Transcript CHILD CARE CONSULTATION

Child Abuse and
Neglect
Overview for Child
Care Providers
Child Abuse & Neglect
National Statistics
Over 3 million reports of child
abuse and neglect are reported
each year
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Neglect
Physical
Sexual
Emotional
60%
20%
10%
7%
Child Abuse & Neglect
National 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
Who 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
Children’s 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
Reporting
You should report
ANY
reasonable suspicion of abuse
Why Abuse is Not
Reported
Little or no training
 Afraid of reprisals or being sued
 “Bureaucratic tape”
 Personal feeling for child/family
 Very stressful
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The Child Care Provider
Usually, the only
other person
outside immediate
family members
who sees a child
on an on-going basis
Reasonable Suspicion
The most important thing
to remember is that …
you should report any
reasonable suspicion of abuse
YOU DO NOT NEED TO
PROVE IT!
Risk Factors
Lack of parenting skills
 Overuse of physical punishment
 Poor coping skills
 Marital difficulties

Risk Factors
Lack of knowledge of normal
growth and development
 Criminal behavior
 Immaturity
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Children 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.
Children with
Special Needs
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Exact number of disabilities caused by
abuse is unknown.
Estimated to represent at least 25% of
all developmental disabilities!
Child Abuse Prevention
Techniques for Children
with Special Needs
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Teach children personal safety skills
Know all care providers and observe
interactions, since the child is so
dependent on the caregiver.
Child Abuse Prevention
Techniques for Children
with Special Needs
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Participate in prevention training
programs.
Develop relationships with local
community agencies and schools
that serve children with disabilities.
Physical Abuse
Any physical injury to a child
that is not accidental
Types of Physical
Injuries
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Bruises
Human bite marks
Burns
Fractures
Head/brain injuries
Poisoning
Shaken Baby Syndrome
Brain damage that may result in the
following:
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Spinal injury/paralysis
Blindness
Deafness
Seizures
Retardation
Impaired motor/sensory skills
Death
Shaken Baby Syndrome
Signs and Symptoms
Swelling of soft spot
 Larger head than normal
 Bleeding in the eyes
 Unable to lift/turn head
 Irritability
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Shaken Baby Syndrome
Signs and symptoms
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Excessive drowsiness
Difficulty breathing
Seizures
Projectile vomiting
Unresponsiveness
Harmless Activities?
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Tossing child in air repeatedly
Jogging with infant on back/shoulders
“Riding a horse”
“Cracking the whip”
Shaken Baby Syndrome
Prevention
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Never ever, ever shake a baby!!
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ALWAYS support the baby’s head
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Learn strategies to deal with crying
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If shaken, take to ER immediately
Cultural Practices
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Vietnamese folk practice
– Coining - Cao Gio
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Mexican-American practice
– Burns - “cupping”
– Head Injuries - “fallen fontanelle”
Natural Marks
Mongolian Spots
 Salmon Patches
 Strawberry Marks
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Emotional Abuse
Pattern of behavior
that interferes with the
positive emotional
development
and sense of self-worth
Emotional Abuse
Rejection
 Verbal assault
 Withholding love
 Terrorizing the child
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Emotional Abuse
Not providing basic nurturing
 Refusing help for child’s mental
health needs
 Failure to provide physical/mental
stimulation to grow
 Exposure to domestic violence
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Sexual Abuse and
Unlawful Sexual
Behavior
“Touching” offenses, such as
Fondling
 Intercourse, rape, sodomy
 Child forced to touch perpetrator
in sexual manner

Sexual 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

Symptoms of Sexual
Abuse
Symptoms can be physical, behavioral,
or emotional, such as
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Poor peer relationships
Pregnancy or sexually transmitted disease
Sexual acting out or sexual knowledge
beyond that appropriate for age
Child Neglect
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Failure to provide basic necessities
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food
clothing
shelter
medical care
Types of Neglect
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Safety or Supervisional Neglect
– inadequate supervision, abandonment, failure
to safely store weapons or toxic materials
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Educational Neglect
– failure to enroll a child in school or attend to
the child’s educational needs

Medical Neglect
– withholding important medical care necessary
to the child’s well being and health
What to do!!
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Believe
Listen
Reassure
Rephrase
Inform
Report
What 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
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Child Protection
 Contact
your supervisor
 Follow center policies and
procedures
Child Protection
 Reporting
 Investigation
 Child
Protection Team
 Court Process
 Central Registry
Reporting
Child 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_phone_numbers.htm