The Mandate to Report, The Opportunity to Prevent

1. The Mandate to Report, The Opportunity to Prevent www.pcageorgia.org HELPLINE: 1-800-CHILDREN

2. Expectations and Goals © 2006 Prevent Child Abuse Georgia

3. Overview • Introduction to Prevent Child Abuse (PCA) Georgia • The Evolution of Child Abuse Prevention • Prevention in the 21st Century • Recognizing and Reporting Child Maltreatment • Protective Factors for Prevention • 1-800 CHILDREN Helpline © 2006 Prevent Child Abuse Georgia

4. Preventive Action © 2006 Prevent Child Abuse Georgia

5. Continuum of Prevention Preventing Initial Abuse Preventing Revictimization Primary Secondary Tertiary 5 © 2006 Prevent Child Abuse Georgia

6. Why Prevention isso Important

7. Facts About Child Maltreatment In Georgia (2008): 84,035 reports made to DFCS 88% of reports were screened out, unsubstantiated, closed or diverted. © 2006 Prevent Child Abuse Georgia

8. Not always safe at home • Over 80% of maltreaters are the child’s biological parent • 90% of child abuse occurs in the victim’s home © 2006 Prevent Child Abuse Georgia

9. Nationally In Georgia, over 78% of substantiated abuse is neglect. © 2006 Prevent Child Abuse Georgia

10. Child Fatalities Nationally, 1,760 children died of abuse and neglect in one year.(Administration for Children and Families, 2007.) 97% of all child deaths related to abuse were determined to be possibly or definitely preventable GA Child Fatality Review Annual Report 2006 © 2006 Prevent Child Abuse Georgia

11. Cost of Child Maltreatment • Estimated annual costs of treating the effects of child maltreatment are over $100 billion(PCA America 2007) © 2006 Prevent Child Abuse Georgia

12. -- George W. Albee, Ph.D. “No epidemic has ever been resolved by paying attention to the treatment of the affected individual.”

13. Recognizing and Reporting Child Maltreatment The Mandate to Report

14. Physical Abuse Non-accidental physical injury of a child © 2006 Prevent Child Abuse Georgia

15. Neglect Includes lack of adequate food, shelter, clothing, medical care; unmet emotional/psychological needs; educational/ cognitive neglect; lack of supervision; birth addicted (drug exposure) © 2006 Prevent Child Abuse Georgia

16. Sexual Abuse Exploitation of a child for the sexual gratification of an adult or older child. Includes touching (fondling, sodomy, rape) and non-touching (child prostitution, indecent exposure and exhibitionism, exposing a child to pornography or using the Internet as a vehicle for exploitation). © 2006 Prevent Child Abuse Georgia

17. Emotional Abuse Excessive/aggressive parental behavior that places unreasonable demands on a child; verbal abuse; rejection, terrorizing, shameful punishment; withholding physical/emotional contact, and/or inappropriate expectations © 2006 Prevent Child Abuse Georgia

18. When a Child Discloses Maltreatment • Find a private place to talk with the child • Reassure the child: “I believe you,” “I’m gladyou told me,” “It’s not your fault.” • Listen attentively and calmly • Write down the facts/words as the child stated • First statements made spontaneously have forensic significance • Exact words can be important to investigators © 2006 Prevent Child Abuse Georgia

19. When a Child Discloses Maltreatment • Respect the child’s need for confidentiality • Leave investigative work to professionals • Minimize the number of questions you ask • Avoid the use of leading questions • Don’t try to get all of the details • Report the disclosure immediately to designated reporter (or CPS/police) © 2006 Prevent Child Abuse Georgia

20. Types of Disclosures • Indirect Hints • Disguised Disclosures • Disclosures with Strings Attached © 2006 Prevent Child Abuse Georgia

21. Reporting Child Maltreatment • OCGA 19-7-5 defines abuse and outlines reporting guidelines • “Reasonable suspicions,” not necessarily direct evidence • An oral report should be made to DFCS (CPS) office in county where the child lives within 24 hours • When unable to reach DFCS or if child is in immediate danger, contact police or DA © 2006 Prevent Child Abuse Georgia

22. Information Useful for Report • Name, age, address and current location of child (School child attends, if known) • Name and address of child’s parents or caregivers (if known) • Name and address of suspected perpetrator • Location where the abuse took place (if known) • The nature/extent of the child’s injuries/neglect, including evidence of previous injuries/neglect • Any other information helpful in establishing cause of injuries/neglect or perpetrator identity © 2006 Prevent Child Abuse Georgia

23. Mandated Reporters Georgia law requires certain individuals to report suspected child abuse: * Mandated reporters should know and follow the child abuse reporting protocol in their agency © 2006 Prevent Child Abuse Georgia

24. Mandated Reporters • Rights of the Mandated Reporter • Anonymity or confidentiality • Knowledge of the outcome only of a report • Penalties for NOT reporting • Guilty of misdemeanor –OCGA 19-7-5(h) • Discipline by school/agency and/or termination of employment © 2006 Prevent Child Abuse Georgia

25. Role of Child Protective Services • Involved only with children under 18 • Investigates substantiated suspected abuse/neglect • Has authority to: © 2006 Prevent Child Abuse Georgia

26. Protective Factorsfor Prevention The Opportunity to Prevent

27. Preventing Child Maltreatment • Know the conditions that may lead to child maltreatment • Identify and reduce risk factors © 2006 Prevent Child Abuse Georgia

28. Parental / Caregiver Immaturity Unrealistic Expectations Social Isolation Unmet Emotional Needs Frequent Crisis Parental / Family Factors Situations vulnerable to abuse and neglect: • Poor Childhood Experiences • Drug/Alcohol Problems • Mental Illness • Poor Family Boundaries • Dangerous home environment © 2006 Prevent Child Abuse Georgia

29. Resistance and Resilience • Recognize and increase protective factors © 2006 Prevent Child Abuse Georgia

30. Protective Factors • Parental resilience • Social connections • Knowledge of parenting / child development • Concrete supports in times of need • Social / emotional development of children © 2006 Prevent Child Abuse Georgia

31. Protective Factors • Children have access to appropriate role models • Children are surrounded with secure relationships • Families are linked to services; medical, community-based, faith-based • Community social norms value the importance of families seeking help • Neighbors look out for one another • Programs and services promote resilience in families and children © 2006 Prevent Child Abuse Georgia

32. Protective Factors © 2006 Prevent Child Abuse Georgia

33. HELPLINE 1 8 0 0 C H I L D R E N Prevent Child Abuse Georgia 1-800-244-5373 © 2006 Prevent Child Abuse Georgia

34. Adult Responsibility The most important thing we can do as adults to prevent the perpetration of child maltreatment is talk to each other and hold ourselves and others responsible for protecting children. • A family/community culture of communication • Education about risk factors and warning sign behaviors in adults and youth • Balanced understanding for accountability and treatment of perpetrators © 2006 Prevent Child Abuse Georgia

35. Something to Consider If we are sincere in our concern for children, If we are truly dedicated to empowering families to reach their full potential and ensuring the well-being of all children… © 2006 Prevent Child Abuse Georgia

36. Something to Consider Then we have…. “…promises to keep, and miles to go before we sleep Taken from Robert Frost’s Poem “Stopping by Woods on a Snowy Evening” © 2006 Prevent Child Abuse Georgia

37. 1-800-CHILDREN www.pcageorgia.org