Child Abuse Assessment and Reporting

This program is approved for 7 continuing education hours by:
The California Board of Behavioral Sciences # PCE 3457
The California Board of Registered Nursing # CEP 14462
The National Association of Social Workers (NASW) # 886463870
The Florida Board of Clinical Social Work, Marriage and Family Therapy and Mental Health Counseling #50-14000
Texas Board of Examiners of Marriage and Family Therapists # 628
Texas State Board of Examiners of Professional Counselors #1646
The Texas Board of Social Worker Examiners # 5547

At the conclusion of this course, learners will be able to...
Recognize the symptoms of child physical abuse, emotional abuse, sexual abuse, and child neglect.
Describe the consequences to the child of being abused and/or neglected.
Identify the different types of child abuse.
Explain the term "mandated reporter."
State the procedure for reporting suspected child abuse and neglect.
Explain Munchausen’s Syndrome by Proxy.
Identify the adverse effects of Fetal Alcohol Syndrome and drug addicted children.
Describe the recognition of Shaken Baby Syndrome by health professionals.
Cite the treatment issues commonly associated with child abuse and neglect.
List two examples of child exploitation.
Explain the effects of school bullying on children.

COURSE CONTENT

Chapter 1: Introduction
Chapter 2: Types of child abuse
Chapter 3: Signs of physical abuse
Chapter 4: Signs of sexual abuse
Chapter 5: Signs of emotional abuse
Chapter 6: Signs of neglect
Chapter 7: Mandated reporters
Chapter 8: Reporting procedures
Chapter 9: Special topics in child maltreatment
Chapter 10: Treatment issues with neglectful and abusive parent

Chapter 11: Treatment Issues with victims

Chapter 12: Case Management
Conclusion, About the Author, Bibliography and Recommended Reading

Introduction

By the time we read about it in the newspaper or hear it on television, it is too late. A child has already been horrifically abused and/or neglected and perhaps has died. Perhaps more than one child was involved. The public asks, "Why wasn't anything done?" "Why didn't anyone know?" The answer to these questions is often just as troubling as the abuse itself; the abuse was not recognized, or if it was, those who knew about the abuse did not wish to become involved. Taking action would mean talking to child protection workers, police officers, medical personnel, and perhaps even testifying in court proceedings. "I'm too busy to become involved." "This is a family matter and none of my business." "I didn't know, I didn't realize what was happening." "I got hit when I was a kid and it didn't scar me for life. Kids aren't tough enough these days." "Parents should be able to discipline their kids as they see fit." "Words never hurt anyone." "It's not my child. I shouldn't try to intervene." "The parents told me that the child lies all the time."

While we absolve ourselves from responsibility, child abuse and neglect continues to be a "silent epidemic" in the United States. According to the Child Welfare Information Gateway, millions of children are abused and neglected each year, and the majority of these cases are not reported.

Of great concern is the treatment of children who are in Congregate Group Residential care. Administrators are responsible for the safety and well-being of the children in their facilities. This course will help them fulfill their duties, and provide information they can use to train their staff to help prevent and report chld abuse. In California the failure to report suspected child abuse carried penalties which include potenial fines and jail time.

The first step in helping abused or neglected children is learning to recognize the signs and symptoms of abuse and neglect. It should be noted that simply because one sign of abuse or neglect is present does not mean that the child is truly the subject of maltreatment. This type of situation may be easily solved by parenting education. However, when signs of maltreatment occur repeatedly despite referrals to parenting education, mental health, medical and school professionals, one should consider the possibility of chronic abuse and/or neglect.

This course will review the signs of physical abuse, sexual abuse, emotional abuse, and neglect. Next, the course will focus on the short and long-term damage to the child caused by abuse and/or neglect. At times, vignettes will be used to illustrate a particular point; these vignettes are based upon actual mental health cases where the patient is an abuse survivor or perpetrator. All identifying information has been altered to protect the patients' confidentiality, but the facts of the case are genuine. The next part of the course covers mandatory reporting laws and the procedure for reporting suspected child maltreatment; crucial for those who are madated reporters, including profecttional counselor and Group Home Administrators. The course includes information on special topics such as Munchausen's Syndrome by Proxy, infants born drug-addicted, the shaken baby syndrome, child exploitation and school bullying. Treating the various behavioral and emotional issues that result from abuse, in additin to case management, will be addressed.

At the end of the course, you will be required to complete a post test. The questions are based upon the course objectives.

All references used to construct this course are listed in the Reference section as well as other resources recommended for further study.