Division of Family Services and Schools Collaboration Training

1. Division of Family Services and Schools Collaboration Training

2. What is the law that addresses Child Abuse? • On June 28,1976, the law regarding child abuse and neglect went into effect. The law defined child abuse and neglect, and described the responsibilities of the child protection agency. • The statute was amended almost in its entirety by the Child Abuse Prevention Act of 1997

3. How does the law define child abuse? • “Abuse shall mean any physical injury to a child by those responsible for the care, custody and control of the child, through unjustified force, emotional abuse, torture, criminally negligent treatment, sexual abuse, exploitation, maltreatment, or mistreatment

4. What does “unjustified force” mean? • Parents/Custodians have the right and obligation to discipline their children. The discipline is for the purpose of safe guarding and promoting the welfare of the child, and is intended to benefit the child

5. The force is not justified if it includes, but not limited to, any of the following: • Throwing the child, kicking, burning, cutting, striking with a closed fist, interfering with breathing, use of, or threatened use of a deadly weapon, prolonged deprivation of sustenance or medication, or doing any act that is likely to cause or does cause physical injury, disfigurement, mental distress, unnecessary degradation or substantial risk of physical injury or death

6. What is “neglect”? • “Neglect” shall mean the failure to provide, by those responsible for the care, custody and control of the child, the proper or necessary: education as required by law; nutrition, medical/surgical, or any other care necessary for the child’s well being

7. How does the Division of Family Services hear about abused children? • Any physician, and any other person in the healing arts including any person licensed to render services in medicine, osteopathy, dentistry, any intern, resident, nurse, school employee, social worker, psychologist, medical examiner or any other person who knows or reasonably suspects child abuse or neglect shall call DFS • The above practitioners are called mandatory reporters

8. How do you make a report? • If you suspect that a child is being abused or neglected, you will call the DFS hotline number: • 1-800-292-9582 • The hotlineis covered by DFS social workers 24/7 to ensure timely interventions for endangered children

9. What information will the hotline need? • When you make the call, please have the child’s name, date of birth, address, parent contact information, such as work numbers or place of employment and home phones • Be as concrete and descriptive as possible: location of the injuries, behaviors or appearances that raise concerns • Current location of the child • Any information on the parent’s behaviors as they have interacted with you • Any knowledge of parental violence, drug/alcohol abuse, mental illness, or domestic violence

10. Will my name be given out to the family? • Anyone acting in good faith, who reasonably believes a child is being abused or neglected is protected under the law. Reporters shall have immunity from any liability, civil or criminal. • It is Division policy to NOT DISCLOSE the name of the reporter. • Reports can be made anonymously

11. What signs or symptoms should I look for? • Physical injuries might be bruises or welts on the face, torso, buttocks, thighs or back. The marks may be in the shape of an object, such as a hand print or belt mark. They may be in various stages of healing • Fractures or dislocations which are unexplained • Burns on the palms, soles of the feet that may reflect a pattern of cigarette burns • Cuts, bite marks, pinch marks, bald patches • Marks around a child’s neck, wrists or ankles that may indicated they were tied up or choked

12. Behavioral Indicators • Child who is overly shy and avoids contacts with adults • Afraid to go home or requests to stay at school • Reports injuries from parents • Cries excessively, easily agitated, or sits and stares • Flinches when touched • Gives unbelievable explanations for injuries • Overly aggressive • Complains of pain while sitting or playing • Soils under wear • Fascination with fire • Inappropriate touching or sexualized play

13. Physical Symptoms of Neglect • Height and weight significantly below normal for their age • Inappropriate or chronically dirty or ill fitting clothes/shoes • Poor hygiene, body odor, lice, scaly skin, un-brushed teeth • Lack of medical care and untreated illness, including chronic failure to get needed Rx to the school • Lack of shelter, heat, water, sanitary living conditions • Children left unsupervised or left with inappropriate substitute care giver

14. Behavioral Indicators of Neglect • Falling asleep in school • Poor attendance or chronic tardiness • Chronic hunger, begging/stealing food • Running away from home • Excessive emotional neediness • Lack of interest in trying new tasks • Assumes adult responsibilities

15. Impacts of Abuse on developmental milestones • Children who live with chronic abuse/neglect are often significantly delayed in one or more developmental domains • Abused/Neglected children often develop coping strategies to deal with their home life that are socially unacceptable: aggression, stealing, lying, yelling, tantrums, inattentive, lack of social skills, inability to follow directions, unable to play cooperatively

16. Abuse and Neglect and PTSD • Children who live with violent or unpredictable parents often show signs of Post Traumatic Stress Disorder • Their reactions to events or comments may be way out of proportion, for example, to a mild reprimand the abused child might start screaming or shaking or run out of the room

17. “What is going on in their families that they would show these symptoms?”

18. Parenting Practices of DFS Clients • Reactive and arbitrary consequences for misbehaviors that are inconsistently applied • No daily routine • Behavioral expectations are inferred rather than explained to the child • Little understanding of actions leading to consequences • Feel justified in their behaviors • Blame the child “They made me do it” • No patience

19. Common Characteristics of a DFS Parent • Socially isolated: few family members or friends • Drug and/or alcohol involved • Domestic Violence • Self focused rather than child focused • Emotional immaturity • Little if any emotional control • Mentally ill

20. “As a teacher, will I ever be contacted by DFS?” • During the course of working with a family, the DFS worker needs to collect information about the family from other professionals. As the child’s teacher, you have a greater opportunity to notice developmental issues or delays, and/or on going issues of concern. This is information the worker will solicit from you either by phone or a faxed questionnaire. Please share freely with the worker and respond promptly.

21. If the family is working with a DFS worker, the worker will have permission from the family to gather information from you, but the issues the family is working with can not be disclosed to you.

22. For More Information • Further information about DFS, child abuse and the Department for Children, Youth and Their Families can be found at: • www.state.de.us/kids/information/school.shtml