CHILD ABUSE AND NEGLECT USER MANUAL SERIES The Role of E ducators in Preventing and Responding to Child Abuse a nd Neglect U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Administration for Children and Families Administration on Children, Youth and Families Children’s Bureau Office on Child Abuse and Neglect The Role of Educators in Preventing and Responding to Child Abuse and Neglect Cynthia Crosson-Tower 2003 U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Administration for Children and Families Administration on Children, Youth and Families Children’s Bureau Office on Child Abuse and Neglect Table of Contents PREFACE..................................................................................................................................1 ACKNOWLEDGMENTS..........................................................................................................3 1. PURPOSE AND OVERVIEW............................................................................................7 Guiding Principles................................................................................................................7 Child Abuse and Neglect Statistics ......................................................................................8 The Role of Educators..........................................................................................................8 2. IDENTIFYING REASONS WHY EDUCATORS ARE CONCERNED ABOUT CHILD ABUSE AND NEGLECT......................................9 Community Efforts ............................................................................................................10 Educational Opportunities ................................................................................................10 Legal Concerns ..................................................................................................................10 Professional Responsibilities ..............................................................................................11 Personal Commitments ......................................................................................................12 3. RECOGNIZING CHILD ABUSE AND NEGLECT ......................................................13 Physical Abuse....................................................................................................................14 Neglect ..............................................................................................................................16 Emotional Maltreatment ....................................................................................................18 Sexual Abuse ......................................................................................................................19 General Indicators of Abuse and Neglect............................................................................22 Conversations with Families and Children ........................................................................24 Child Abuse within the School ..........................................................................................27 4. REPORTING CHILD ABUSE AND NEGLECT ............................................................29 Federal Legislation..............................................................................................................29 State Law............................................................................................................................30 Local Policies and Procedures Regarding Reporting............................................................32 The Role of Educators in Preventing and Responding to Child Abuse and Neglect i Difficulties That May Be Encountered When Reporting....................................................34 Once the Report Is Made ..................................................................................................36 5. PROVIDING SUPPORT AFTER THE REPORT: WHAT SCHOOLS CAN OFFER ....................................................................................39 Sharing Relevant Information ............................................................................................39 Support for the Child, the Parents, and the Family ............................................................39 Child Abuse and Neglect Multidisciplinary Teams ............................................................43 Community Coordination ................................................................................................44 6. PREVENTING CHILD ABUSE AND NEGLECT ..........................................................45 School-based Programs for Children and Adolescents ........................................................45 School-based Programs for Families....................................................................................50 School-Community Programs ............................................................................................51 Individual Action ..............................................................................................................52 Conclusion ........................................................................................................................53 ENDNOTES............................................................................................................................55 APPENDICES: APPENDIX A—GLOSSARY OF TERMS....................................................................59 APPENDIX B—RESOURCE LISTINGS OF SELECTED NATIONAL ORGANIZATIONS CONCERNED WITH CHILD MALTREATMENT....................65 APPENDIX C—STATE TOLL-FREE TELEPHONE NUMBERS FOR REPORTING CHILD ABUSE ........................................................71 APPENDIX D—EDUCATORS’ CHECKLIST FOR RECOGNIZING POSSIBLE CHILD MALTREATMENT ..........................................73 APPENDIX E—SAMPLE LIST OF CONTACTS FOR REPORTING SUSPECTED CASES OF CHILD ABUSE OR NEGLECT ........................................77 APPENDIX F—SAMPLE REPORT OF SUSPECTED CHILD ABUSE AND NEGLECT ........................................................79 ii Table of Contents Preface ach day, the safety and well-being of some The Office on Child Abuse and Neglect (OCAN) E children across the Nation are threatened by within the Children’s Bureau of the Administration child abuse and neglect. Intervening effectively in for Children and Families (ACF), U.S. Department the lives of these children and their families is not of Health and Human Services (DHHS), has the sole responsibility of any single agency or developed this third edition of the User Manual professional group, but rather is a shared Series to reflect the increased knowledge base and community concern. the evolving state of practice. The updated and new manuals are comprehensive in scope while also The Child Abuse and Neglect User Manual Series has succinct in presentation. They are easy to follow provided guidance on child protection to hundreds and address trends and concerns relevant to today’s of thousands of multidisciplinary professionals and professional. concerned community members since the late 1970s. The User Manual Series provides a This manual, The Role of Educators in Preventing foundation for understanding child maltreatment and Responding to Child Abuse and Neglect, builds and the roles and responsibilities of various upon A Coordinated Response to Child Abuse and practitioners in its prevention, identification, Neglect: The Foundation for Practice, the keystone investigation, assessment, and treatment. Through publication of the User Manual Series. It provides the years, the manuals have served as valuable the basis for the involvement of educators in resources for building knowledge, promoting combating the problem of child abuse and neglect. effective practices, and enhancing community It also may be used by other professionals involved collaboration. in child abuse and neglect interventions, such as child protective services, mental health, law Since the last update of the User Manual Series in the enforcement, health care, and early childhood early 1990s, a number of changes have occurred that professionals, to gain a better understanding of the dramatically affect each community’s response to child role of educators in child protection. maltreatment. The changing landscape reflects increased recognition of the complexity of issues facing parents and their children, new legislation, practice innovations, and system reform efforts. Significant advances in research have helped shape new directions for interventions, while ongoing evaluations help us to know “what works.” The Role of Educators in Preventing and Responding to Child Abuse and Neglect 1 User Manual Series This manual—along with the entire Child Abuse and Neglect User Manual Series—is available from the National Clearinghouse on Child Abuse and Neglect Information. Contact the Clearinghouse for a full list of available manuals and ordering information: National Clearinghouse on Child Abuse and Neglect Information 330 C Street, SW Washington, DC 20447 Phone: (800) FYI-3366 or (703) 385-7565 Fax: (703) 385-3206 E-mail: [email protected] The manuals also are available online at http://nccanch.acf.hhs.gov/profess/tools/usermanual.cfm. 2 Preface Acknowledgments AUTHOR CONTRIBUTING AUTHORS Cynthia Crosson-Tower, Ph.D., taught in the Carl R. Tacy, M.S.W., a consultant with Caliber behavioral sciences department at Fitchburg State Associates, has more than 10 years experience College in Massachusetts for 24 years and working in clinical,