Parent(s) late to pick up their children at day care or school does not constitute “Abandonment”. Short-term lateness is an issue that should be resolved between the parent(s) and the providers. Consider a referral to law enforcement. A foster parent dropping off a disruptive at a DCF or a Community Based Care office does not constitute “Abandonment”. Surrendered newborn infants as outlined under section 383.50, Florida Statutes does not constitute “Abandonment”. Surrendered newborn infants are children who are believed to be seven (7) days old or younger at the time they are left at a hospital, emergency medical services station or fire station. the mother gives birth in the hospital and expresses the intent to leave the newborn and not return, the Hotline counselor should refer the caller to the nearest child placement agency in that county. A “child in need of services” or a “family in need of services” as outlined in Chapter 984, F.S. does not constitute “Abandonment”. These are children for whom there is no pending child protective investigation or referral alleging the child is delinquent; or no current supervision by DCF or Department of Juvenile Justice (DJJ) for adjudication of dependency or delinquency. The child must also be found by the court to have persistently run away, be habitually truant from school, or have persistently disobeyed the reasonable and lawful demands of the parent(s) or legal custodian(s), and to be beyond their control. DOCUMENTATION TO SUPPORT A FINDING OF MALTREAMENT Reports obtained from law enforcement related to the incident. Interview with the person(s) caring for the in the parent’s absence. This includes information on the arrangements agreed upon between the caregiver(s) and parent(s). Documentation of the last contact the parent(s) has had with their child and the number and frequency of previous contacts. Documentation on attempts to locate the absent parent(s) both by the investigator and others in the community. Interview with the parent(s) (if able to locate) to obtain their explanation of the reported incident. Documentation from collateral contacts may include teachers, neighbors, and/or relatives. Prior history and documentation on the parent(s) related to abandonment or inappropriate supervision. ASPHYXIATION DEFINITION **If
How accessible are the caregiver(s) to the child? Can the caregiver(s) see and/or hear the child? What is the proximity to the child of other responsible persons? Has sufficient food and provisions been left for the child? Are the caregiver(s) out of direct supervision of the child and there are factors that create risk based on the age, developmental level, or disabilities of the child (for example, riding a bicycle in the street after dark)? Has a child been left alone when s/he has a condition that requires close supervision, such as a medical condition, behavioral, mental or emotional problems, developmental disabilities, or physical disabilities? Has a child been left at home alone or unattended in a place which is unsafe? Is the child on medication that cannot or should not be self administered by a child? Have the caregiver(s) arranged for secondary caregiver(s) deemed inappropriate or inadequate due to a known history of violence, substance abuse, emotional instability, immaturity, age, or other limitation which affect the ability to care for the child? Is there substance misuse issues related to the incident? ASSESSING FOR OTHER MALTREAMENT When there is an allegation of inadequate supervision due to alcohol or substance abuse assess for the “Substance Misuse” maltreatment. EXCLUDING FACTORS A situation the only allegation is that the caregiver(s) are late picking up the child does not constitute “Inadequate Supervision”. Refer these calls to law enforcement. DOCUMENTATION TO SUPPORT A FINDING OF MALTREAMENT Investigator’s observations of the child and environment. Documentation from any reports and interviews from law enforcement that includes 911 call out history. Documentation of harm that occurred or was likely to occur based upon the circumstances. Information from drug screen results if applicable. Documentation from interviewing the child and assessment of developmental, physical, and mental abilities relevant to incident. Documentation from interviewing the caregivers related to the incident. Documentation from interviewing witnesses to the incident or persons who know the family or situation well (for example, neighbors, family members, or landlord). Documentation of the environment to include photographic evidence.
Using the Andersen family case study, identify warning signs, or indicators, of family situations or conditions that might have helped the child welfare professional to determine if the child was not safe in the Andersen family. Discuss in your small groups, and then debrief as a class. Activity Notes: Slide 11.1.14 Key Points: According to the Maltreatment Allegation Index, “Human trafficking of a child is the recruitment, harboring, transportation, provision or obtaining of a child for labor or services through the use of force, fraud, or coercion. Sex trafficking is a commercial sex act which includes prostitution, pornography, and exotic dancing.” A report for this maltreatment may be accepted even if the alleged perpetrator is not a caregiver. You will usually discover this maltreatment through the investigation of another maltreatment. Florida is an especially big target for human traffickers who bring in people from other countries because of the unique characteristics of a multi-cultural tourist and travel state. Although traffickers also abduct US citizens, they have greater control when they import people from other countries who are not literate in English. Slide 11.1.15 Notes: Key Points: In district in Florida, there are Child Protection Teams (CPT) of professionals to help child welfare professionals in their work with families. The Child Protection Team program is a medically directed, multidisciplinary program that works with local Sheriff's offices and DCF in cases of child abuse and neglect to supplement investigation activities. CPTs provide expertise in evaluating alleged abuse and neglect, assessing risk and protective factors, and providing recommendations for interventions to protect children and enhance a caregiver's capacity to provide a safer environment when possible. If child abuse or neglect is reported to the Florida Abuse Hotline and accepted for investigation, the case is automatically eligible for CPT assessment. And many types of abuse or neglect must be referred for CPT assessment.
Review and documentation of the child’s medical records to assess for prior medical issues involving this child. Review and documentation of any psychological examinations of the caregiver(s) if available. MALNUTRITION/DEHYDRATION DEFINITION Malnutrition is a lack of necessary or proper nutrition or liquids in the body caused by lack of access to food, inadequate food, lack of food or liquids, or insufficient amounts of protein, minerals, or vitamins. **If a medical professional is making an allegation of malnourishment it be accepted by the Hotline as a report. ASSESSING “MALNUTRITION/DEHYDRATION” AS MALTREATMENT Is the child not growing or has lost weight, and the reporter believes this is due to the child being fed insufficient amounts of food? Has been a decrease in the child’s lean body mass or fat? Has there been a change in the child’s general appearance such as thinning hair, paleness, aged skin and/or bulging abdomen? Has there been a change in the child’s behavior (e.g. decreased school performance, alteration in consciousness, lack of interest to external stimuli)? Is the child frequently and repeatedly deprived of meals or is frequently and repeatedly fed insufficient amounts of food to sustain health? Does the frequently and repeatedly asks neighbors for food or steals food, and other information indicates that the child does not receive enough food at home to sustain health? EXCLUDING FACTORS Frequently feeding a child fast food does not constitute “Malnutrition” unless the child has a medical condition requiring a special diet and the fast food is dangerous to his/her health. DOCUMENTATION TO SUPPORT A FINDING OF MALTREAMENT
large percentage of body area, i.e. sunburn burn Burn extending through the outermost layer of skin and into the next layer. Usually not severe enough to interfere with skin after injury, so no scar tissue develops. Characterized by weeping blisters on the skin‘s surface, with increased sensitivity to If no infection occurs, no scar remains. If infection occurs, surgery may be required. burn Entire thickness of the skin is burned, including the hair follicles. Area looks white or charred and is not sensitive to touch or a pin prick. These injuries require hospitalization and often These burns heal with scarring, creating a change in color and a “parchment” type of skin.
require skin grafting. Specific Types of Burns Definition Injury resulting in damage to the skin through the willful action of the caregiver(s). The types of burns include: Superficial (First Degree): Burns or damage limited to the outer layers of the skin (e.g. sunburn without Partial Thickness (Second Degree): Burns or damage that extends through the outer layer of the skin hours. Full Thickness (Third Degree): Burns in which the skin is destroyed, with damage extending into Immersion Burns between The very Doughnut Hole Burn Caused Parts of because water, the burn Immersion Dunking Burn Caused bed. Hands No out of Distinct lines; Stocking Glove Burns Caused hands Usually Have Splash Burns Splash
INFANTS Refuses to accept primary attachment. Consistently violates child‘s ability to handle new situations and uncertainty. Fails to respond to infant‘s social behaviors which form the basis for attachment. Denies the child social interactions with others. Reinforces bizarre habits or creates addictions. Behaviors Refuses to return smiles, punishes child for vocalizations, abandons baby. Teasing/scaring infants by throwing them up in the air, reacting in unpredictable ways to infant‘s cries. Mechanical without affection, fails to make eye contact with infant. Refuses to allow relatives and family friends to visit the infant, leaves the infant unsupervised for long periods of time. Creates drug dependencies, reinforces sexual behaviors. Rejecting Terrorizing Ignoring Isolating Corrupting SCHOOL AGE CHILD Consistently communicates to child that they are inferior/bad. Places child in “double binds” or places inconsistent or frightening demands on child. . Fails to protect the child from threats while aware of the child‘s need for help. Attempts to remove the child from social relationships with peers. Rewards child for anti-social or illegal acts, exposes child to poor role models. Behaviors Uses labels such as “bad child”, “dummy”, always tells children they are responsible for family problems. Sets up unrealistic expectations and criticizes the child for not meeting them, forces children to choose between parents, teases the child, plays cruel games Behaviors: Fails to protect the child from assault by other family members, shows no interest in child‘s education or life outside the home. Behaviors: Refuses to allow other children to visit the home, keeps the child from engaging in after school activities. Behaviors: Exposes the child to pornography, rewards the child for stealing. Rejecting Terrorizing Ignoring Isolating Corrupting
the parents’ Substance abuse or are at fault in some way if the family comes to the attention of authorities. Sometimes these children must contact medical personnel in the case of a parent’s overdose, or they may be left supervising and caring for younger children when their parents are absent while obtaining or abusing substances. Social Stigma Adults who abuse substances may engage in behaviors that embarrass their children and may appear disinterested in their children’s activities or school performance. Children may separate themselves from their parents by not wanting to go home after school, by not bringing friends to the house, or by not asking for help with homework. These children may feel a social stigma attached to certain aspects of their parents’ lives, such as unemployment, homelessness, an involvement with the criminal justice system, or substance abuse treatment. Adolescent Substance Use and Delinquency Adolescents whose parents abuse substances are more likely to abuse substances themselves. Some adolescents mimic behaviors they see in their families, including ineffective coping behaviors such as using drugs and alcohol. Many of these children also witness or are victims of violence. It is hypothesized that substance abuse is a coping mechanism for such traumatic events. Moreover, adolescents who use substances are more likely to have poor academic performance and to be involved in criminal activities. The longer children are exposed to parental substance abuse, the more serious the negative consequences may be for their overall development and well-being. Source: Protecting Children in Families Affected by Substance Use Disorders, ICF International 2009, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Administration for Children and Families. Administration on Children, Youth and Families Children’s Bureau Office on Child Abuse and Neglect Slide 11.6.142 Notes: Handout: Consequences of Substance Abuse