Child Abuse & Neglect

It is important to recognize high-risk situations and the signs and symptoms of maltreatment. If you suspect a child is being harmed, reporting your suspicions may protect him or her and help the family receive assistance. Any concerned person can report suspicions of child abuse or neglect. Reporting your concerns is not making an accusation; rather, it is a request for an investigation and assessment to determine if help is needed.

Federal legislation lays the groundwork for State laws on child maltreatment by identifying a minimum set of actions or behaviors that define child abuse and neglect. The Federal Child Abuse Prevention and Treatment Act defines child abuse and neglect as, at a minimum, “any recent act or failure to act on the part of a parent or caretaker which results in death, serious physical or emotional harm, sexual abuse or exploitation (including sexual abuse as determined under section 111), or an act or failure to act which presents an imminent risk of serious harm” (42 U.S.C. 5101 note, § 3). Additionally, it stipulates that “a child shall be considered a victim of ‘child abuse and neglect’ and of ‘sexual abuse’ if the child is identified, by a State or local agency employee of the State or locality involved, as being a victim of sex trafficking (as defined in paragraph (10) of section 7102 of title 22) or a victim of severe forms of trafficking in persons described in paragraph (9)(A) of that section” (42 U.S.C. § 5106g(b)(2)).

Physical abuse is a nonaccidental physical injury to a child caused by a parent, caregiver, or other person responsible for a child and can include:

• punching

• beating

• kicking

• biting

• shaking

• throwing

• stabbing

• choking

• hitting (with a hand, stick, strap, or other object)

• burning

• or otherwise causing physical harm

Physical discipline, such as spanking or paddling, is not considered abuse as long as it is reasonable and causes no bodily injury to the child. Injuries from physical abuse could range from minor bruises to severe fractures or death

Emotional abuse (or psychological abuse) is a pattern of behavior that impairs a child’s emotional development or sense of self-worth.

This may includes:

• constant criticism

• threats

• rejection

• withholding love, support, or guidance.

Emotional abuse is often difficult to prove, and, therefore, child protective services may not be able to intervene without evidence of harm or mental injury to the child (Prevent Child Abuse America, 2016).

Sexual abuse includes activities by a parent or other caregiver such as: fondling a child’s genitals, penetration, incest, rape, sodomy, indecent exposure, and exploitation through prostitution or the production of pornographic materials.

Sexual abuse is defined by CAPTA as “the employment, use, persuasion, inducement, enticement, or coercion of any child to engage in, or assist any other person to engage in, any sexually explicit conduct or simulation of such conduct for the purpose of producing a visual depiction of such conduct; or the rape, and in cases of caretaker or interfamilial relationships, statutory rape, molestation, prostitution, or other form of sexual exploitation of children, or incest with children”(42 U.S.C. § 5106g(a)(4)).

Neglect is the failure of a parent or other caregiver to provide for a child’s basic needs.
Neglect generally includes the following categories:

• Physical (failure to provide necessary food or shelter, lack of appropriate supervision)

• Medical (failure to provide necessary medical or mental health treatment, withholding medically indicated treatment from children with life-threatening conditions)

• Educational (failure to educate a child or attend to special education needs)

• Emotional (inattention to a child’s emotional needs, failure to provide psychological care, permitting a child to use alcohol or other drugs)

ANYONE can report Child Abuse and Neglect. If you are Mandated Reporter, you must report.
Volunteers of public or private organizations whose duties require direct contact with and supervision of children are not mandated reporters but are encouraged to obtain training in the identification and reporting of child abuse and neglect and are further encouraged to report known or suspected instances of child abuse or neglect.

Any person who reasonably suspects that a child is a victim of abuse or neglect may report.

Mandated reporters include the following:

• Teachers, teacher's aides, administrators, and employees of public or private schools

• Administrators or employees of day camps, youth centers, or youth recreation programs

• Administrators or employees of licensed community care or child daycare facilities

• Head Start program teachers

• Public assistance workers

• Foster parents, group home personnel, and personnel of residential care facilities

• Social workers, probation officers, and parole officers

• Employees of school district police or security departments

• District attorney investigators, inspectors, or local child support agency caseworkers

• Peace officers and firefighters, except for volunteer firefighters

• Physicians, surgeons, psychiatrists, psychologists, dentists, residents, interns, podiatrists, chiropractors, licensed nurses, dental hygienists, optometrists, marriage and family therapists, or social workers

• State or county public health employees who treat minors for venereal diseases or other conditions

• Coroners and medical examiners

• Commercial film and photographic print or image processors

• Computer technicians

• Child visitation monitors

• Animal control or humane society officers

• Clergy members and custodians of records of clergy members

• Employees of police departments, county sheriff's departments, county probation departments, or county welfare departments

• Employees or volunteers of a court-appointed special advocate program

• Alcohol and drug counselors

• Employees or administrators of public or private postsecondary institutions

• Athletic coaches, athletic administrators, or athletic directors employed by any public or private schools

• Athletic coaches, including, but not limited to, assistant coaches or graduate assistants involved in coaching at public or private postsecondary institutions

If someone is in immediate danger, hurt, or unsafe, please call 911

● To report Abuse or Neglect, please contact the 24-Hour Reporting Lines:

o (707-565-4304) or (1-800-870-7064)

o You will also need to fill out the Suspected Child Abuse Report form

o https://nochildabuse.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/10/Mandated-Reporter-Form-ss008572.pdf

o Fax form to (707-565-4399) or Email to fycsar@schsd.org

o Tips & Information for Reporting:

o Have details and information ready before calling to report

● You may need access to child’s cumulative records

o Best to view the Suspected Child Abuse Report first to get an idea as to what the CPS will ask for

o If you are asked for a call-back number, provide them with a number that you will be close to (cell phone)

o Be prepared with a second blank sheet of paper, Word Document, or Google Document to complete the report with as many details as possible

o Provide pictures when possible

o For more efficient service, provide them with a copy of the completed form before calling (emailing to fycsar@schsd.org is fast and effective)

o If you fax the form over, call to confirm they have received it

● Visit the Sonoma County Family Youth and Children Services Website for more information

o https://sonomacounty.ca.gov/Human-Services/Family-Youth-Children/Prevent-and-Report-Child-Abuse/

● Cloverdale Police Department (707-894-2150) 112 Broad Street Cloverdale, CA 95425