Winter 2011

1. Child Abuse and Mandated Reporting Winter 2011

2. Mary-Ellen – the little girl who started it all Mary-Ellen McCormack-Wilson at 10 years of age

3. Mary-Ellen’s History • It was 1873. Mary-Ellen was 9 years old when a church worker, Mrs. Etta Wheeler, who had been asked to visit the family, found Mary-Ellen shackled to her bed, grossly malnourished, scarred and badly beaten. Mrs. Wheeler was so appalled by what she saw that she went to the authorities to report this horrifying child abuse. • The Authorities turned her away. • But Mrs. Wheeler refused to take no for an answer; she petitioned the American SPCA. • ANIMALS WERE PROTECTED, BUT CHILDREN WERE NOT • Mrs. Wheeler appealed to the ASPCA that children were members of the animal kingdom, and must therefore be protected. It was on these grounds that the ASPCA did finally intervene.

4. Mary-Ellen’s testimony in a New York Courtroom in 1874 • My name is Mary-Ellen McCormack. I don’t know how old I am… • I have never had but one pair of shoes, but I can’t recollect when that was. I have no shoes or stocking this winter • I have never had on a particle of flannel. • My bed at night is only a piece of carpet, stretched on the floor underneath a window, and I sleep in my little undergarment, with a quilt over me. • I am never allowed to play with any children or have any company whatever. • Mamma has been in the habit of whipping and beating me almost every day.

5. Mary-Ellen’s testimony in a New York Courtroom in 1874 • She used to whip me with a twisted whip, a raw hide. The whip always left black and blue marks on my body. • I have now on my head two black and blue marks which were made by Mamma with the whip, and a cut on the left side of my forehead which was made by a pair of scissors in Mamma’s hand. • She struck me with the scissors and cut me. • I have no recollection of ever having been kissed, and have never been kissed by Mamma. • I have never been taken on my Mamma’s lap, or caressed or petted.

6. Mary-Ellen’s testimony in a New York Courtroom in 1874 • I have never dared to speak to anybody, because if I did I would get whipped. • Whenever Mamma went out I was locked up in the bedroom… • I have no recollection of ever being in the street in my life. • Mary-Ellen was removed from her abusive home, placed in foster care, where she thrived. She went on to marry, have 2 daughters, and Mary-Ellen lived to the age of 92.

7. Physical Abuse • May consist of one incident or it may happen repeatedly. • It involves deliberately using force against a child in such a way that the child is either injured or is at risk of being injured. • Includes but not limited to: beating, hitting, shaking, pushing, choking, biting, burning, kicking or assaulting a child with a weapon. Also includes holding a child under water, or any other dangerous or harmful use of force or restraint. • Female genital mutilation is another form

8. Considerations of Physical Abuse • Consider the possibility of physical abuse when the child • Has unexplained burns, bites, bruises, broken bones, black eyes • Shrinks at the approach of adults • Seems frightened of the parents • Consider the possibility of physical abuse when the parent or other adult caregiver: • Describes the child as “evil” or in some other very negative way • Uses harsh physical discipline with the child • Has a history of child abuse • Offers conflicting, unconvincing, or no explanation for the child’s injury

9. Questionable Sites for Bruises

10. Sexual Abuse and Exploitation • Involves using a child for sexual purposes • Examples include fondling, inviting a child to touch or be touched sexually, intercourse, rape, incest, sodomy, exhibitionism, or involving a child in prostitution or pornography

11. Considerations of Sexual Abuse • Consider the possibility of sexual abuse when the child: • Has difficulty walking or sitting • Suddenly refuses to change for gum or to participate in physical activities • Reports nightmares or bedwetting • Experiences a sudden change in appetite • Demonstrates bizarre, sophisticated, or unusual sexual knowledge or behaviour • Consider the possibility of sexual abuse when the parent or other adult caregiver: • Is unduly protective of the child or severely limits the child’s contact with other children, especially of the opposite sex • Is secretive and isolated • Is jealous or controlling with family members

12. Neglect • Often chronic, and it usually involves repeated incidents • Failing to provide what a child needs for his or her physical, psychological or emotional development and well being • Examples, neglect includes failing to provide a child with food, clothing, shelter, cleanliness, medical care or protection from harm • Emotional neglect includes failing to provide a child with love, safety, and a sense of worth

13. Considerations of Neglect • Consider the possibility of neglect when the child: • Is frequently absent from school • Begs or steals food or money • Lacks needed medical or dental care, immunizations or glasses • Is consistently dirty and has severe body odour • Lacks sufficient clothing for the weather • Abuses alcohol or other drugs • States there is no one at home to provide care • Consider the possibility of neglect when the parent or other adult caregiver: • Appears to be indifferent to the child • Behaves irrationally or in a bizarre manner • Is abusing alcohol or other drugs

14. Emotional Abuse • Involves harming a child’s sense of self • Includes acts (or omissions) that result in, or place a child at risk of, serious behavioural, cognitive, emotional or mental health problems • Examples include emotional abuse may include verbal threats, social isolation, intimidation, exploitation, or routinely making unreasonable demands • Also includes terrorizing a child, or exposing them to family violence

15. Considerations for Emotional Abuse • Consider the possibility of emotional abuse when the child: • Shows extremes in behaviour, such as overly compliant or demanding behaviour, extreme passivity, or aggression • Is either inappropriately adult (ex. parenting other children), or inappropriately infantile (ex. frequently rocking or head-banging) • Is delayed in physical or emotional development • Has attempted suicide • Reports lack of attachment to the parent • Consider the possibility of emotional abuse when the parent or other adult caregiver: • Constantly blames, belittles, or berates the child • Is unconcerned about the child and refuses to consider offers of help for the child’s problems • Overtly rejects the child

16. Affects • Girls and boys are affected differently by abuse • Girls • Likely to internalize their response to violence • Examples: suicidal ideation, eating disorders, low self-esteem, psychological disorders. • Boys • Likely to externalize their response to violence • Examples: increased aggression, delinquency and spousal abuse • Boys who have been exposed to violence in their homes are more likely to be violent in their adolescent and adult relationships than boys not exposed to violence.

17. Did You Know? • ONE in every 4 girls will be sexually abused by the age of 18 • ONE in every 6 boys will be sexually abused by the age of 18 • ONE in every 5 children in our country is affected by some form of child abuse (emotional, sexual, physical, neglect) • ONE in every 10 children in our country is seriously injured by child abuse

18. History of Child Protection in Canada In 1886, John Kelso, a Globe reporter, wrote about the child abuse horrors that many of these children were experiencing. In 1887, the Toronto Humane Society was formed with the mandate to prevent cruelty to animals and children (Bagnal, 1985, p854). The Children’s Aid Society was formed in 1891 with Kelso as founding president. He was instrumental in getting the government in 1893 to pass the first bill in Canada to protect children.

19. Duty To Report Section 72(1) of the Child and Family Services Act Despite the provisions of any other Act, if a person, including a person who performs professional or official duties with respect to children, has reasonable grounds to suspect one of the following, the person shall forthwith report the suspicion and the information on which it is based to a society.

20. Reasonable Grounds • It is not necessary for you to be certain a child is or may be in need of protection to make a report to a CAS. “Reasonable grounds” refers to the information that an average person, using normal and honest judgement, would need in order to decide to report.

21. Ongoing Duty To Report • A person who has additional reasonable grounds to suspect one of the matters set out in subsection (1) shall make a further report under subsection (1) even if he or she has made previous reports with respect to the same child. [CFSA s72(2)] • A person who has a duty to report a matter under subsection (1) or (2) shall make the report directly to the society and shall not rely on any other person to report on his or her behalf. [CFSA s72(3)]

22. Special Responsibilities • Professionals and officials have the same duty as the rest of the public to report their suspicion that a child is or may be in need of protection. • Any professional or official who fails to report a suspicion is liable on conviction to a fine of up to $1000, if they obtained the information in the course of their professional or official duties. [CFSA s72 (4), (6.2)] • This act prevails despite anything in the Personal Health Information Protection Act, 2004 [CFSA s72 (9)]

23. To Whom Do You Report Abuse? • If you suspect child abuse or neglect report the information to your local Children's Aid Society immediately. • In Simcoe County call 1-800-461-4236 toll free. • BARRIE (head office), 60 Bell Farm Rd, Unit 7 L4M 5G6 Tel (705) 726-6587 or 1-800-461-4236 Fax (705) 726-9788 • ALLISTON, 46 Wellington St. W, Unit 4 L9R 2B8 Tel: (705) 435-4348 Fax (705) 435-3547 • BRADFORD, 118 Barrie St, Box 872 L3Z 2B3 Tel: (905) 775-4336 Fax (905) 775-5325 • COLLINGWOOD, 186 Hurontario St., Unit 105 L9Y 4T4 Tel: (705) 444-9160 Fax (705) 445-9601 • MIDLAND, 741 Yonge Street, Unit 7 & 8, L4R 2E1 Tel: (705) 526-9341 Fax (705) 526-3418 • ORILLIA, 94 Colborne St. W, L3V 2Y9 Tel: (705) 325-1005 Fax (705) 325-1519