Child Abuse, Neglect and Child Protection Issues

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Child Abuse, Neglect and Child Protection Issues

• Poudre School District
• and Collaborating Agencies
• 3-15-10-Update

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Collaborating Agencies

• Poudre School District
• Fort Collins Police Services
• Larimer County Sheriffs Office
• Larimer County Department of Human Services
• Larimer County District Attorneys Office

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Goals

• Communicate District Requirements
• Communicate Legal Requirements
• Review of Form/Mandatory Reporting Requirements
• Provide Information on Effects and Indicators of
  Child Abuse
• Review Roles and Provide Resources
• Answer Questions and Provide Time for Discussion

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Colorado Law

• Child Protection Act of 1987

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19-1-103 Definitions

• Excerpts from Colorado law are provided on the
  next slides for general information/reference
  only and have been provided by George Hass,
  District Legal Counsel.

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19-1-103 Definitions

• (1) (a) "Abuse" or "child abuse or neglect", as
  used in part 3 of article 3 of this title, means
  an act or omission in one of the following
  categories that threatens the health or welfare
  of a child
• (I) Any case in which a child exhibits evidence
  of skin bruising, bleeding, malnutrition, failure
  to thrive, burns, fracture of any bone, subdural
  hematoma, soft tissue swelling, or death and
  either Such condition or death is not
  justifiably explained the history given
  concerning such condition is at variance with the
  degree or type of such condition or death or the
  circumstances indicate that such condition may
  not be the product of an accidental occurrence
  (continued)

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19-1-103 Definitions

• (II) Any case in which a child is subjected to
  sexual assault or molestation, sexual
  exploitation, or prostitution
• (III) Any case in which a child is a child in
  need of services because the child's parents,
  legal guardian, or custodian fails to take the
  same actions to provide adequate food, clothing,
  shelter, medical care, or supervision that a
  prudent parent would take. The requirements of
  this subparagraph (III) shall be subject to the
  provisions of section 19-3-103.
  (continued)

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19-1-103 Definitions

• (IV) Any case in which a child is subjected to
  emotional abuse. As used in this subparagraph
  (IV), "emotional abuse" means an identifiable and
  substantial impairment of the child's
  intellectual or psychological functioning or
  development or a substantial risk of impairment
  of the child's intellectual or psychological
  functioning or development.
• (V) Any act or omission described in section
  19-3-102 (1) (a), (1) (b), or (1)
  (c).(continued)

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19-1-103 Definitions

• (b) In all cases, those investigating reports of
  child abuse shall take into account accepted
  child-rearing practices of the culture in which
  the child participates including, but not limited
  to, accepted work-related practices of
  agricultural communities. Nothing in this
  subsection (1) shall refer to acts that could be
  construed to be a reasonable exercise of parental
  discipline or to acts reasonably necessary to
  subdue a child being taken into custody pursuant
  to section 19-2-502 that are performed by a peace
  officer, level I, as defined in section 18-1-901
  (3) (l), C.R.S., acting in the good faith
  performance of the officer's duties.(continued)

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19-3-102 Neglected or Dependent Child

• (1) A child is neglected or dependent if
• (a) A parent, guardian, or legal custodian has
  abandoned the child or has subjected him or her
  to mistreatment or abuse or a parent, guardian,
  or legal custodian has suffered or allowed
  another to mistreat or abuse the child without
  taking lawful means to stop such mistreatment or
  abuse and prevent it from recurring
• (b) The child lacks proper parental care
  through the actions or omissions of the parent,
  guardian, or legal custodian
• (c) The child's environment is injurious to his
  or her welfare(end of excerpt)

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19-3-304(1) Mandated Reporter

• Any person specified in subsection (2) of this
  section who has reasonable cause to know or
  suspect that a child has been subjected to abuse
  or neglect or who has observed the child being
  subjected to circumstances or conditions which
  would reasonably result in abuse or neglect,
  shall immediately report or cause a report to be
  made of such facts to the county department or
  local law enforcement agency.

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19-3-304(2) Mandated Reporters

• Medical Examiner
• Physician
• Dentist
• Osteopath
• Optometrist
• Chiropractor
• Podiatrist
• Nurses

• Hospital employees
• Child care workers
• Peace Officer
• Mental health professional
• Veterinarian
• Film developer
• Victim advocate

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19-3-304(2)(l) Mandated Reporter

• Public or private school official or employee

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19-3-307 Reporting Procedures

• Reports of known or suspected child abuse or
  neglect made pursuant to this article shall be
  made immediately to the county department or the
  local law enforcement agency and shall be
  followed promptly by a written report prepared by
  those persons required to report.

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Possible Effects of Child Abuse

• Learning delays
• Aggressiveness
• Withdrawal
• Speech delays
• Psychosomatic illness

• Low self-esteem
• Clinginess
• Truancy
• Poor coordination
• Severe emotional disturbance

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4 Categories of Abuse

• Neglect
• Physical Abuse
• Emotional Abuse
• Sexual Abuse

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Possible Indicators

• Neglect
• Hungry
• Stealing food or begging
• Inappropriate clothing
• Lice
• Poor hygiene
• Overly tired
• Reports lack of supervision

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Possible Indicators

• Physical Abuse
• Marks of any type
• Inappropriate clothing for season
• Overly compliant or aggressive
• Afraid to go home
• Wary of adult contact
• Anxious about normal activities
• Reports injury

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Possible Indicators

• Emotional Abuse
• Speech disorders
• Habit disorders
• Behavioral extremes
• Developmental lags
• Substance abuse
• Delinquency
• Reports belittling

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Possible Indicators

• Sexual Abuse
• Depression
• Severe drop in performance
• Arriving early and leaving late
• Low self-esteem
• Seductive or promiscuous behavior
• Self-destructive behaviors
• Reports sexual abuse

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Responding to Disclosure

• Do
• Remain calm and neutral
• Remove child to a non-threatening place
• Allow the child to tell their story
• Only ask questions if you must
• Ask open-ended questions
• Assure the child that you will attempt to get
  help for them

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Responding to Disclosure

• Dont
• Pressure the child into talking
• Ask yes or no questions
• Appear shocked or upset
• Tell the child you will not tell anyone else
• Make promises you cannot keep!

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Reporting Suspected Child Abuse

• Remember!
• You only need to have a reason to suspect child
  abuse to report.

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Reporting Suspected Child Abuse

• Follow Poudre School Districts mandatory steps
  1-13.
• If you suspect child abuse/neglect you must
  follow these steps. Use these procedures
  regardless of who the suspect is (i.e., student,
  family member, stranger, district employee, or
  district volunteer).

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Reporting Suspected Child Abuse

• Step 1 Immediately inform your administrator or
  his/her designee of your concerns. No one has
  the authority to veto the reporting.

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Reporting Suspected Child Abuse

• Step 2 If it is necessary for school personnel
  to examine a student for evidence of physical
  abuse, two adults must be present during the
  examination and the examination should follow the
  gym class rule.

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Reporting Suspected Child Abuse

• Step 3 Complete the Known or Suspected Child
  Abuse/Neglect/ Endangerment Reporting Form.

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Reporting Suspected Child Abuse

• Step 4 Call the Larimer County Department of
  Human Services at 498-6990.

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Reporting Suspected Child Abuse

• Step 5 Do not conduct the investigation
  regarding the case. Investigations are the
  responsibility of the appropriate law enforcement
  agency staff and/or the Department of Human
  Services.

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Reporting Suspected Child Abuse

• Step 6 Fax a copy of the Known or Suspected
  Child Abuse/Neglect/ Endangerment Reporting Form
  to the Larimer County Department of Human
  Services at 498-6995, Attention Case Assigner.
• Note Call and fax are required.

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Reporting Suspected Child Abuse

• Step 7 Fax a copy of the Known or
  Suspected Child Abuse/Neglect/ Endangerment
  Reporting Form to the Director of Student
  Services at
• 490-3611 (fax). The Director will make
  necessary district-level notifications.
• Note New Step.

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Reporting Suspected Child Abuse

• Step 8 Retain a copy of the Known or Suspected
  Child Abuse/Neglect/ Endangerment Reporting Form
  in a confidential file. Do not file in the
  students special education or cumulative file.

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Reporting Suspected Child Abuse

• Step 9 Parents will be notified by Larimer
  County Department of Human Services staff or law
  enforcement agency staff. Do not contact the
  parents.

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Reporting Suspected Child Abuse

• Step 10 If Department of Human Services staff
  and/or law enforcement staff visit your site to
  interview a student, you are required to ask for
  photo identification (badge or identification
  card). Ask for a business card and retain copy
  of card(s) in your files. If a student needs to
  be removed from class for the interview, this
  should be done by school staff.

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Reporting Suspected Child Abuse

• Step 11 If Department of Human Services staff
  and/or law enforcement staff visit your site to
  conduct an interview, you must provide a room
  that will provide a confidential setting. School
  staff shall not be present during the interview
  of a child by Department of Human Services staff
  or law enforcement staff.
• Law enforcement and Department of Human Services
  will call ahead when possible.
• You may follow up with the Department of Human
  Services staff and/or law enforcement staff after
  the interview.

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Reporting Suspected Child Abuse

• Step 12 School staff shall cooperate with the
  investigating authorities. In addition, school
  staff must notify investigating authorities of
  any special needs or conditions of the child such
  as transportation, translation needs, and
  cognitive ability, etc.

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Reporting Suspected Child Abuse

• Step 13 By statute (CRS 19-3-401), law
  enforcement may remove a child from a site.

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Reporting Suspected Child Abuse

• Important You, as the individual who suspects
  the abuse/neglect, are legally responsible for
  making certain that the report is made to the
  Department of Human Services immediately. This
  legal responsibility is not satisfied by merely
  reporting your suspicion or concern to other
  school personnel.

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Reporting Suspected Child Abuse

• If you have reported suspected child
  abuse/neglect and no action has been taken by
  Department of Human Services or law enforcement
  agency by the time school is dismissed, you may
• Send the student home after consulting with the
  principal if the student does not appear to be in
  imminent danger.
• If the Department of Human Services staff member
  or law enforcement staff are on their way, remain
  with the student until their arrival.
• If the student is afraid to go home, refuses to
  go home, or is determined to be in imminent
  danger, call the law enforcement agency Fort
  Collins Police Services at 221-6540 or Larimer
  County Sheriffs Office at 416-1985.

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Additional Information

• If there is a change in placement of the student,
  the Department of Human Services will notify
  either the school or the Director of Student
  Services.

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Role of PSD Staff

• To report child abuse
• Darcie Votipka Resource, communicate with
  collaborating agencies, address concerns

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Role of Department of Human Services

• To investigate the suspected/reported case
• To determine whether or not a child is safe
• To determine if abuse occurred
• To provide appropriate services to the family
• To enable families to remain together

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Role of Law Enforcement

• To determine whether or not a crime has occurred
• To thoroughly investigate
• To provide a victims advocate during
  investigation
• To secure evidence
• To submit case information to the District
  Attorneys Office

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Role of the District Attorney

• To determine whether or not a case warrants the
  filing of charges
• To prosecute the case
• To provide a victims advocate during prosecution

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District Resources

• Darcie Votipka, Director of Student
  Services--490-3033

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District Resources

• PSD, Pupil Services, Documents Library
• Reporting Form
• Child Abuse Manual
• PowerPoint Presentation

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Questions/Answers and Discussion