Reporting It's not just what's right... - PowerPoint Presentation

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Reporting

It's not just what's right...

IT'S THE LAW!

Child Abuse

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Child Abuse and Neglect

What the Law

R

equires

Warning Signs of Abuse

Warning Signs of Neglect

Reporting Procedures

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TX Statue 261.101 requires a person having cause to believe that a child’s

physical, mental health or welfare has been adversely affected by abuse or neglect by any person to immediately make a report. The person shall make a report no later than the 48th hour

the professional first suspects the child has been or may be abused or neglected.

A professional may not delegate to or rely on another person to make the report for them. TX Statue 261.109 declares a person commits an offense if the person has cause to believe that a child’s physical, mental health, or welfare has been or may be adversely affected by abuse or neglect and knowingly fails to make a report. An offense under this section is a Class B misdemeanor and is punishable by a fine of up to $2,000, 180 days in jail, or both.

Report of Suspected Child Abuse/Neglect

Child Abuse and Neglect

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Child Abuse and NeglectPhysical Abuse

Physical abuse is a physical injury that results in substantial harm to the child, such as bruises, fractures, or death. It can also include a genuine threat of harm, even if there is no visible injury.

Warning Signs

Frequent injuries Burns or bruises in an unusual patternInjuries that appear after child isn’t seen for several daysFrequent complaints of pain without obvious injuryFear of going home or seeing parentFrequent absences without reasonable explanation

Wearing unseasonable clothesLack of reaction to

painReluctance to sit downPassive, withdrawn, and/or emotionless behaviorChange in behavior

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Child Abuse and NeglectEmotional Abuse

Emotional abuse is an action that results in a marked impact on a child's growth, development, or psychological functioning. Emotional abuse includes extreme forms of punishment such as confining a child in a dark closet, habitual scapegoating, or belittling to the point that it results in noticeable effects on the child's daily functioning.

Warning

SignsExcessively withdrawn, fearful, or anxious about doing something wrongShows extremes in behaviorDoesn’t seem to be attached to the parent or caregiverActs either inappropriately adult or

inappropriately infantile

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Child Abuse and NeglectSexual Abuse

Sexual abuse is sexual conduct harmful to a child's mental, emotional, or physical welfare. This includes fondling a child’s genitals, penetration, indecent exposure, and exploitation through prostitution or producing pornography. Warning

Signs

Difficulty in sitting or walkingPhysical signs of sexually transmitted disease(s)Physical signs of injury to the genital areaPregnancy in a young girlExtreme fear of being alone with adults, especially of a particular sexSexually suggestive, inappropriate, or promiscuous behaviorKnowledge about sexual relations that is not age appropriate

Drawings/writings with strong or bizarre sexual themes

Sexual victimization of other children

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Child Abuse and NeglectNeglect

There are various types of neglect including:Neglectful supervision Medical neglect Physical neglect

Abandonment and refusal to accept parental responsibility

Failure to protect a child Warning SignsObvious malnutritionTorn and/or dirty clothesLack of personal cleanlinessObvious fatigue and listlessnessBegs for, or steals, food

Unattended for long periods of time

Needs glasses, dental care, or other medical attentionFrequent absence or tardiness without reasonable explanation

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Child Abuse and NeglectCPS Reporting Procedures

Any person making a report to DFPS is immune from civil or criminal liability as long as the report is made in good faith.The reporter’s name is

confidential.

Call the Texas abuse and neglect hotline at 1-800-252-5400.Non-emergency reports can be made online at www.txabusehotline.org.Be specific and provide as much information as possible, including demographic information.Document the date and time of the report and the case number.

Follow up with a counselor and/or administrator any time you feel it would benefit the child.

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Child Abuse and NeglectWhat Happens When a Report is Made?

The Department of Family and Protective Services (DFPS) takes the information from the person reporting. They will take as little or as much information as you can provide. It is helpful if you can provide name, age, address of child and/or siblings, parent contact information, brief description of situation, current

injuries

and your contact information. CPS may choose to do nothing with the information.CPS may choose to send the information out for investigation. When this happens they will speak to the child and family within 10 days. They may also contact you for follow up questions. Your identity is confidential and is not revealed to the family when a report is made.

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Child Abuse and NeglectWhat If I Am Unsure of What To Do?

Come speak to a counselor! We are all available to give you guidance on whether certain situations need to be reported to CPS or not. Trust your instincts—if you are not comfortable with the information you learned, it probably needs to be reported to CPS

.

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Suicidal Ideation

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Suicidal Ideation

Suicide Warning SignsSudden disinterest in favorite extracurricular activitiesSubstance abuse, including alcohol and drugs (illegal or legal)

Behavioral problems

Withdrawing from family and friendsSleep changesChanges in eating habitsBegins to neglect hygiene or personal appearanceEmotional distress brings on physical distress (aches, fatigues, migraines)Hard time concentrating and paying attention

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Suicidal Ideation

Suicide Warning Signs (Continued)Risk taking behaviorsComplains more frequently of boredom

Does not respond as before to praiseDeclining grades

Loss of interest in schoolworkNot all of these warning signs will be present in cases of possible suicidal ideation. Just because one of these symptoms is present does not necessarily mean that a student is experiencing suicidal thoughts.

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Suicidal Ideation

Indications of a Suicide PlanThe following are things that may indicate someone is contemplating or planning suicide:

Making statements like…“I’m thinking of committing suicide” or “I want to kill myself” or “I wish I could die”

Using verbal hints such as: “I want you to know something, in case something happens to me” or “ I won’t trouble you anymore”Giving away favorite belongings, or promising them to friends and family membersThrowing away important

possessions

Showing signs of extreme cheerfulness following periods of depressionCreating suicide notesExpressing bizarre or unsettling thoughts on

occasion

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Suicidal Ideation

Seeking HelpSuicide warning signs are serious calls for help. Acknowledging these warning signs and seeking help for the problem can help prevent suicide.

School Employees who identify a student as expressing the desire to harm themselves or others are

REQUIRED to IMMEDIATELY contact the intervention counselor, counselor or administrator. The student is to remain under adult supervision at all times.

If you can not reach a counselor please contact an administrator and they will notify the appropriate personnel.

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Addressing Bullying in our Schools

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What is Bullying?The new legal definition of bullying is engaging in written or verbal expression, expression through electronic means, or physical conduct that occurs on school property, at a school-sponsored or school-related activity, or in a vehicle operated by the district and that:

has the effect or will have the effect of physically harming a student, damaging a student's property, or placing a student in reasonable fear of harm to the student's person or of damage to the student's property; or is sufficiently severe, persistent and pervasive enough that the action or threat creates an intimidating, threatening or abusive educational environment for a student.

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PHYSICAL

Harm to another’s body or property

EMOTIONAL

Harm to another’s self-esteem

SOCIAL

Harm to another’s group acceptance

VERBAL

NON-VERBAL

VERBAL

NON-VERBAL

VERBAL

NON-VERBAL

Taunting

 

Expressing physical superiority

Making threatening gestures

 

Defacing property Pushing/shoving

 Taking small items from others 

Insulting remarks

 Calling names 

Teasing about possessions, clothesGiving dirty looks

 Holding nose or other insulting gestures 

Saying someone has germs or is unclean

Gossiping

 

Starting/spreading rumors

 

Teasing publicly about clothes, looks, etc…

Passively not including in the group

 

Playing mean tricks

Threatening physical harm

 

Blaming victim

Damaging property

 

Stealing

 

Initiating fights

 

Scratching

 

Tripping or causing a fall

 

Assaulting

 

Insulting family

 

Harassing by any means of communication

 

Insulting intelligence, athletic ability, etc…

Defacing school work

 

Defacing personal property, clothing, etc…

Insulting race, gender

 

Increasing gossip/rumors

 

Undermining other relationships

Making someone look foolish

 

Excluding from the group

Making repeated and/or graphic threats

 

Practicing extortion

 

Making threats to secure silence: “If you tell, I will…”

Destroying property

 

Biting Physical cruelty Assaulting with a weaponFrightening the victim with threats Challenging in publicOstracizing Destroying personal property or clothingThreatening total group exclusionArranging public humiliation Total group rejection/ostracizing

EMS-ISD

Bullying Behavior Chart

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What is considered bullying?Conduct

is considered bullying if it:exploits an imbalance of power between the student perpetrator and the student victim through written or verbal expression or physical conduct; andinterferes with a student's education or substantially disrupts the operation of a school

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Bullying or Normal “Kid Stuff”?BullyingImbalance of power

Unfair advantageFrequent

Negative effect on the victim

Established “winner and loser” “Kid Stuff”Balance of power

Not persistent or pervasive

Winner-Loser changesNo lasting harmful effects on one person

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What Children who are Bullied Need

Permission and support to tell what has happened to them and talk about their feelings;Strong positive relationships with adults and peers;Assistance in peer connections and involvement;Ask the student what he or she needs to feel safe;

Intervention that allows them to save face.

Anonymous report formSpotlight on the bullyPeer mediation (when appropriate and NEVER if it brings more harm to the victim) Referral to counselor (when appropriate)

Follow up

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How can Teachers Prevent and Influence?Establish classroom rules and discuss them often throughout the school year.

We will not bully others.We will help student who are bullied.We will include students who are easily left out.

We will tell someone if a student is being bullied.

Take it seriously and act immediately if a student is exhibiting bullying behavior.Call it what it is – bullying behavior. (*remember the definition – persistent and pervasive)Teach students what bullying is and is not. Empower bystanders to become ACTIVE.

Remove the student from the group/activity where the student is exhibiting bullying behavior. Remove the audience= decrease in power.

Discuss the similarities between fighting, horseplay and bullying.

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Compliance

There is a system for students to report incidents and threats to school personnel (both anonymously and face to face)Forms for students (available online and at school) An investigation protocol is in place, including a tool for school staff to document and report incidents of bullyingTraining for school personnel

Educate students about:

Definition of bullying – Must be pervasive and persistent! School policy on bullyingUPDATE - HB 1942 - “Prohibits the imposition of a disciplinary measure on a student who, after an investigation, is found to be a victim of bullying, on the basis of that student’s use of reasonable self-defense in response to the bullying”

How to report

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Staff Reporting Requirements

Board policy FFI- Reporting Requirements“Reports of bullying shall be made as soon as possible after the alleged act or knowledge of the alleged act. A failure to promptly report may impair the District’s ability to investigate and address the prohibited conduct.”

Employee Handbook

“All employees are required to report student complaints of bullying to the campus principal.” In addition, FFI-local states person reported to may be a designee. Gather the WHO, WHAT, WHEN, WHERE info to report Written guidelines and forms for employees to use are found in the HR section of the EMSISD website

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Duty to Intervene and Report

*Forms are available online, or upon request from counselors or administrators.*

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Resources

www.tea.state.tx.uswww.stopbullyingnow.hrsa.gov Free print resources

www.stompoutbullying.org

www.bullycide.org www.prevnet.caFree print resourcesThe Bully Free Classroom by Allan L.

Beane

Bullying at School by Dan Olweus (*Expert in the field of bullying) www.emsisd.com

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Thoughts…“It’s easier to build a child than to repair an adult.”

-Anonymous