mandated reporter training: identifying and reporting child abuse and maltreatment/neglect
TRANSCRIPT
Mandated Reporter Training:
Identifying and Reporting Child Abuse and
Maltreatment/Neglect
National Incidence Study
The reasons for this are:
• Confusion or misunderstanding about reporting laws and procedures
• Lack of knowledge or awareness of warning signs/clues
Found professionals reported only half the incidents about which they knew.
University of Rochester Study
• Not clear about abuse/neglect as defined in State Law
• Often influenced by their professional beliefs, values, and experiences
Mandated Reporters disclosed they were:
Child Protective Services Act of 1973
MandatedReporter
Local Child Protective Services
State Central Register
Reports Registered
2007
Non-Mandated Reporter
Mandated Reporter
Role of Mandated Reporter
While acting in their professional capacity, to
report suspected incidents of child abuse or maltreatment/neglect.
Professional Capacity
Anytime that a person is acting within the scope of their employment or carrying out functions as part of the duties and responsibilities of their profession.
08 OCFS INF 01
• MR with direct knowledge is responsible to call the SCR
• MR notifies Agency Administrator (or Reporting Designee)
immediately • No prior approval or conditions may be imposed• Agency Administrator– LDSS-2221A– Maintains the Call ID #– Provides SCR with all KNOWN names of other agency MRs with direct
knowledge
• Immunity (don’t call anonymously)
• Source Confidentiality
• No retaliatory personnel action shall be taken for making report
Legal Protections
Failure to Make the Call
Criminal – Class A Misdemeanor
Civil Liability
Legal Penalties
Mandated Reporter Records
Section 415 of the SSL requires mandated reporters to provide records regarding a mandated report necessary for a CPS investigation, irrespective of HIPAA proscriptions or any other privilege.
Consider the Child
• Must be less than 18 years of age
• What has happened?
• Who may be responsible?
Abuse
• Inflicts or allows to be inflicted serious physical injury
• Creates or allows to becreated substantial riskof serious physical injury
• Commits or allows to becommitted sexual abuse
Maltreatment/Neglect
• A child whose physical, mental, or emotional condition has been impaired or is at imminent danger of becoming impaired
• A parent’s or custodian’s failure to provide a minimum degree of care
Types of Neglect
• Fails to provide:– adequate food, clothing, shelter, education, or medical care– proper supervision or guardianship
OR
• Inflicts/allows to be inflicted harm, including the infliction of excessive corporal punishment
• Misuses alcohol or other drugs
• Abandonment
Bruising Areas
Knees
Shin
ElbowsBack
ButtocksBack of Thighs
Back of Calves
Normal Bruising Areas
Suspicious Bruising Areas
Common Indicators
• Child’s Physical Indicators
• Child’s Behavioral Indicators
• Parent’s Behavioral Indicators
Handprint Injury
Looped Cord Injury
Steam Iron Injury
Talking with Children
Do:
- Find a private place
- Remain calm
- Be honest, open, up-front, supportive
- Be an advocate
- Listen to the child
- Report the situation immediately
Talking with Children
Don’t:
- Overreact
- Make judgments/promises
- Interrogate or investigate
Person Legally Responsible
• Parent
• Guardian
• Custodian
• Day Care Provider
• Residential Care Staff
Who Can Be Reported?
Reasonable Cause to Suspect
• Do not have to prove it
• Distrust or doubt is enough
• Based on observation or disclosure
• Child is harmed or in imminent danger of harm
Imminent Danger
• Distance between child and harm by actions or failure to act
• Could occur immediately or very soon
• How direct the threat is to the child
Case Scenarios
• What indicators are present?
• Is there reasonable cause to suspect abuse or maltreatment/neglect?
• If so, who is responsible for abuse or maltreatment/neglect?
• What are your next steps?
Evaluating Your Response
Category A This should be left to the family
Category B Assistance to seek communityagency or resource as appropriate
Category C Reportable to State Central Register (SCR)
Category D Call Police Immediately
Make the call
Mandated Reporter Express Line
1-800-635-1522New York State Child Abuse and
Maltreatment Register
• Demographics
• Has the child been harmed, or is the child at risk of harm, and how?
• Role of parent or person legally responsible?
• Ongoing pattern?
Making the Call
• Where is the child?• Are there any special needs or medications?
What are they?• Concerns for local CPS (weapons, dogs, etc).
• Is an interpreter required?• Name, title, and contact information of other MRs
and other persons with direct knowledge of abuse and neglect from your agency.
• Any other information?
Making the Call
Follow up the Call
• Complete Form LDSS-2221A within 48 hours
• Send to local CPS
New York State Child Protective Services System
Call to the SCR
Services Provided No Services Provided
Service Plan
Transmit to Local CPS
UnfoundedIndicated
Case Closed
Monitoring of Services
Ongoing Assessment
Investigation/Safety Assessment
Report Registered Report Not Registered Referred to LER(Law Enforcement
Referral)
No Services Provided
Case Closed
Services Offered
Local District Response
• Begin investigation within 24 hours– Assess safety of child
– If necessary, take steps to protect child
• Determination of report within 60 days– Indicated
– Unfounded and sealed
Wrap-Up and Summary
• Review Objectives
• Questions and Answers
• Evaluation