CAAN Training - Florida PDF

Identifying and Reporting Child Abuse and Neglect (CAAN) Module: Course Introduction Page 1 Welcome to the Florida Department of Children and Families Office of Licensing (DCF) online early childhood education training series. DCF is statutorily responsible for the administration of child care lice...

Identifying and Reporting Child Abuse and Neglect (CAAN) Module: Course Introduction Page 1 Welcome to the Florida Department of Children and Families Office of Licensing (DCF) online early childhood education training series. DCF is statutorily responsible for the administration of child care licensing and training throughout Florida. DCF ensures children are well cared for in a safe, healthy, positive, and educational environment by trained, qualified child care staff. DCF offers online courses that fulfill mandatory training requirements for child care personnel, and courses that may be used as in-service training or to earn Continuing Education Units (CEUs). Some courses in the training series meet the mandated training requirements for child care personnel, which differ based on the child care program type. For more information about training requirements, visit DCF’s Training and Credentialing Requirements webpage. Page 2 This course is supported with interactive activities, images, and videos. Throughout the course, links to additional course content are provided for you to review. Be sure to explore linked websites and save course documents. Many screens are enhanced with audio, which can be heard by clicking on the “Listen” link at the top of the screen. Take the Course in Spanish The Spanish Toggle button is available to provide a translated version of the course content. The on- screen text, course-specific documents, and course resources are available in Spanish. External resources and materials, such as videos, are presented in the language the material was developed in by the owner. Many web browsers have translation plug-ins, which can be installed and provide you with a machine-generated translation. Some videos may also provide a Spanish translation in their video menus. Adobe Acrobat Reader is required to view some of the resources in this course. A free viewer is available for Adobe Acrobat Reader. Page 3 In-Service Training In order to earn in-service training credit for this course, you must pass the knowledge check at the end of each module with a score of 70 or higher. You will be able to access the knowledge check at the end of the module after you have reviewed the module in its entirety. You must also view the Course Conclusion, where you will have an opportunity to provide feedback to the Department about the course. You are highly encouraged to complete this feedback. You will be able to print a certificate for your records after you have finished the survey. This course will be available to you for 45 days from the day you started the course. If you do not complete the course within the allotted 45 days, the course and course certificate will no longer be available for you. Your course completion date will be reflected on your Training Transcript, which is the official documentation of training required by the Department of Children and Families. Please remember you can only use this course one time for annual in-service hours. If you complete the course more than once, the original completion date will continue to be reflected on your Training Transcript and certificate. Continuing Education Units Training 1|Page Identifying and Reporting Child Abuse and Neglect (CAAN) Module: Course Introduction Continuing Education Units (CEUs) are credits used to renew credentials for child care professionals. CEUs can only be earned once for each course. You must complete AND pass the CEU assessment with a score of 80 or higher to earn CEUs for this course. After completing this course, the CEU assessment will be available for 60 days from the course completion date. You can access the CEU assessment and see the number of days the course will be available to you by following these steps: 1. Log in to your Child Care Training Student Account 2. Click “CEUs” under “My Student Information” 3. Find the name of this course and click “Go to Assessment” For more information, review the How to Earn CEUs website. Mandatory Training This course can be used to meet the mandatory introductory child care training requirement. If you are using it to fulfill that requirement, you MUST pass the course competency exam. Important Information Be sure to read the following information to understand the DCF policies. CEU Information Competency Exam Information English/Español Page 4 This DCF course includes a Participant’s Guide and a Study Guide. It is recommended that you print, save, or purchase these guides using the links below. Both the Participant’s Guide and Study Guide are PDF documents that can be filled out in electronic format and saved to your computer. If you prefer a paper copy, you can print the document or purchase a copy that will be mailed to you. The Participant’s Guide is a course workbook. Throughout the course, you will be advised to use your Participant’s Guide to complete activities and exercises, record notes, and see resources. When completed, your Participant’s Guide will contain information you need to pass the module knowledge checks, CEU assessment, and/or the course competency exam. The Study Guide is a comprehensive overview of the concepts presented in the course. It helps you review course goals and learning objectives to ensure you have a thorough understanding of the subjects. You will find tips on studying for tests and completing a competency exam answer sheet in this document. Page 5 The goal of the Identifying and Reporting Child Abuse and Neglect course is to provide child care personnel with information to protect the children in care from incidents of child abuse and neglect as well as how to report suspicions. The four-hour course is presented in two modules. Module 1: Identifying Child Abuse and Neglect and Module 2: Reporting Child Abuse and Neglect 2|Page Identifying and Reporting Child Abuse and Neglect (CAAN) Module 1: Identifying Child Abuse and Neglect Page 1 Welcome to Module 1: Identifying Child Abuse and Neglect. This module will define terms associated with child abuse and neglect and provide an overview of the risk factors and effects associated with child abuse and neglect. Page 2 Participants will be able to identify the signs, symptoms, and indicators of child abuse and neglect. After successfully completing this module, you will be able to: Identify and define terms associated with child abuse and neglect Identify common physical and behavioral indicators of child abuse and neglect Explain causes and risk factors of child abuse and neglect and Identify effects of child abuse and neglect Page 3 Child abuse and neglect can occur in families of any socioeconomic status. It can also occur out of the home, including in child care programs. It is more prevalent than you may think, and you may be the only person in a position to intervene. You not only have a moral obligation to intervene, but you have a legal obligation to report it. Abuse and neglect are difficult issues to confront. Some of the material in this session may be uncomfortable for you to study due to your personal history or that of family, friends, or children you know. Your experiences may also affect how you feel about child abuse and neglect. If you find yourself troubled by this information, you may want to read a book on the topic, look for a support group, or seek professional help. If you would like to talk with a crisis counselor or get more information, you can call the Florida Coalition Against Domestic Violence at 1-800-500-1119 or the Florida Council Against Sexual Violence at 1-888-956-7273 to be connected to a local hotline. Page 4 We hear about child abuse in the news nearly every day, but how much do we really know about it? Childhelp USA is asking everyone to learn more about child abuse and what each of us can do to help stop it. Test your knowledge by answering the following multiple choice questions. Page 5 Select the term that best fits the definition. Page 6 There are different forms of abuse observed among children across all demographics. Physical abuse harms and/or impairs a child’s physical health. Emotional abuse harms and/or impairs a child’s mental health. Sexual abuse harms and/or impairs both a child’s mental and physical health. Example of physical abuse: For the 3rd time this week, Kevin got mud all over his clothes while he was playing outside. This made Kevin’s mother, Shelby, mad. She thought that putting him in hot bath water would punish him for the dirty clothes. He cried about taking a bath and cried even more when he was put in the bathtub with scalding hot water. Shelby kept her hand on Kevin’s shoulder. Every time he tried to get out of the water, Shelby would push him down. Shelby didn’t notice the scald marks until after the bath was over. Example of sexual abuse: Casey has been at your facility for 3 years. He has been known to lie on several occasions. He comes from a family that has a wonderful reputation in the community. One day, Casey is crying. When you ask 3|Page Identifying and Reporting Child Abuse and Neglect (CAAN) Module 1: Identifying Child Abuse and Neglect him what is wrong, he tells you that his dad made him take his clothes off and then he took a lot of pictures of him. Casey said Dad told him not to tell anyone about the pictures. He said Dad told him this was their special secret. Example of emotional abuse: Latoya is a quiet and shy child. Lately, she has been talking even less. One day, she was in the housekeeping area when a cup was accidentally broken by one of the children. Latoya started crying. When you asked what was wrong, she told you it reminded her of when she broke her dad’s favorite cup one time. She said now her dad tells her every morning, when she is eating breakfast, that he doesn’t want her around anymore because she is bad and is too much trouble. When you ask if Dad hurts her, she says no. Key Point: There are three types of child abuse: physical, sexual, and emotional. Page 7 Read the lists of examples and select the type of abuse being described. Page 8 Shaken Baby Syndrome is a specific type of physical abuse. It is caused by someone shaking an infant and causing injury or death. Shaking an infant can cause severe injury because they have weak neck muscles, growing brains, and thin skulls. Shaking a baby or young child can cause: Permanent brain damage Paralysis Blindness Seizures Developmental delays Broken bones or Death To prevent Shaken Baby Syndrome: Make sure those who care for young children know the dangers of shaking a baby and Be careful during play or physical activity You can cope with a crying baby or child by: Taking deep, slow breaths Taking a break Asking for help or Counting to 10 This video provides an overview on the topic of Shaken Baby Syndrome. Page 9 Example of neglect: Dad works a 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. job. Mom works from 11:00 p.m. until 7:00 a.m. as a nursing assistant. This schedule allows one parent to always be home to care for the children so they do not have to pay for child care. One day, Dad has to work a double shift. He will not be home until midnight. It is 10:00 p.m. and close to time for Mom to leave. She feels they can’t afford to pay someone to watch her 2- and 6-year-old children, even for a short time. She decides that the children can stay alone since they are asleep and Dad will be home in a couple of hours. 4|Page Identifying and Reporting Child Abuse and Neglect (CAAN) Module 1: Identifying Child Abuse and Neglect Other examples of neglect: Leaving a child alone Leaving a child in a place that is not safe Lack of attention Not providing food, clothing, or shelter for a child Not providing necessary medical attention for a child Not providing appropriate schooling and Not providing protection from hazards Failure to provide support, acceptance, attention, warmth, supervision, and normal living experiences for a child is considered child neglect. Withholding these things can cause a child to not function normally in performance and behavior. Failure to Thrive can be an outcome of emotional abuse or emotional neglect. A lack of holding, hugging, rocking, singing, touching, and loving that occurs during infancy and early childhood can cause an infant’s or child’s weight to drop to below the fifth percentile. If an adult intentionally withholds food, shelter or any other necessity as a punishment, then it is abuse; but if things needed to survive are withheld by circumstance or lack of awareness, care, or education, then it is an act of neglect. Both abuse and neglect are crimes and violations of children’s human rights. It is important for your program to offer parents information on resources in your community in an effort to prevent neglect before it occurs. Be proactive – work with your families from the first day they enter your program. Key Point: Failure to provide support, acceptance, attention, warmth, supervision, and normal living experiences for a child is considered neglect. Page 10 Different types of abuse and neglect have observable indicators or signs. There are behavioral and physical indicators. The presence of one sign does not necessarily mean abuse or neglect has occurred. Behavioral signs are observable in the way a child acts. For example, children may: Have nightmares Flinch when a hand or object comes close Sound depressed Hurt themselves on purpose or Bully others Physical signs are observable in the appearance of a child. For example, you may see: Bruises and welts in various stages of healing Missing hair or visible scalp Handprints or fingerprints Broken or fractured bones or Burns Take a few moments to review the physical and behavioral indicator charts found in the participant’s guide. Key Point: There are observable physical and behavioral indicators associated with abuse and neglect. Page 11 Review the example and identify the type of physical and behavioral indicators of abuse or neglect. 5|Page Identifying and Reporting Child Abuse and Neglect (CAAN) Module 1: Identifying Child Abuse and Neglect Select an item in the right column and match it to the correct answer in the column on the left. Correct matches will drop to the bottom of the list. Incorrect matches will remain on the list of items so they can be selected again. Page 12 Physical and behavioral indicators are two ways to identify child abuse and neglect. Interaction with children and families by talking and listening are other methods to help you recognize abuse and neglect. A great deal of important information can be gathered from conversations with parents or children. Parents may provide details about the family, and children normally enjoy talking about home life. What are some examples of things that might be observed or shared with you that could help you recognize the signs of abuse or neglect? Blames or belittles the child Talks about the child as bad or evil Smells of alcohol/drugs or seems to be under the influence Fails to keep appointments Seems unconcerned with the child Mentions financial problems Talks about divorce, death, or illness Admits to alcohol or substance abuse Talks about domestic violence or shows signs of it Talking with parents on a regular basis keeps the lines of communication open. Open communication with the family allows you to be aware of risk factors, such as financial stress, that families may be dealing with. Talking with families may help you be able to support them before abuse or neglect happens. Connecting them with community resources can ease some issues, rather than lead to child abuse and neglect. There are experts that are trained to question the child. Caregivers should listen to and observe the child, but not interview them. Review the “Do” and “Don’t” lists in the participant’s guide regarding interactions with children and families. Children are not always eager to talk about an abusive incident. Sometimes, they will disclose information through their activities. Examples would be a child spanking a doll with an object, doing sexually inappropriate things with a doll, role-playing a parent using abusive or demeaning language, or doing other things that a young child would not likely have imagined. Abusive incidents may also show up in a child’s artwork or stories they share with others. Key Point: Interaction with children and families provides information that may further help the caregiver in recognizing possible cases of abuse and/or neglect. Page 13 Read each scenario. Using the information you have learned in this module, decide whether you suspect child abuse, child neglect, or both. Page 14 Human trafficking is the use of any person under the age of 18 for sexual purposes in exchange for—or for the promise of—money, goods, or services by a non-caregiver. If the sex trafficking victim is under the age of 18, it is human trafficking, regardless of whether force, fraud, and/or coercion exist. Trafficking victims, whether labor or sex, rarely self-disclose. You cannot rely solely on an admission from these victims to support findings. Choice is an illusion when discussing human trafficking. While it may appear that victims have opportunities to leave or ask for help—often the threats, the psychological and emotional manipulation they are subjected to, and the lack of appropriate support systems prevent the 6|Page Identifying and Reporting Child Abuse and Neglect (CAAN) Module 1: Identifying Child Abuse and Neglect child from leaving the situation and often drive the victim back to their trafficker—even when they’ve left the situation for a period of time. Examples of Human Trafficking – CSEC: Renegade/Survival Sex: There is no third party; no pimp. The victim may “broker” exchanges for a sexual act independently. There may be an exchange of a sexual act for money, food, housing, clothing, etc. Any exchange of a sexual act for any tangible thing, or for the promise of a tangible thing, is human trafficking. Pimp Trafficking: There is a third party “brokering” the exchange of the sexual act for a tangible item, typically money. Pimps can be any age, any gender, and can come from all types of backgrounds. Gang Trafficking: The trafficking is a source of generating money for the gang, and a gang member is involved in the trafficking of the victim. This might be a local, state, national, or transnational gang. A gang is defined as, “An association of three or more individuals whose purpose, in part, is to engage in criminal activity.” Labor trafficking: Labor trafficking occurs in many different situations, including domestic servitude; construction; landscaping; the sex industry; factories and sweatshops; migrant farm work; service industries such as nursing homes, cleaning services, bars, and restaurants; and the food industry. Familial trafficking: Trafficking involving a person who is being forced to engage in commercial sex or forced labor by a family member or caregiver. Page 15 Indicators of Human Trafficking include: Youth’s acknowledgement of being trafficked Report of human trafficking by parent/guardian, law enforcement, medical care or service provider, teacher, child protective services, and/or juvenile probation officer History of running away four or more times, or getting kicked out of the home four or more times (the definition of running away or getting kicked out of the home includes times the youth did not voluntarily return within 24 hours and also includes incidents not reported by or to law enforcement) Child is 12 or older and has a history of allegations of sexual abuse (with or without findings); or a disclosure of sexual abuse by the child Current incident or history of inappropriate sexual behaviors (not limited to prostitution) Child is known to associate with confirmed or suspected CSEC youth Child is recovered from a runaway episode in a hotel or known area of prostitution Child has no knowledge about the community in which he/she is located Child is not allowed or is unable to speak for himself/herself and may be extremely fearful Child has no personal items or possessions (including identity documents if foreign born, which is common in cases of labor trafficking) Child appears to have material items that he or she cannot afford, such as cell phones, expensive clothing, tablets, etc. Child shows signs of being groomed in a manner the child cannot afford and cannot justify how the items and/or services were paid for, for example getting hair done, nails done, new clothing, etc. Suspicious tattoos or other signs of branding, for instance tattoos of the trafficker’s names, dollar signs, diamonds, stars, etc. Child associates with and/or has relationships with age-inappropriate friends, boyfriends, and/or girlfriends Child has inappropriate, sexually suggestive activity on social media websites and/or chat apps All of these indicators, with the exceptions of running away and a history of sexual abuse, are independent of each other. 7|Page Identifying and Reporting Child Abuse and Neglect (CAAN) Module 1: Identifying Child Abuse and Neglect Key Point: Child care professionals need to be aware of the indicators of human trafficking in order to protect the safety of children. Page 16 The three categories that place children at risk for maltreatment are child risk factors, parental and family risk factors, and social and environmental risk factors. Child Risk Factors include Premature birth and/or birth defect Chronic or serious illness Physical, cognitive, or emotional disability Temperament- slow or difficult to warm up to others Aggressive behavior problems Attention Deficit Disorder Childhood trauma A personal attribute/characteristic identified by a parent as undesirable Parent/Family Risk Factors include Personality factors, such as o Feeling of insecurity o Lack of trust o Low tolerance for frustration o Poor impulse control o Controlling o Depression, anxiety, or mental illness Childhood history of abuse Family structure - single parent with lack of support, grandparent with new responsibility Social isolation/lack of support Marital problems and divorce Death and/or illness Age Abuse of alcohol or other drugs Lack of parenting skills or living skills Financial problems or unemployment Social/Environmental Risk Factors include Stressful life or community events (for example, hurricanes) Low socioeconomic status/poverty Homelessness Lack of access to medical care, health insurance, child care, and/or social services Dangerous/violent neighborhood Community violence Cultural acceptance of abuse Key Point: There are child, family, and environmental factors that place children at risk for abuse and/or neglect. Page 17 Read each scenario. Using the information you have learned in this module, decide which risk factor is involved. Page 18 Determine if each of the following is a myth or a fact. 8|Page Identifying and Reporting Child Abuse and Neglect (CAAN) Module 1: Identifying Child Abuse and Neglect Page 19 The effects of child abuse and neglect can be serious and permanently affect children’s cognitive, physical, and emotional development. Recent scientific studies of the brain reveal that the first years of a child’s life are critical to development. A child must receive adequate stimulation to ensure that nerve cells in the brain develop fully. Negative experiences, like trauma or abuse, are extremely detrimental in early years. The effects of abuse on a child can begin before a mother even gives birth. The Impact of Trauma, Abuse, and Neglect can include Extreme anxiety Depression Inability to form healthy relationships Memory loss Short attention span Easily distracted Poor self-esteem or Sleeping or eating disorders Page 20 Experiences throughout childhood can impair mental abilities and may cause a child to respond with aggression or violence to stressful or frustrating situations. The physical and emotional consequences of child abuse and neglect affect the child, family, caregiver, community, and society. Review the effects on children, family, caregivers, and society in the participant’s guide. As horrible as child abuse and neglect are, it is possible to recover from many of the adverse effects. Many formerly-abused children find healing and recover to become compassionate, healthy adults who do not abuse others. Early intervention and the support of caring adults and programs can help ensure the best possible outcomes. Key Point: The effects of child abuse and neglect can be serious and permanent to a child’s cognitive, physical, and emotional development. Page 21 As we discussed, there are child, family, and environmental factors that place children at risk for abuse and/or neglect. According to the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services website, “…there are also protective factors that, when present, mitigate or eliminate risk to increase the health and well-being of children and families. Protective factors help parents to find resources, supports, or coping strategies that allow them to parent effectively, even under stress.” Research has shown that the following protective factors are linked to a lower incidence of child abuse and neglect: Nurturing and attachment Knowledge of parenting and of child and youth development Parental resilience Social connections and Concrete supports for parents Review the information in the participant’s guide related to each factor. 9|Page Identifying and Reporting Child Abuse and Neglect (CAAN) Module 1: Identifying Child Abuse and Neglect Page 22 Working with abused or neglected children can be challenging. Before you can effectively help a child or parent, you need to know several things about their behavior: Children who have been abused may not trust other people. Their experiences have shown them that getting close to people and trusting them causes discomfort and pain. These children need a close one-to-one relationship to develop and grow normally. They often reject warmth, hugs, and affection at first. They may be delayed in one or more areas of their development (motor, speech, and behavior). Their behavior may be at one of two extremes: difficult to manage, destructive, and irritable; or unusually shy and anxious to please. Abused and neglected children have very poor self-images. Important adults in their lives have had unrealistic expectations for these children, and they often are led to believe that they caused their own abuse. Parents of abused children may feel that you are a threat. They may be hostile and ungrateful toward you since they feel jealous, in competition, inadequate, or afraid you will learn their secrets and report them. It takes understanding, patience, and faith to become an effective caregiver in this situation. Other important qualities are: Willingness to take the risk of becoming involved with an abused or neglected child. Ability to understand and communicate with abusive parents who are often emotionally immature, have low self-esteem, and may respond to you with jealousy and hostility. A feeling of your own worth as a person and as a child care provider, independent of the child's progress or the parent’s gratitude for your efforts. Positive parenting and teaching skills. Key Point: It takes understanding, patience, and skills to work with abused and neglected children. Page 23 A recommended book for you to read is Death from Child Abuse… and No One Heard by Eve Krupinski and Dana Weikel. It is the powerful true story of a young Florida girl's death from abuse at the hands of her mother's boyfriend with the knowledge of the mother. It is the intimate picture of this tragedy, largely told from the perspective of the child. It is a comprehensive but concise guide to understanding and confronting child abuse and neglect, domestic violence, and dating violence. Readers are often deeply moved and motivated by this book. It enjoys a great popularity with young people and it is highly valued by many educators and professional trainers. Page 24 If a child in care is displaying behavioral or emotional issues and/or is developmentally delayed, emotional or physical trauma could be playing a role in the behavior. Posttraumatic Stress Disorder, or PTSD, is diagnosed when children are still displaying behaviors and emotions caused by trauma three to six months after a traumatic event or events have ended. In some cases, these behaviors and emotions may not be diagnosed until years after the event. Indicators of trauma in children ages birth to 5: Attachment behaviors toward caretakers Sleep disturbances, particularly nightmares Immobility Does not explore Regression in behavior Failure to Thrive 10 | P a g e Identifying and Reporting Child Abuse and Neglect (CAAN) Module 1: Identifying Child Abuse and Neglect Thumb sucking, whining, and loss of acquired speech Prolonged uncontrollable crying Hyper-vigilance or Biting, kicking, tantrums, unprovoked aggression Page 25 Some children, if given support, will recover within a few weeks or months from symptoms caused by a traumatic experience. However, some children will need more help over a longer period of time in order to heal and may need continuing support from family, teachers, or mental health professionals. Caregivers can play an important role in helping traumatized children cope with and recover from their experiences. The most important ways to help are to make sure children feel connected, cared about, and safe. Triggers can cause a recurrence of symptoms, feelings, and behaviors. Examples of triggers are anniversaries, sounds and smells, locations and other physical attributes, and situations. These might act as reminders to the child and cause the child to display behaviors and emotions connected to the event. Sometimes, the child may believe they are reliving the traumatic event in real time. This is called a flashback. If a child has a flashback while in care, do not attempt to control emotions and behaviors. Instead, help the child reconnect to the here-and-now. If you believe a child in your care may benefit from additional support, you can call 2-1-1 to be connected with trauma-informed care specialists and services in your area. Parents may also use 2-1-1 as a resource for their family. Page 26 Tips for helping children ages birth to 5 after a traumatic event: Give these very young children a lot of verbal support Take a deep breath before holding or picking them up and focus on them, not the trauma Get down to their eye level and speak in a calm, gentle voice using words they can understand Tell them that you care for them and will continue to take care of them Do everything you can to make them feel safe Page 27 Here is a summary of key points for Module 1: Identifying Child Abuse and Neglect. Page 28 Congratulations! After completing the Knowledge Check, you correctly answered at least 70% of the questions presented. You have completed Module 1: Identifying Child Abuse and Neglect. You have achieved this module’s learning objectives if you can: Identify and define terms associated with child abuse and neglect Identify common physical and behavioral indicators of child abuse and neglect Explain causes and risk factors of child abuse and neglect and Identify effects of child abuse and neglect 11 | P a g e Identifying and Reporting Child Abuse and Neglect (CAAN) Module 2: Reporting Child Abuse and Neglect Page 1 Welcome to Module 2: Reporting Child Abuse and Neglect. This module will explain the role of the caregiver in reporting child abuse and neglect. It explains the legal responsibility, according to Florida law, of child caregivers in reporting suspected child abuse and neglect as well as provides community resources. Page 2 Participants will understand their role in reporting child abuse and neglect. After successfully completing this module, you will be able to: Explain the role of the caregiver in reporting suspected child abuse and neglect Follow the requirements of reporting suspected child abuse and neglect according to Florida law and Identify community resources that provide support for abused and the abuser Page 3 The first child abuse case was reported in 1873. Mary-Ellen was 9 years old when a church worker, Mrs. Etta Wheeler, who had been asked to visit the family, found Mary-Ellen shackled to her bed, grossly malnourished, scarred, and badly beaten. Mrs. Wheeler was so appalled by what she saw that she went to the authorities to report this horrifying child abuse. The authorities turned her away because they classified her treatment as a family matter, where parents had complete authority; therefore, law enforcement did not get involved. But, Mrs. Wheeler refused to take no for an answer. She petitioned the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA). Sadly, animals were protected but children were not. Mrs. Wheeler appealed to the ASPCA that children were members of the animal kingdom and must therefore be protected. It was on these grounds that the ASPCA finally intervened. Mary-Ellen was removed from her abusive home and placed in foster care, where she thrived. She went on to marry, have 2 daughters, and live to the age of 92. Mary-Ellen is considered the very first child abuse case in North America. Her case led to the founding in 1874 of the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children with child protection as its primary mandate. The society promoted the fact that parents do not have complete authority over their children. Page 4 Section 39.201, Florida Statutes (F.S.) states all Floridians must report any child abuse, abandonment, and/or neglect they suspect. Failure to report is a third degree felony in the State of Florida. Persons in the following professions must provide their names when filing a report: a) Physician, osteopathic physician, medical examiner, chiropractic physician, nurse, or hospital personnel engaged in the admission, examination, care, or treatment of persons; b) Health or mental health professional other than one listed in subparagraph a; c) Practitioner who relies solely on spiritual means for healing; d) School teacher or other school official or personnel; e) Social worker, day care center worker, or other professional child care, foster care, residential, or institutional worker; f) Law enforcement officer; or g) Judge. In other words, all child care professionals must provide their names when reporting suspicions of child abuse, abandonment, and/or neglect. 12 | P a g e Identifying and Reporting Child Abuse and Neglect (CAAN) Module 2: Reporting Child Abuse and Neglect Pursuant to section 39.202, F.S., the names of reporters are held confidential except to specific individuals involved in carrying out the investigation. Annually, a statement must be signed by child care professionals acknowledging their understanding of the laws for reporting suspicions of child abuse and neglect. View the Child Abuse & Neglect Reporting Requirements form. Key Point: Every adult in Florida is required by law to report ANY suspected abuse or neglect. Key Point: All child care professionals must provide their names when reporting suspicions of child abuse, abandonment, and/or neglect; everyone else can make an anonymous report, if they prefer. Key Point: Failure to report suspected abuse or neglect is a third degree felony in the State of Florida. Page 5 Each year, the Florida Abuse Hotline receives about 300,000 phone calls, faxes, and web reports in the state of Florida regarding child abuse, neglect and abandonment. About 80% of those are sent off to the local county to be investigated by a Child Protective Investigator (CPI). 55% of all reports to the Florida Abuse Hotline are from reporters who are required to provide their name. Page 6 The Florida Abuse Hotline was established in 1971. Florida was one of the first states in the nation to have a toll-free hotline capable of receiving reports of child abuse, abandonment, and neglect around the clock and immediately initiating an investigation anywhere in the state. A report of suspected child abuse and neglect states that a child may have been abused, abandoned, or neglected. The Florida Abuse Hotline operates under Chapter 39 of the Florida Statutes. As a Floridian and a child care provider, it is your duty and your legal responsibility according to Chapter 39 of the Florida Statutes to report any suspected case of child abuse or neglect. You don’t have to prove anything. That is the investigator’s job. There are four ways to make a report: Online (To file an abuse report online, simply visit the Department of Children and Families’ website and click the icon titled "Report Abuse Online.") Telephone – call 1-800-96ABUSE (1-800-962-2873) Florida Relay 711 or TTY (Teletypewriter/Telephone Device for the Deaf) 1-800-453-5145 Fax report to 1-800-914-0004 The Florida Abuse Hotline Fax Transmittal Form is used when you need to fax a report to the hotline. This form can also be used prior to making a phone call to review the information needed in a report. However, do not delay contacting the abuse hotline, even if you don’t have all of the information on this form. Be sure to note the section for Who, What, When and Why information. This is information you will need to have ready prior to making a report. Please note: If the situation is an emergency and the child is in danger, call 9-1-1 and then follow up with a call to the abuse hotline. Key Point: The four ways abuse and neglect reports can be made to the Florida Abuse Hotline are: online, telephone, Florida Relay/TTY, and fax. 13 | P a g e Identifying and Reporting Child Abuse and Neglect (CAAN) Module 2: Reporting Child Abuse and Neglect Page 7 Read the scenario and then complete the Florida Abuse Hotline Fax Transmittal Form. Page 8 There are laws that protect caregivers who report suspected cases of child abuse and neglect. Although you must provide your name when filing a report, the law provides caregivers confidentiality and protection from being sued. Section 39.202, F.S. states that the name of the person reporting the child abuse or neglect shall not be released to any person other than employees of the department responsible for child protective services, early intervention and prevention services, Healthy Start services, licensing agents, and domestic violence services. A reporter’s name can be released to these individuals without his or her written consent. Other than that, this law ensures that confidentiality will be maintained for the person reporting the suspected cases of child abuse and/or neglect. Section 39.203, F.S. states “any person, official, or institution participating in good faith in any act authorized or required by Chapter 39, or reporting in good faith any instance of child abuse to any law enforcement agency, shall be immune from any civil or criminal liability which might otherwise result by reason of such action.” The law ensures that civil or criminal immunity (protection from being sued) will be given to a person reporting a suspected case of child abuse, abandonment, or neglect. Section 39.203, F.S. states this protection will be given to any person, official, or institution participating in good faith. Good faith means the individual making the report suspects a child has been abused, abandoned, or neglected. Key Point: Florida law ensures that confidentiality will be maintained for child care workers reporting suspected cases of child abuse and/or neglect. Page 9 Child caregivers can be accused of abuse or neglect. Parents may suspect their child is being abused and that you are the abuser. There could be confusion, or there could be other problems. There are steps you can take to decrease the likelihood of this happening to you. Here are some guidelines on what to do if you are wrongly accused of child abuse or neglect. The most important thing is to assist the investigators with clearing the report so that they can find out who is abusing the child. Don’t become defensive. Cooperate fully and factually with authorities. Get statements from colleagues about your character. Know the laws related to abuse and neglect. Talk to a lawyer to ensure your rights and those of family members. Remember that protective policies you have put in place, such as your discipline procedures and incident reports, will help you. Work with your director and colleagues to handle the impact of the accusation on the school, other parents, and children. Page 10 There are places to go within the community whose many functions provide support and preventative services to children who are victims of abuse or neglect, and their families. They also can help prevent the abuse from beginning or recurring. These resources also provide education to the community about child maltreatment issues. Child Protective Services (CPS) is the designated social service agency (in most communities) to receive and investigate abuse reports and provide rehabilitation services to children and families with problems of 14 | P a g e Identifying and Reporting Child Abuse and Neglect (CAAN) Module 2: Reporting Child Abuse and Neglect child maltreatment. The agency is frequently located within larger public or private social service agencies, or within law enforcement agencies. Child Protective Services provides services that protect children from abuse and neglect, enforces the statutes on child abuse and neglect prevention, and initiates the process of protecting the abused from further victimization. The Department of Children and Families provides a spectrum of services to preserve and protect the well-being of children and families. Law Enforcement and State Attorney’s Offices investigate cases of child abuse and neglect and have victim advocacy programs to provide information and support through the legal system. Medical Programs and Community Agencies are places where staff members provide attention to victims of child abuse and neglect and provide counseling for the abused, the abuser, or family members. Legal Agencies provide divorce, domestic violence injunction, or Guardian ad Litem services. Communities have the responsibility to establish and maintain required resources and educate families and individuals on child abuse and neglect prevention. Individuals teach children about child abuse and neglect issues. You must be alert for signs of child abuse or neglect in children you know, give emotional support to victims of child abuse and neglect, and support programs that work to prevent child maltreatment. Key Point: There are local community resources that provide help for abused children, their families, and abusers. Page 11 Read each action statement and determine if it is something a child caregiver should or should not do as a professional. Page 12 There is no single approach to preventing or intervening in cases of child abuse and neglect. In Florida, the continuum of prevention and intervention services fall into many categories, such as: Prenatal support for expectant parents Postnatal education and support In-home education and support Early and regular educational, medical, and psychological screening Medical and psychological services Child care Self-help groups Parent education and training Child safety training Family crisis and intervention support Treatment and intervention services Community organizations Public information and Legal action Key Point: The Department of Children and Families’ child abuse website is a good source of information. Page 13 View the video The Promise of Prevention to review the impact of child abuse and neglect on children. 15 | P a g e Identifying and Reporting Child Abuse and Neglect (CAAN) Module 2: Reporting Child Abuse and Neglect Page 14 Think about and reflect on things you have heard or discussed in this module. Write down one thing you were unaware of before starting this module and one thing you are thinking about differently or planning to do differently. Page 15 Here is a summary of key points for Module 2: Reporting Child Abuse and Neglect. Page 16 Congratulations! After completing the Knowledge Check, you correctly answered at least 70% of the questions presented. You have completed Module 2: Reporting Child Abuse and Neglect. You have achieved this module’s learning objectives if you can: Explain the role of the caregiver in reporting suspected child abuse and neglect Follow the requirements of reporting suspected child abuse and neglect according to Florida law and Identify community resources that provide support for abused and the abuser 16 | P a g e Identifying and Reporting Child Abuse and Neglect (CAAN) Module: Course Conclusion Page 1 This course will remain available to you for 45 days from the date you started it. Within this timeframe, you can access the course to review for your CEU assessment, review for a competency exam, and access your in-service certificate. In-Service Training If you are taking this course to meet part of your annual in-service training requirement, it will be reflected on your Training Transcript. Please allow up to 48 hours before the course completion credit is posted to your transcript. Remember, you can only use this course one time for annual in-service hours. If you complete the course more than once, the original completion date will continue to be reflected on your Training Transcript and certificate. Continuing Education Units Training You may receive Continuing Education Units (CEUs) for this course by passing the CEU assessment with a score of 80 or higher. CEUs can only be earned once for each course. The CEU assessment for this course will be available for 60 days from the course completion date. You can access the CEU assessment and see the number of days the course will be available to you by following these steps: 1. Log in to your Child Care Training Student Account 2. Click “CEUs” under “My Student Information” 3. Find the name of this course and click “Go to Assessment” For more information, review the How to Earn CEUs website. You will have three attempts to pass the CEU assessment. After you pass the CEU assessment, the CEUs will be reflected on your Training Transcript. Mandatory Training This course can be used to fulfill part of your mandatory training requirement. If you are using it to fulfill that requirement, you must pass the course competency exam to receive credit. Important Information Be sure to read the following information to understand the DCF policies. CEU Information Competency Exam Information English/Español Page 2 On behalf of the children of Florida and the Florida Department of Children and Families, thank you for completing this course. You are helping to ensure Florida’s children are well cared for in a safe, healthy, positive, and educational environment by trained, qualified child care staff, and you are wished every success in your future endeavors. For more information about other training requirements and opportunities, visit DCF’s Training and Credentialing Requirements webpage. Page 3 The Department of Children and Families would appreciate your feedback about this course. Your feedback will assist DCF in improving its online child care training courses in the future. Complete the Satisfaction Survey 17 | P a g e Identifying and Reporting Child Abuse and Neglect (CAAN) Module: Course Conclusion Download Your Completion Certificate The Florida Department of Children and Families Office of Licensing sincerely appreciates the contributions of the many people involved in the creation of this course. Remember this course will remain available to you for 45 days from the date you started it, so you can use it to review for your CEU assessment and/or competency exam. To exit the course, close this window now. 18 | P a g e