welcome to busting myths! please take a moment...
TRANSCRIPT
Welcome to Busting Myths! Please take a moment and fill out the cards on the table. Once completed pass to the end of the table they will be collected before we begin.
Welcome Child Welfare Professionals!
Busting the Myths and Uncovering the Ins and Outs of the Florida Abuse Hotline
Welcome Child Welfare Professionals!
Objectives▪ Bring awareness to common myths about the Hotline
▪ Explain the requirements of a Professionally Mandated Reporter
▪ The key to understanding the Florida Abuse Hotline
▪ Overview of the Hotline– Call Floor Counselors, CIU Staff, and Specialist
▪ Describe the assessment and work flow process
▪ How the Hotline impacts other Frontline Staff
▪ Myth or Fact?
What are some of the things that you have heard about the Hotline?
Myth or Fact??▪ The public believes that we are able to provide an
update/status check on investigations
▪ That a call to the Hotline entails the automatic removal of children in the home
▪ That DCF only takes reports of household violence if the children were present at the time of the incident
▪ A parent who refuses to have their child immunized has medically neglected the child
▪ The Hotline is able to take a report on a school bus driver who slapped the student for talking back leaving a bruise on the right cheek.
Busting Myths Continued. . .
▪ When a report is accepted and requires an immediate response, DCF has the same capability as EMS and is able to respond within the same timeframe
▪ The state of Homelessness, alone, is abuse/neglect
▪ The Hotline has the capability to perform a Wellness Check on a child
▪ The Hotline is able to take reports, without the reporter being able to provide enough information in order to justify the intervention
Professionally Mandated Reporters
Who are they?
When am I
required to
report?
Can I report
anonymously?
What are the
penalties if I don’t
make a report?
What do I need to
have ready at the
time of the call?
The to Understanding the Hotline
Jurisdiction is defined in Ch.39 of the Florida Statutes and C.F.O.P. 170-2
Child VictimAlleged Perpetrator (Caregiver- Non-
Caregiver)Resident of Florida or located in Florida
Acceptance Criteria Jurisdiction
Reasonable Cause to Suspect HarmMeans To Locate
Myth Busters
▪ Jasmine is currently here in Florida visiting her aunt. Jasmine has disclosed that her father is sexually abusing her in Mississippi. The aunt is calling because she does not want to send her niece back to her father in Mississippi.
▪ The Hotline will be accepting a report for investigations, is this a myth or fact?
Introducing Hotline Staff!
▪ There are multiple positions at the Florida Abuse Hotline, including but not limited to the following:
▪ Hotline Counselors ▪ Criminal Intelligence Technicians▪ Specialist
Hotline Counselor ▪ Knowledgeable in both Child and Adult Welfare and Florida State
Statutes, Policies and Procedures
▪ Assess for known or suspected child abuse, neglect, or abandonment and reports of known or suspected abuse, neglect, or exploitation of vulnerable adults
▪ Determine if the information provided meets statutory criteria for the Department to conduct an investigation
▪ Conducts diligent searches and provides referrals, when appropriate
▪ Assigns cases to appropriate DCF counties or law enforcement agencies for investigation
▪ Provides accurate, complete, and timely reports while providing quality customer service
Thank you for calling the Florida Abuse Hotline, how may I help you?
Assessment
▪ The assessment process at the Florida Abuse Hotline utilizes the 6 Domain Information Collection in order for the counselor to gather a fuller picture of the family and the way that they interact with each other.
Work Flow Process
▪ If a report is accepted, they are ‘screened in’ and will be electronically sent out to the corresponding county. At this time, the intake is assigned to an investigator and they will respond accordingly to the family.
Top 3 Maltreatments Assigned to 2017-2018 Child Intakes
▪ Inadequate Supervision
▪Physical Injury
▪Household Violence Threatens Child
Criminal Intelligence Technician
▪ Conducts Background Checks on participants 12 years of age or older
▪ Conducts Record Checks for investigations and placements
▪ Processes calls via external Helpline
▪ Provides referrals to the community and assists in Emergency Placement, Planned Placement and Reunification
▪ Calls out Immediate and Concurrent County intakes
Specialist
▪ Review and provide Field Feedback Requests
▪ Conduct Splits, Merges and Screen out Requests from investigative staff
▪ Assist with changes of Maltreatments and County Assignment
▪ Assist with call volume
▪ Utilizes a working knowledge of Policy, Procedure and Florida State Statues to assist the Field and Hotline staff
4,399
1,576
Screen Out Request Submitted
Screen Out Requests Counselor Error
Screen Out Requests due to Counselor Error
225,241
61,309
20,770
307,320
Screened In Intakes
Screened In Child Intakes
Screened In Adult Intakes
Screened In SpecialConditions
Total Screened In Intakes
79,332
55,700
7,688
142,720
Screened Out Intakes
Screened Out Child Intakes
Screened Out AdultIntakes
Screened Out SpecialConditions
Total Screened OutIntakes
Screened In/ Out Intakes
Counselor Error Percentage
307,320
4,522
Total Number of Reports Accepted
Feedback Forms Marked Counselor Error
Total Error Percentage:
1.47%
Florida Abuse Hotline▪ Mission: To provide quality customer service while assessing abuse and
neglect, to ensure protection of Florida’s most vulnerable citizens.
▪ Vision: To help protect children and vulnerable adults from abuse, neglect, abandonment, and exploitation.
▪ In order to achieve this vision, the Hotline focuses on four major tasks every day:
▪ Accessibility: Ensure the public and investigative staff can access the Hotline and receive a positive experience.
▪ Assessment: Determine if calls meet the statutory definition of abuse, neglect, abandonment, and exploitation.
▪ Accuracy: Provide accurate, complete, and timely reports to protective investigations staff.
▪ Customer Service: Deliver extraordinary customer service to the citizens of Florida and protective investigations staff.
What happens Next?
❖The Investigator has 24 hours to make a face to face contact with the victim.
❖In serious situations involving present danger to the victim, the Investigator will respond as soon as possible.
❖The Investigator will also contact the reporter if they leave their name.
❖The Investigator will also contact the family and other individuals who know the victim and family if necessary.
How does the Hotline impact your work?
Lets Team UP!!
Myth Busters
▪ Megan is 15 years old and has been diagnosed with dissociative identity disorder. She resides with her mother here in Florida. Megan has been having homicidal and suicidal ideations as a result of past childhood trauma. The mother is aware of Megan’s mental health however she has done nothing to assist in improving Megan’s mental health. The mother is aware that Megan has been buying guns and other weapons off of the internet.
▪ The Hotline will be accepting a report for investigations, is this a myth or fact?
Myth Busters
▪ Renee, who is fifteen, ran away last week. Today, September 6th, 2018 the Hotline has received information that Renee is ready to be released from the DJJ facility. The DJJ staff member is calling to state that the parents are refusing to pick the child up from the facility.
▪ The Hotline will be accepting a report for investigations, is this a myth or fact?
Myth Busters
▪ The mother has extensive history of chronic drug use. Today, she gave birth to a premature baby. There are no concerns for her ability to care for the child however the reporter is concerned about the mother’s drug use.
▪ The Hotline will be accepting a report for investigations, is this a myth or fact?
Myth Busters
▪ Recently, Elizabeth (16) and her mother moved to the state of Florida from Texas. Today the school counselor is calling the Hotline to report that while in Texas, the father was physically abusive towards Elizabeth and her mother for several years. The reporter believes that this is the first time Elizabeth has disclosed this information.
▪ The Hotline has received this information and is accepting a report. Is this a Myth or a Fact?
Myth Busters
▪ Mrs. Kathy’s daughter attends Sabal Palm Elementary School. Today, Mrs. Kathy volunteered at her daughter’s school. While at the school, Mrs. Kathy witnessed a student in her daughter’s class named Adam hit another student. Mrs. Kathy walked over to Adam and pinched him causing a red bruise to appear. After the incident Mrs. Kathy was told she could no longer volunteer at the school.
▪ The Hotline has received this information and is accepting a report. Is this a Myth or a Fact?
Myth Busters
▪ Kevin is 16 years old and is smoking cigarettes. His parents are aware however are not intervening. The parents do not contribute to his cigarette use and do not condone of it. There is a concern for Kevin’s health.
▪ The Hotline has received this information and is accepting a report. Is this a Myth or a Fact?
Myth Busters
▪ The mother found eight month old Leslie deceased in her crib. The Hotline is receiving the information from the EMT on scene.
▪ The Hotline has received this information and is accepting a report. Is this a Myth or a Fact?
Myth Busters
▪ The mother did not strap her 20 month old daughter Jasmine into the car seat correctly. While driving, the mother was hit by a drunk driver and Jasmine was ejected from the vehicle. Jasmine is currently in the hospital in the ICU.
▪ The Hotline has received this information and is accepting a report. Is this a Myth or a Fact?
Myth Busters
▪ Kristen is seven years old and medically fragile due to her diagnosis of Cerebral Palsy. Kristen was admitted to the hospital 1 month ago for a broken leg not due to abuse or neglect. While in the hospital she has developed a stage 3 decubitus ulcer.
▪ The Hotline has received this information and is accepting a report. Is this a Myth or a Fact?
Myth Busters
▪ Erin is seventeen years old, hospital staff is calling to say that Erin gave birth today August 30th, 2017. Erin resides in the home with her mother and father. The father of the baby is Joseph, twenty years old, and the sex between Erin and Joseph is consensual. There is no concern for her ability to take care of the baby. Erin will be going back to her parents home after being discharged from the hospital.
▪ The Hotline has received this information and is accepting a report. Is this a Myth or a Fact?
Myth Busters
▪ The mother and father share 50/50 custody of eight year old Xavier. Xavier resides with his mother here in Florida and is a resident. While visiting his father in New Jersey, Xavier was sexually abused by his father. Xavier is currently in New Jersey and will not be returning until Thanksgiving 2018.
▪ The Hotline will be accepting a report for investigations, is this a myth or fact?
Thank You for Having Us!!
Dolores King, Florida Abuse Hotline Trainer/Community Training Liaison
Email: [email protected]
Phone: (850)487-6078
Meredith Todd, Florida Abuse Hotline Trainer
Email: [email protected]
Phone: (850)487-6104
Andre Ousley, Training Manager, Florida Abuse Hotline
Email: [email protected]
Phone: (850)487-6134