Kaleidoscope Readings 11 & 41 A.Seider, A.Villa, K.Woods, K.Womelsdorf, A.Wurtz

1. At Risk for Abuse: A Teacher’s Guide for Recognizing and Reporting Child Neglect and Abuse & The Teacher’s Ten Commandments: School Law in the Classroom Kaleidoscope Readings 11 & 41 A.Seider, A.Villa, K.Woods, K.Womelsdorf, A.Wurtz

2. In 2009, approximately 1 out of every 1,000 children living in PA were found to be victims of Child Abuse. In that same year 43 children died from abuse. IN 2009, there were 25,342 cases of child abuse were reported in PA. Of those cases, 3,943 were found substantiated. * The exact number of children who are abused is difficult to determine because many cases of abuse go under-reported!!!

3. Defines child abuse and neglect as The physical or mental injury, sexual abuse or exploitation, negligent treatment, or maltreatment of a child under the age of eighteen, or the age specified by the child protective law of the state in question, by a person who is responsible for the child welfare under circumstances which indicate that the child’s health or welfare is harmed or threatened What Constitutes as abuse in: PA Act which causes non-accidental serious physical injury, sexual abuse/exploitation, serious physical neglect constituting prolonged or repeated lack of supervision or failure to provide essentials of life NJ Physical injury by other than accidental means; causing substantial risk of death or serious disfigurement or protracted impairment of physical or emotional health; sexual abuse or acts of sexual abuse; willful abandonment; willful isolation of ordinary social contact to indicate emotional or social deprivation; inappropriate placement in institution; neglect by not supplying adequate care, necessaries or supervision Child Abuse Prevention and Treatment Act of 1974

4. Failure to Identify 3 factors (Giovannoni, 1989) • Failure to detect injury caused by abuse • Failure to recognize the indicators of abuse and neglect • Failure to report the case to the appropriate agencies when abuse is detected and recognized • Child abuse can lead to poor academic performance and socialization to a variety of physical and cognitive disabilities.

5. Emotional Abuse and Neglect Indicators

6. Physical Abuse Indicators

7. Sexual Abuse Indicators

8. Teachers are only required to have a reasonable suspicion that child abuse has occurred before they are required to report it. Persons who report abuse and neglect in “Good Faith” to the appropriate state agency are immune from civil liability. To report suspected abuse you must report to Local State Agency as well as notified your principal and who ever else you feel needs to know. (police, Nurse, counselor, social worker) Under PA Law the penalty of failure to report and false reporting is summary offense for 1st violation, misdemeanor in 3rd degree for 2nd and subsequent violations You should not disclose suspected abuse to PARENTS/GUARDIANS!! You should be prepared to report: Identifying information of child Name of person responsible Where it took place Description of child, statements made by child and observations made How long it has been since it took place The reporter’s name, address, and phone number If the child has any disabilities that would be useful for officials to know As Educators we are MANDATED REPORTERS!!!

9. As Educators, WE CAN… • Make extra effort to gather information about the family, become well acquainted with parents, monitor all physical and behavioral conditions of our students. We must know our students to effectively deal with child abuse and neglect. • To help parents understand their children, we should give a friendly call home or write home discussing the child’s overall performance… • We cannot afford to wait for the parent to initiate communication.. We must maintain open lines and include administration as well. • We never know who can be a victim of abuse or neglect!!! Having a positive classroom environment can help our students to trust us and feel comfortable in our presence. • We MUST be able to recognize warning signs and REMEMBER that just because an indicator of abuse is present does not mean it is taken place!!