Indicators of Abuse and Neglect : Emotional and Psychological Clues, Part 2

by Child Welfare Information Gateway

(Page 10 of 10)

If the child wishes to show his or her injuries to the educator, he or she should be allowed to do so. The educator should never insist on seeing the child's injuries. At no time should the child be asked or forced to remove clothing. It may be important to have the school nurse present should a child decide to remove his or her clothes.

If further action is to be taken, the child should be told what will happen and when. The educator should assure the child of support and assistance throughout the process and should follow through on the assurances. It is important that the onus or responsibility not be placed on the child, nor should the child be asked to conceal from the parents that the conversation has taken place or that further action is contemplated.

The educator should be especially sensitive to the safety of the child following the disclosure. Ask the child if he or she feels safe returning home and observe how this question is answered. While CPS must be involved in any situation of suspected maltreatment, it is particularly important to involve CPS or law enforcement immediately in situations where the child's imminent safety is a concern. If a CPS caseworker needs to interview the child at school, the school should provide a private place for the interview. In addition, ensure that the interview location does not alert peers and other classmates to the presence of a CPS caseworker. The child's right to confidentiality must be respected.

If it is necessary for the CPS caseworker to remove the child from school for a medical examination, the school may request a written release from the caseworker, or this may be an established element of a memorandum of understanding (MOU) between the school and CPS. This varies by locale and it is important to know the practice and requirements of a particular school.

Talking with the Parents

Some educators may feel that it is important to contact parents to inform them that the school has made a report of suspected child abuse and neglect, because they feel that contact will help maintain the parents' relationship with the school and keep the door open for further communication. It is very rarely appropriate, however, for educators to communicate directly with parents regarding alleged child maltreatment. CPS caseworkers and law enforcement are trained and primarily responsible for contacting and discussing these concerns with parents. The following issues may arise if educators seek to talk with parents before reporting:

• The danger to the child may increase, particularly if the child disclosed the maltreatment.
• The parent may try to have the child recant upon learning that the child has told someone about the abuse.
• The parent may flee or withdraw the child from school.
• The risk for suicide increases for both the victim and the perpetrator immediately after a report is made in sexual abuse cases, especially in cases of incest. It is crucial that such cases be handled swiftly by experts.

There may be instances when a parent contacts a school regarding a report made to CPS. Many school systems have one point of contact to handle CPS reports, such as the school social worker, nurse, or principal. The educator should listen to parents and refer them to that point of contact. In talking with the parents, the educator should respond in a professional, direct, and honest manner without displaying anger, shock, or an insinuation of guilt. It is critical to remember that the educator should not reveal any information pertinent to the report made to CPS or law enforcement. Parents also should be informed about the limitations to confidentiality of the present discussion. Further threats or revelations of abuse typically require the educator to reveal what was discussed to a third party (e.g., CPS).

Occasionally, an angry parent will come to school demanding to know why someone is "telling me how to raise my children." The parent may feel betrayed or that someone has "gone behind their back" because the school did not communicate with him or her directly. Even though CPS caseworkers are legally mandated not to reveal the name of the referral source, the parent often suspects the source of the report. If an angry parent appears at school, the educator should attempt to diffuse the situation by remaining calm and maintaining a professional demeanor. The educator should be mindful of his or her own safety, as well as the safety of others, if the parent is threatening or violent. School protocol should delineate who needs to be contacted in such situations. An angry parent usually will calm down to a reasonable degree if he or she feels listened to and is treated with respect.

Child Abuse Within the School

It is extremely disturbing for most educators to consider that a fellow colleague might be abusing children. In the event that this does occur, however, children need special protection. A common response when a fellow educator is suspected of abuse, especially if that person is popular or a long-time employee, is to deny or ignore it. Sometimes the abuser is transferred to another school. Even with a suspension or reprimand, the violation is likely to recur in the absence of intervention and monitoring.

If a child reports that he or she is being sexually, physically, or even emotionally abused by school personnel, the educator should remember that it takes courage for an abused child to talk to someone. The educator must consider facts and consistencies. Older children may invent stories, but they usually contain obvious inconsistencies. The educator should follow school policy and procedures, which usually involve contacting CPS. CPS personnel then interview the child or refer the allegations to law enforcement (depending on the State's laws) to determine if the child knows anyone else to whom this has happened. If so, the CPS investigator should talk with any other victims. Protocols usually require immediate notification of the school administrator. The situation should not be discussed among other school staff. The accused has a reputation and the right to know of the accusation, but it is the investigator (who may be a CPS caseworker or law enforcement) who should talk with the accused colleague. Not doing so often leads to a witch-hunt atmosphere and is not beneficial to students or faculty. It also is inappropriate to ask the children to tell their stories initially in front of the accused. There is a significant difference in power and resources between teachers and students.

It is important to remember that schools are mandated reporters whether the abuser is an outsider or a school employee. Under State child abuse and neglect reporting statutes, educators have the same liabilities for failing to report suspected incidents perpetrated by colleagues as for incidents resulting from interfamilial abuse or neglect. If allegations are made and there is suspicion of abuse, CPS or law enforcement must become involved.

About the Author

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Formerly the National Clearinghouse on Child Abuse and Neglect Information and the National Adoption Information Clearinghouse, Child Welfare Information Gateway provides access to information and resources to help protect children and strengthen families. A service of the Children's Bureau, Administration for Children and Families, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.