Mandated Reporter Training

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CHILD ABUSE MANDATED REPORTER TRAINING
Adapted from Patti Agatston, Ph.D.
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Child Abuse Is Everyones Problem

• When children are victimized by the very people
  responsible for their care, we as a society must
  not also fail them. We must acknowledge that
  abuse can and does happen in all types of
  families within our society.

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Common Underlying factors in These Families Are

• Emotional immaturity of the parents
• Marital friction
• Financial difficulties
• Alcoholism or other drug use
• Severe stress
• Emotional disturbance

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Georgia Mandated Reporter Law

• All school district employees are mandated
  reporters.
• DFCS must always be immediately notified, and by
  Georgia law no later than 24 hours from the time
  there is reasonable cause to believe a child has
  been abused.

• Employees may make a direct referral to DFCS,
  however according to state law, a staff member
  who makes a report to the person in charge of
  the facility (i.e. principal or assistant
  principal) or their delegate has complied with
  the reporting requirement.

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Legal Definition

• "Abused" means subjected to child abuse.
• "Child" means any person under 18 years of age.
• "Child abuse" means
• Physical injury or death inflicted upon a child
  by a parent or caretaker thereof by other than
  accidental means provided, however, physical
  forms of discipline may be used as long as there
  is no physical injury to the child
• Neglect or exploitation of a child by a parent or
  caretaker thereof
• Sexual abuse of a child or
• Sexual exploitation of a child.

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New to the Law

• "Sexual exploitation" means conduct by a child's
  parent or caretaker who allows, permits,
  encourages, or requires that child to engage in
• Prostitution, as defined in Code Section 16-6-9
• Sexually explicit conduct for the purpose of
  producing any visual or print medium depicting
  such conduct, as defined in Code Section 16-12-100

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Physical Indicators for physical abuse and
neglect

• Unexplained bruises, welts, human bite marks,
  bald spots, burns, especially cigarette burns or
  immersion burns
• Unexplained fractures or abrasions

• Unattended medical needs, consistent lack of
  supervision
• Consistent hunger, inappropriate dress, poor
  hygiene, lice, distended stomach, emaciated look

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Behavioral Indicators for physical abuse and
neglect

• Self-destructive behavior
• Withdrawn or aggressive behavioral extremes,
• Uncomfortable with physical contact
• Complains of soreness or moves uncomfortably
• Wears clothing inappropriate for weather

• Fatigue, listlessness, falls asleep in class
• Steals food, begs from classmates
• Reports no caretaker is home
• Frequently absent or tardy

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Physical/Behavioral Indicators for Sexual Abuse

• Pain or itching in the genital area
• Difficulty walking or sitting
• Presence of a STD
• Frequent urinary or yeast infections
• Withdrawn or depressed
• Overly concerned for siblings

• Massive weight change (loss or gain)
• Problems with peers, resists involvement with
  peers
• Sudden school difficulties
• Threatened by physical contact or closeness
• Exhibits inappropriate sex play or has advanced
  sexual knowledge

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Emotional Abuse definition and indicators

• Frequently occurs as verbal abuse, but can also
  include rejection, shameful forms of punishment,
  withholding physical and emotional contact, and
  inappropriate expectations

• Speech disorders, habit disorders (sucking,
  rocking, antisocial or destructive behaviors,
  sleep disorders, behavior extremes, developmental
  delays
• From the Georgia Mandated Reporter Training
  Manual Kids Count on You

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Types of disclosures

• Indirect Hints My brother wouldnt let me sleep
  last night.
• Disguised Disclosure I know someone who is
  being touched in a bad way.
• Disclosures with strings attachedI have a
  problem, but if I tell you about it you have to
  promise not to tell.

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When a child discloses . . .

• Find a private place to talk
• Reassure the child Im glad you told me.
• Listen calmly and openly
• Write down the facts in childs words

• Report the disclosure to the designated
  administrator at your school
• Respect childs confidentiality
• Do not quiz or interview, let the trained CPS
  worker do this

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What not to say . . .

• Why didnt you stop him/her?
• Are you telling the truth?
• What did you do to make this happen?

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Remember

• Any person or official required to report a
  suspected case of child abuse who knowingly and
  willfully fails to do so shall be guilty of a
  misdemeanor.

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You are protected!

• Any person or personsparticipating in the making
  of a report or causing a report to be made to a
  child welfare agency providing protective
  servicesshall in so doing be immune from any
  civil or criminal liabilityprovided such
  participationis made in good faith.

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Why QPR and Suicide Prevention

• As part of the Cobb Mandated Reporter training,
  Cobb also places suicidal ideation as a mandated
  reporter role.
• During the initial training started in 2004 thru
  2006, Cobbs suicide rate for students fell to ½
  the national average.
• What you do is important!

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QPR
In School Settings
Question, Persuade, Refer
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QPR
In School

• QPR is not intended to be a form of counseling or
  treatment.
• QPR is intended to offer hope through positive
  action.

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Suicidal Ideation Reported to the P/I Center
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Suicide Protocol Same Day Assessments
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QPR Suicide Myths and Facts
In School

• Myth No one can stop a suicide, it is inevitable.
• Fact If a young person in a crisis gets the help
  they need, they will probably never be suicidal
  again.
• Myth Confronting a person about suicide will
  only make them angry and increase the risk of
  suicide.
• Fact Asking someone directly about suicidal
  intent lowers anxiety, opens up communication and
  lowers the risk of an impulsive act.

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QPR Myths And Facts About Suicide
In School

• Myth Suicidal young people keep their plans to
  themselves.
• Fact Most suicidal people communicate their
  intent sometime during the week preceding their
  attempt.
• Myth Those who talk about suicide dont do it.
• Fact People who talk about suicide may try, or
  even complete, an act of self-destruction
• Myth If a suicidal youth tells a friend, the
  friend will access help.
• Fact Most young people do not tell an adult.

Good Friends Dont Keep Deadly Secrets!
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QPR
In School
Suicide Clues And Warning Signs The more clues
and signs observed, the greater the risk. Take
all signs seriously.
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QPR
In School

• Strongest Predictors
• Previous suicide attempt
• Current talk of suicide/making a plan
• Strong wish to die/preoccupied with death(i.e.,
  thoughts, music, reading)
• Depression (hopelessness, withdrawal)
• Substance use
• Recent attempt by friend or family member

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QPR
In School

• Verbal Clues
• Ive decided to kill myself.
• I wish I were dead.
• Im going to commit suicide.
• Im going to end it all.
• If (such and such) doesnt happen, Ill kill
  myself.

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QPR
In School

• Indirect or Coded Verbal Clues
• Im tired of life, I just cant go on.
• My family would be better off without me.
• Who cares if Im dead anyway.
• I just want out.
• I wont be around much longer.
• Pretty soon you wont have to worry about me.

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QPR
In School

• Behavioral Clues
• Past suicide attempt
• Getting a gun or stockpiling pills
• Giving away prized possessions
• Impulsivity/increased risk taking
• Unexplained anger, aggression, irritability
• Self-destructive acts (i.e., cutting)
• Chronic truancy, running away
• Perfectionism

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QPR
In School

• Situational Clues
• Being expelled from school /fired from job
• Family problems/alienation
• Loss of any major relationship
• Death of a friend or family member, especially if
  by suicide
• Diagnosis of a serious or terminal illness
• Financial problems (either their own or within
  the family)
• Sudden loss of freedom/fear of punishment
• Feeling embarrassed or humiliated in front of
  peers
• Victim of assault or bullying

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QPR
In School

• Other Youth Related Clues
• Change in interaction with family and friends
• Recent disappointment or rejection
• Sudden decline or improvement in academic
  performance
• Physical symptoms eating disturbances, changes
  in sleep patterns, chronic headaches, stomach
  problems, menstrual irregularities
• Increased apathy

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QQUESTION

• Direct Approach
• You know, when people are as upset as you seem
  to be, they sometimes wish they were dead. Im
  wondering if youre feeling that way, too?
• You look pretty miserable, I wonder if youre
  thinking about suicide?
• Are you thinking about killing yourself?
• NOTE If you can not ask the question, find
  someone who can.

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WAYS NOT TO ASK THE QUESTION

• Youre not thinking about suicide are you?
• OR
• Youre just kidding about killing yourself,
  right?

Asking in this way encourages a negative
response from the young person you are talking
with. It may also imply that your are
frightened by the intensity of their
feelings. Similarly, be aware of your own
non-verbal clues.
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PPERSUADE CONT.THEN ASK

• Will you go with me to talk with your school
  counselor?
• Would you like me to tell your school counselor
  that you would like to talk to him or her?

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When a student exhibits suicidal/homicidal
behaviors

• The student involved will be
• privately questioned to determine the level of
  risk
• offered immediate assistance
• put under constant adult observation

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• The school official will call the custodial
  parent or guardian regardless of the students
  age or emancipation.
• The student will not be allowed to ride home on
  the bus. A parent, guardian, or designee will
  pick the child up.

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• The custodial parent or guardian should leave
  campus with the student only after she/he has
  agreed to take the student for a free assessment.
• The school official informs the family of how
  helpful it is for the school or the Prevention
  Intervention Center to be informed of the results
  of the assessment.

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• NOTE
• You are not being disloyal or violating a trust
  when you share of a young persons suicidality
  with a school counselor or administrative staff.
• You are being disloyal if you do not!

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• WHEN YOU APPLY QPR,
• YOU PLANT THE SEEDS
• OF HOPE.
• HOPE HELPS PREVENT
• YOUTH SUICIDE.

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What song matches your day?

• Give me three steps
• Nowhere to run
• Ill be watching you
• Hard for the money
• RESPECT
• 9 5
• Cant get no satisfaction
• We are Family
• Knock three times on the ceiling if you want me
• Chain gang
• Oops, I did it again
• Stuck in the middle with you

• Helter Skelter
• Yellow submarine
• Help!
• Take this job and shove it!
• Lets get ready to rumble
• Bad to the bone
• The long and winding road
• We are the champions
• Hard days night
• Tomorrow is only a day away
• Eight days a week
• Its a beautiful day in the neighborhood