...suspected child abuse several times a month. My experience prompted me to research child maltreatment laws in the USA. McLeod &Nelson,(2011), stated that child abuse is considered a major issue and public awareness is on the rise since 1960s. It influenced the passing of the Child Abuse Prevention and Treatment Act (CAPTA) in 1974. (McLeod &Nelson,2011)Passing of CAPTA by the Congress was a significant event in addressing child abuse, because it provided the minimum standards for each state to follow when identifying and responding to suspicion of child abuse. (Henderson,2013). In addition, CAPTA secured federal funding for the states for prevention, identification, and addressing child maltreatment. In 20 years, each state received between $20-$30 million in federal grants. (Henderson,2013) Child abuse legislature and guidelines for counseling professionals as mandated reporters of child abuse vary from state to state. Even before CAPTA In 1963-1967, all fifty stated and district of Columbia "and "enacted some form of child maltreatment reporting Procedures"(McLeod &Nelson,2011, p.12 .) Mental Health counselors should adhere to their State's guidelines when making a decision to report a possible case of child maltreatment. They can find those guidelines on the U.S. Department of Human Services website (2011) as well each State ‘s Department of Human Services. One example of different guidelines in each state is mandated reporting directly to...
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...Child abuse and neglect, or child maltreatment as it is referred to in the current literature, is one of the most devastating and disturbing situations encountered by those who care for children. According to the Department of Health and Human Services (DHSS, 2013), the number of children reportedly abused in the United States in 2012 was 686,000. An estimated 1640 children died as a result of child maltreatment in the same year. Although these statistics have improved over recent years, these preventable incidents and deaths remain at an intolerable level. The most vulnerable age group is infants less than one year of age. DHHS reports that 21.9/1000 infants were abused in 2012 and infants comprised 44.4% of child deaths resulting from child abuse and neglect; the highest incidence of fatal injuries compared to other age groups. The types of abuse sustained by infants include neglect (63%), physical abuse (24%), psychological mistreatment (21%), and sexual abuse (< 3%). Many infants were victims of more than one form of abuse. Of the physical abuse types, Shaken Baby Syndrome is, by far, the most common form of abuse at more than 50,000 cases per year according to Gutierrez, et al (2004) and accounts for 45% of infant deaths by abuse (DHHS, 2013). Other forms of physical abuse include: head trauma by beating, kicking, or throwing, suffocation, and immersion-type burns. In assessing infants for signs of abuse, it is important to have a keen awareness and knowledge...
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...Mandatory reporting of child abuse and neglect Last updated July 2013 Contents What is mandatory reporting? Who is mandated to make a notification? What types of abuse are mandated reporters required to report? Commonwealth law What protections are given to reporters? About whom can notifications be made? What type of concerns must be reported, and what may be reported? In what cases can child protection and welfare agencies respond? What are the benefits of mandatory reporting requirements? Are there challenges with the introduction of mandatory reporting? Further reading Authors / Acknowledgements Share or comment Email Facebook Twitter Digg reddit del.icio.us StumbleUpon Leave a comment This sheet examines legal provisions requiring specified people to report suspected abuse and neglect to government child protection services in Australia.1 This document is provided as a guide only. Individuals are encouraged to contact the relevant department or organisation to clarify requirements in their states or territories, or in relation to legislation. For more information, see Reporting Abuse and Neglect: State and Territory Departments Responsible for Protecting Children. What is mandatory reporting? Mandatory reporting is a term used to describe the legislative requirement imposed on selected classes of people to report suspected cases of child abuse and neglect to government authorities. Parliaments...
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...office came from a high school. Kate was a 15 year old un-wed pregnant teenager. A new child abuse prevention program was implanted prior to my initial interview with Kate and given her age and circumstance, a referral to this program was warranted. In an effort to combat child abuse it will be imperative to start preventions immediately and consistently. Child abuse affects male and female children, all ages, ethnicities and socioeconomic background (Latz, ppt). The Texas family code defines abuse as: “An act or omission that endangers the child’s physical, mental or emotional health and development.” (Latz, ppt)....
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...regardless of her feelings on abuse or neglect. This is true even when the physician knows the family or does not suspect abuse. The nurse is responsible for her own actions. In order to provide the best quality of care for this patient, I would take the statement from the parent about how the patient was injured, and then talk to the physician to gather the physical finding, which may include x-ray reports after this information is gathered, I would report the case to the local DFACS. Anytime there is a suspicious injury regardless of the plausibility of the story, or if the physician knows the patient and does not suspect the parent, the DFACS case must be reported. The nurse in this situation has a duty to report this injury and let child services decide if the patient is in danger. I would perform a complete examination of the patient and communicate with the physician, in addition to noting any other signs of abuse, along with paying close attention for indicators of abuse. Indicators of abuse can warn healthcare providers to pay closer attention to situations that may indicate abuse or...
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...foundation for the prevention and treatment of child abuse, every year 3.3 million reports of child abuse are made in the United States. And in these 3.3 million reports approximately six million children are harmed every year by one of these malicious acts; and that’s about six million too many. Simply defined, child abuse refers to physical, mental, or sexual harm done to a minor whether it is intentional or unintentional. But, unfortunately, it’s not that simple. Not only are there several different categories for child abuse, but states also have their own laws are regulations defining the acts. Although Congress has enacted several pieces of legislature in response to the continual problem, clearly that is not enough. It was reported by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services that in 2011 approximately 5 children were lost every day due to abuse related deaths (childhelp.org). There is an obvious need for reformation in order for this pandemic to be overcome. Although it’s not the most known form of maltreatment, child neglect is the most prevalent form of child abuse in the U.S. today, as reported on childhelp.org by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. They reported that of the 3.3 million cases reported each year, 78.3 percent alone is due to child neglect (childhelp.org). Neglect falls into four basic categories: physical, educational, emotional, and medical. Physical neglect refers to not providing a child with basic necessities, such as food or shelter...
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.................................................................... 290 B. Physical Abuse................................................................................................292 C. Emotional or Psychological Abuse.............................................................. 294 D. Financial Exploitation ...................................................................................295 II. Incidence and Prevalence ................................................................................. 296 III. Causes and Risk Factors .................................................................................. 298 IV. Dealing with the Problem of Elder Abuse ....................................................... 301 V. Mandatory Reporting ........................................................................................ 304 Conclusion and Final Recommendations ............................................................... 307 INTRODUCTION AS THE POPULATION SCHEME changes, the system faces new challenges. In 2000, the elders accounted for 16% of the total population in Puerto Rico and this per1 centage will continue to rise within the next few years. It is expected that by 2025, people sixty years or older will account for more than 20% of the total 2 population. As the elders live longer, their needs grow larger. What constituted an exception in the past is now common: people reaching seventy and eighty years of life. As a result, the distribution of the...
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...Historically, the symbolic definition of the ‘home’ represents a sanctuary and safe haven from the negative pressures and forces present in society. The ideology of home represents a sacred and consecrated institution which is responsible for providing individuals with refuge and safety. Often, the concept of home is broader than a physical dwelling, and encompasses an emotional characteristic, which often rids individuals of their worldly cares and reinforces their focus on the people and things they love. Since, it is widely regarded that humans, specifically children, are creatures of habit, the state of one’s home has been known to physiologically influence their behavior, emotions, and overall mental and physical health (Leichsenring, 2003). More specifically, the home provides a basis for enculturation, where it establishes the grounds for accepted norms and values within a social framework; dictating what is culturally permissible within this social setting. For children, the enculturation into the guidelines, rituals, expectations and social practices and assumptions present within the home, orients them, by providing a sense of acceptance, belonging and reality. Typically, the widespread assumptions of safety, protection and wellbeing for children are often associated with the dynamic between the family and home. However, recent revelations indicate that the home is increasingly becoming the grounds for the physical victimization of children. Children being vulnerable...
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...Prevention and the Child Protection System Jane Waldfogel The Future of Children, Volume 19, Number 2, Fall 2009, pp. 195-210 (Article) Published by Princeton University DOI: 10.1353/foc.0.0037 For additional information about this article http://muse.jhu.edu/journals/foc/summary/v019/19.2.waldfogel.html Access Provided by Columbia University at 09/11/12 2:47PM GMT Prevention and the Child Protection System Prevention and the Child Protection System Jane Waldfogel Summary The nation’s child protection system (CPS) has historically focused on preventing maltreatment in high-risk families, whose children have already been maltreated. But, as Jane Waldfogel explains, it has also begun developing prevention procedures for children at lower risk—those who are referred to CPS but whose cases do not meet the criteria for ongoing services. Preventive services delivered by CPS to high-risk families, says Waldfogel, typically include case management and supervision. The families may also receive one or more other preventive services, including individual and family counseling, respite care, parenting education, housing assistance, substance abuse treatment, child care, and home visits. Researchers generally find little evidence, however, that these services reduce the risk of subsequent maltreatment, although there is some promising evidence on the role of child care. Many families receive few services beyond periodic visits by usually overburdened caseworkers, and...
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...of different themes and perspectives.(Oliver and Pitt 2011).Therefore I have decided to do my literature review on safeguarding children as I feel that gaining for knowledge on how to safeguard children I am able to be more confident and also apply them to my setting. I also want to improve my knowledge of current policies and practice aimed at safeguarding children and young people. In my setting I avoid to implement the safeguarding policies as I do not have much knowledge. In my literature review I will research on how we safeguard the children, working together with other agency, the effects on children that are maltreated. I will be also looking at theories and why child maltreatment occurs. Safeguarding legislation and government guidance says that safeguarding means protecting children from maltreatment, preventing impairment of children’s health or development ensuring that children are growing up in circumstances consistent with the provision of safe and effective care (Barlow and Schrader-McMillan 2010). However according to the legislation taking action is there to enable all children and young people to have the best outcome. “The action we take to promote the welfare of children and protect them from harm - is everyone’s responsibility. Everyone who comes into contact with children and families has a role to play working together to safeguard children” (Safe net, 2004). To keep the children safe in 2013 the government introduced that everyone working with children...
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...CHILD ABUSE Miami Dade College Professor Grooms PSY2012 April 14th, 2012 At least every ten seconds a report of child abuse is reported across the United States. Child Abuse is a topic that can put fear in the heart of any parent, grandparent or guardian. Child abuse is a very delicate yet important issue in the world. Why is child abuse such a bug problem? Because Child abuse is also the type of problem where any child can fall prey especially, because child abuse does not seem to discriminate against age, sex, race, religion, or economic backgrounds. Parents, grandparents or guardians run the high risk of knowing their child’s abuser. Children of all ages are vulnerable to abuse. More than five children die every day as a result of child abuse. (U.S. Government Accountability Office, 2011) Child abuse in most cases starts mostly with an individual whom was abused as a child therefore, repeating the cycle, users of drugs, and/or alcohol. Child Abuse has come to be known as a silent problem because someone they know and trust people like teachers, relative, family friend or even a caretaker will abuse almost all of these children and yet feel the fear to never say anything to anyone. More than 90% of juvenile sexual abuse victims know their perpetrator in some way. (Synder, July) During recent years, the public eye has become more informed on child abuse. There are many components to child abuse but specifically there are four general categories of child neglect...
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...Review Three Cases of Child Abuse When it comes to protecting children, the family plays a central role, particularly during the child’s earliest days. Children are also part of a broader community where their relationships, engagement, and roles deepen over time and take on increased significance. For this reason, protecting children is both a private and a public responsibility. It is by looking at the history of childhood that we make our judgements about child abuse today. History is used as a means of casting light on present issues. Some people feel that whatever is happening today is an improvement on the past, while others look at past centuries through rose- coloured spectacles. (Walker, P. 2005) Understanding how abuse and neglect should be defined is not simply an academic issue. Child abuse is a culturally defined phenomenon. Sullivan, P. (2006) commented on ‘the rights of a child to be protected from parents unable to cope at a level assumed to be reasonable by the society in which they reside’. Child protection system aims to prevent situations that can result in a child or young person aged sixteen and under experience abuse that puts them in danger of not developing appropriately or losing their life (Save the Children UK, 2008). The abuse can fall under the category of child abuse which could be in form of neglect, emotional, physicals and sexual, (Woolfson et al 2009). Severe child maltreatment is conventionally defined within child protection practice...
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...should have done to prevent or protect those being abused. I also feel that there are too many restrictions on parents today and these organizations are being too harsh in certain situations and not harsh enough in others. Both of these organizations run along the same lines when it comes to abuse of individuals. They are just broken down into child and adult departments. The Child Protective Services department handles any case of abuse with an individual under the age of 18. After reading several CPS websites from different states, the general guideline is that anyone who notices abuse of a child has the obligation to report it to the authorities so they can investigate. The same goes for the APS, the general guideline is about the same when it comes to abuse of adults. With the adults, the criteria is that the individual must be at least 18 years of age and mentally or physically incapable of defending themselves against the abuser. These are just the basics of both departments and I feel that there are situations that are brushed under the rug, so to speak. There are times when someone has been abuse or neglected and there was no reporting on the issue. I also feel that the adult can suffer even more because people may not know about the Adult Protective Service and also may not know what to classify as abuse of an adult, because of the fact...
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...Victoria Harrington In the field of health care, nursing, doctors, there has always been an issue for need to improve situations such as domestic abuse. Domestic abuse is defined as “Physical, sexual, or emotional/psychological violence directed toward men, women, children, or elders occurring in current or past familial or intimate relations whether the individuals are cohabiting or not and including violence directed toward dating partners.” (AACN, 2001, p. 1) Therefore, domestic violence is a serious topic to be hold. In this article “Domestic Violence: The Challenge for Nursing”, the author Claire Burk discusses the three types of domestic violence in women, children, and in elderly people. Campbell et al. (2000) argued that violence research demands a cultural competency that extends beyond cultural sensitivity to include an in-depth appreciation of group norms, beliefs, and life ways. Cultural competency is reflected by the acknowledgment that violence occurs in a gendered sociocultural context, an understanding of the relationship between colonial practices and violence and oppression, an awareness of cultural practices and attitudes that support, as well as deter, domestic violence, advocacy for cross-cultural research, and a commitment to oppose oppression experienced by minority groups and those marginalized by their society...
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...Obviously something is going on in today’s society if more and more children are committing delinquent crimes. Sometimes a researcher has to get to what he or she thinks is the root of the problem to figure out what spawns a certain issue. What provokes a child to become delinquent and what makes the child gravitate so easily towards this lifestyle? It is necessary to explore how family life influences juvenile delinquency. Juveniles are more likely to become juvenile delinquents if there is little structure provided for them in their families. Children who are rejected by their parents, who grow up in homes with considerable conflict, or who are inadequately supervised are at the greatest risk of becoming delinquent. Literature reviews, focused on the relationship between child abuse and juvenile delinquency, indicate that juvenile delinquents are often products of families that consciously or unconsciously neglect their childhood needs. Corporal punishment by parents often leads to overt and aggressive misbehavior. Neglect and extreme punishment can cause children to become rebellious adolescents who use misbehavior to "pay back" the family. Childhood abuse and neglect has been linked to a number of other adolescent problems. Compared with non maltreated matched control groups, abused or neglected children are significantly more likely to engage in violent behavior, become pregnant during adolescence, use drugs, have lower GPAs, and/or experience mental health problems...
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