional abuse/neglect

- speech and language disorders - lags in physical development - failure to thrive

physical indicator of physical abuse

- unexplained bruises or welts - unexplained burns - unexplained broken bones - unexplained lacerations or abrasions -domestic violence

behavioral indicator of physical abuse

- wary of adult contact - apprehensive when other children cry - behavioral extremes: aggressive or withdrawn - frightened of parents - afraid to go home - reports injury by parents - shows anxiety about normal activities (napping, eating, etc.) - easily startled - wearing long sleeves/pants in warm weather - banging, hitting, or threatening play

physical indicator of sexual abuse

-difficulty in walking/sitting - torn, shredded, stained or bloody underclothing - pain or itching in genital area - bruises or bleeding in external genitalia, vaginal or anal areas, or mouth/throat

behavioral indicator of sexual abuse

-withdrawal, fantasy of infantile behavior - bizarre, sophisticated, or unusual sexual behavior, or knowledge - poor peer relationships - delinquency or running away - reports sexual assault by caregiver

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 sec

when was the first child abuse case reported?

1873

Each year, the Florida Abuse Hotline receives about ______ phone calls, faxes, and web reports in the state of Florida regarding child abuse, neglect and abandonment.

300,000

____% of all reports to the Florida Abuse Hotline are from reporters who are required to provide their name.

55

____% of reports are sent off to the local county to be investigated by a Child Protective Investigator (CPI).

80

verbal abuse

A form of emotional abuse that involves excessive yelling, shaming, belittling and/or teasing of a child.

______ Floridians must report any suspected child abuse, abandonment, and/or neglect

ALL

gang

An association of three or more individuals whose purpose, in part, is to engage in criminal activity

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: - inflicts, or allows to be inflicted, upon the child physical, mental, or emotional injury; - commits, or allows to be committed, sexual battery, or lewd or lascivious acts against a child; - allows, encourages, or forces the sexual exploitation of a child; - exploits a child, or allows a child to be exploited; - abandons the child; - neglects the child; - exposes a child to a controlled substance or alcohol; - uses mechanical devices, unreasonable restraints, or extended periods of isolation to control a child; - 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: - negligently fails to protect a child in his or her care from inflicted physical, cognitive, or sexual injury caused by the acts of another; - has allowed a child's sibling to die as a result of abuse, abandonment, or neglect. - 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.

observable signs of abuse/neglect from families

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

examples of 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

what to do if caregiver is wrongly accused of child abuse/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.

immunity

Exemption from civil or criminal charges resulting from reporting "in good faith."

child neglect

Failure to provide - food - clothing - shelter - health care - needed supervision - support - acceptance - attention -warmth - normal living experiences

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.

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

True or False: children lie about being abuse

False. Children who are being abused tend to keep it secret because they fear retaliation, disbelief, and rejection.

2 ways 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

4 ways to report suspected abuse/neglect

Online (To file an abuse report online, simply visit the Department of Children and Families' website and click the icon titled "Report Abuse Online.") Telephone - call 1-800-96ABUSE (1-800-962-2873) Florida Relay 7-1-1 Fax report to 1-800-914-0004

Florida abuse hotline

Operates 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, toll free telephone number, 1-800-962-2873.

ways the law protects caregivers who report suspected child abuse/neglect

People in good faith of reporting abuse/neglect will be protected from suing Names are confidential except for a few resources.

shaking a baby of young child can cause...

Permanent brain damage Paralysis Blindness Seizures Developmental delays Broken bones Death

who is required to give his/her name when filing a report of suspected abuse/neglect?

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; Judge ALL CHILD CARE PROFESSIONALS

examples of 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

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. harms and/or impairs both a child's mental and physical health.

institutional abuse/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.

how to cope with a crying baby or child

Taking deep, slow breaths Taking a break Asking for help Counting to 10

Child Protective Services (CPS)

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. Frequently located within larger public or private social service agencies, or within law enforcement agencies. Provides services that protect children from abuse and neglect, enforces the statutes on child abuse and neglect prevention, and initiates the process of protecting the abused from further victimization.

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. harms and/or impairs a child's physical health.

gang trafficking

The trafficking is a source of generating money for the gang, and a gang member is involved in the trafficking of the victim. This might be a local, state, national, or transnational

pimp trafficking

There is a third party "brokering" the exchange of the sexual act for a tangible item, typically money. Pimps can be any age, any gender, and can come from all types of backgrounds.

renegade/survival sex (human trafficking example)

There is no third party; no pimp. The victim may "broker" exchanges for a sexual act independently. There may be an exchange of a sexual act for money, food, housing, clothing, etc. Any exchange of a sexual act for any tangible thing, or for the promise of a tangible thing, is human trafficking.

familial trafficking

Trafficking involving a person who is being forced to engage in commercial sex or forced labor by a family member or caregiver.

examples of 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

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 + 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. can be an outcome of emotional abuse/neglect

indicators of human trafficking

Youth's acknowledgement of being trafficked Report of human trafficking by parent/guardian, law enforcement, medical care or service provider, teacher, child protective services, and/or juvenile probation officer History of running away four or more times, or getting kicked out of the home four or more times (the definition of running away or getting kicked out of the home includes times the youth did not voluntarily return within 24 hours and also includes incidents not reported by or to law enforcement) Child is 12 or older and has a history of allegations of sexual abuse (with or without findings); or a disclosure of sexual abuse by the child Current incident or history of inappropriate sexual behaviors (not limited to prostitution) Child is known to associate with confirmed or suspected CSEC youth Child is recovered from a runaway episode in a hotel or known area of prostitution Child has no knowledge about the community in which he/she is located Child is not allowed or is unable to speak for himself/herself and may be extremely fearful Child has no personal items or possessions (including identity documents if foreign born, which is common in cases of labor trafficking) Child appears to have material items that he or she cannot afford, such as cell phones, expensive clothing, tablets, etc. Child shows signs of being groomed in a manner the child cannot afford and cannot justify how the items and/or services were paid for, for example getting hair done, nails done, new clothing, etc. Suspicious tattoos or other signs of branding, for instance tattoos of the trafficker's names, dollar signs, diamonds, stars, etc. Child associates with and/or has relationships with age-inappropriate friends, boyfriends, and/or girlfriends Child has inappropriate, sexually suggestive activity on social media websites and/or chat apps

physical & emotional effects of child abuse/neglect on children

academic problems behavioral problems sexual problems confusion about identity: low self-esteem, poor self-image anxiety, loss of trust, depression medical/dental problems: fertility problems, chronic pain, stress disorders

triggers

can cause a recurrence of symptoms, feelings, and behaviors

physical & emotional effects of child abuse/neglect on caregivers

challenging to deal with disruptive behavior in children not trained to deal with psychological issues heartbreaking to worry about the children you know stress reactions confusion/apprehension about what to do fear of reporting

What is the single, leading cause of death for children ages four and younger?

child abuse and neglect

The effects of child abuse and neglect can be serious and permanently affect children's ________, __________, and _________ development.

cognitive, physical, emotional

3 children die as a result of child abuse in the home in the United States each...

day

the names of reporters are held confidential except to

employees of the department responsible for child protective services, early intervention and prevention services, Healthy Start services, licensing agents, domestic violence services.

True or False: many victims of child abuse do not display physical signs

fact This is why it is very important to be familiar with behavioral indicators as well as physical indicators.

True or False: abuse and neglect are seen among people of all ages, genders, ethnic groups, family structures, races, socioeconomic statuses, and sexual orientations

fact. There are no groups of individuals exempt from incidences of abuse and neglect.

True or False: all child sexual abuse is physical

false 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.

True or False: if a child discloses sexual abuse the best thing to do is to get the details for the investigators

false 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.

True or False: it is hard to predict where sexual abuse may occur because there are no known risk factors

false. 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.

True or False: in most cases of sexual abuse, the perpetrator is a stranger.

false. 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.

emotional abuse

harms and/or impairs a child's mental health.

what to do if a child has a flashback

help the child reconnect to the here-and-now

The average age that child molesters first attack a child is when the molesters are...

in their teens

what three things are most important to have caregivers to for traumatized children?

make them feel - connected - care about - safe

physical & emotional effects of child abuse/neglect on family

mistrust: family isolates itself ineffective: problems get bigger violent non-supportive dysfunction poor role model

child care workers have a _____ and ______ obligation to report child abuse/neglect

moral, legal

do parents have complete authority over their children?

no

labor trafficking

occurs in many different situations, including - domestic servitude; - construction; - landscaping; - the sex industry; - factories and sweatshops; - migrant farm work; - service industries such as nursing homes, cleaning services, bars, and restaurants; - the food industry.

shaken baby syndrome

physical abuse caused by someone shaking an infant and causing injury or death

what are ways to identify child abuse/neglect

physical and behavioral indicators interaction with children and families

physical & emotional effects of child abuse/neglect on society

poor employability skills poor social interaction skills social withdrawal (leading to isolation) repeated patterns of abuse/neglect culture continues to accept violence as a part of life higher medical and social service costs lost human potential increased crime rate

flashback

reliving a traumatic event in real time

human trafficking

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.

failure to report child abuse us a ______ in FL

third degree felony

True or False: most children who have been abuses face life-long mental health issues and many physical conditions have been linked to such trauma

true 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.

True or False: 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

true For example, no four-year-old should have knowledge of the mechanics of sex.

when is PTSD diagnosed in children?

when children are still displaying behaviors and emotions caused by trauma 3-6 months after a traumatic event or events have ended.