When A Child Discloses

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When A Child Discloses

• April 17, 2007
• Presented by Child Abuse Prevention Program

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CAPP VIDEO
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Investigate- To observe or inquire into
detail. To examine systematically.
VERSUS

• Interview- A conversation in which facts or
  statements are elicited from one another

VERSUS

• Disclosure - sharing information with others that
  they would not normally know or discover, this
  involves risk and vulnerability on the part of
  the person sharing the information.

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Minimal Facts Interview

•  Who is the abuser?
• What type of abuse is happening?
• Where is it happening?
• When does it happen?
• Are there any siblings in the house?

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Considerations When Interviewing Children

• Culture, personality ethnicity of the child
• The childs age level of development
• Familiarity of child and family history
• Other sources of information about the child
• Consult with teachers to determine change in
  behavior or attitude
• (Sattler, 1998 New York State Childrens Justice
  Task Force Forensic Interviewing Best Practices)

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Establishing Rapport When Interviewing Children

• Find a safe atmosphere that will encourage the
  child to speak openly
• Make eye contact and use body language to
  indicate you are providing your full attention
• Refer to child by name
• Use age appropriate language with a calm and
  friendly tone of voice
• Be conscious of your reactions to the childs
  disclosure
• Acknowledge the childs anxiety about disclosure
• (Sattler 1998 New York State Childrens Justice
  Task Force Forensic Interviewing Best Practices)

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When Taking a Disclosure

• Explain your role to the child
• Interview the child alone
• Help the child understand they are not in trouble
• Encourage the child to tell you what happened in
  their own words
• Explain why youre taking notes
• Give a child a realistic sense of what will
  happen next when appropriate
• Avoid using jargon.
• End the interview on a positive note and thank
  the child.

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  When Taking a Disclosure DO NOT

• Bribe the child
• Make promises
• Ask the child to remove their clothing
• Ask the child to demonstrate the abuse
• Invade the childs space unless invited
• Avoid repeating the same question without an
  explanation
• Rush the interview

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Leading Questions

• Leading Questions
• Imply or suggest answer to child
• Contain the answer to the question
• Imply yes or no answers
• Are more likely to elicit inaccurate answers
• Examples
• Leading Does daddy tuck you in at night?
• Partially leading Who tucks you in at night?
• Non-leading What happens at bedtime?

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Other Questioning Techniques to Avoid

• Questions beginning with Can you.?
• Why? questions
• Tag questions
• A tag question makes a statement and then adds a
  short question which invites corroboration of its
  truth.
• Example Its raining, isnt it?

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More Questioning Tips

• Questions should be short and consist of only one
  idea
• Use Directive statements Tell me what
  happened
• Let the child guide the interview

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Language Considerations

• Children may use familial terms (daddy,
  uncle, etc) for family friends Ask for names
  and stay away from using of too many pronouns.
• Ask for clarification when child uses slang or
  any other unclear terms.
• Be sure to document any slang that they might use.

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Time Consideration

• Children may have difficulty with perception of
  time (a week, a month a year.
• Ask if the incident took place before or after a
  major event, if it was it warm or cold outside,
  or If they remember who their teacher was.

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Role Play
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• What happened to Joanne happened to me.
• Who is the abuser
• What type of abuse is happening
• Where is the abuse happening
• When does the abuse happen
• Are there any siblings in the house
• Have you ever told anyone about the abuse

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• I get beat all the time.
• Who is the abuser
• What type of abuse is happening
• Where is the abuse happening
• When does the abuse happen
• Are there any siblings in the house
• Have you ever told anyone about the abuse

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Mandated Reporter Information
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MANDATED REPORTER
A mandated reporter is required to report or
cause a report to be made when, in their
professional roles, they are presented with
reasonable cause to suspect that a child is
abused or maltreated.
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REASONABLE CAUSE TO SUSPECT

• Based on your observations, professional training
  and experience, you feel the parent or person
  responsible for child has harmed that child or
  placed that child in imminent danger of harm.

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It is NOT the job of the mandated reporter to do
a child abuse investigation
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Any mandated reporter making a report of
suspected child abuse, in good faith, shall
receive immunity to liability
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Reporting Procedures

• As a mandated reporter, your obligation is not
  fulfilled until the report is registered with the
  
• 1. State Central Registry (SCR),
• Mandated Reporters Line 1-800-635-1522
• Non-Mandated Reporters Hotline [phone]
• 2. DSS 2221-A is filed
• within 48 hours

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DSS 2221-A

• This can be filled out by going to
• http//www.ocfs.state.ny.us/main/forms/cps
• The ACS/CPS field office must have a signed hard
  copy
• On the form you must identify the source of the
  report as yourself and the designee
• Role Code
• AB- child fatality/ sexual abuse
• MA- physical abuse/ neglect

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What happens after report is filed

• SCR filters report to local field office
• CPS 60 Days for determination
• Founded/Indicated
• Unfounded
• Open

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In your professional role as a mandated reporter
you are required to give your name when making a
report of suspected child abuse
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Any person required by law to report suspected
child abuse who willfully fails to do so may be

• Guilty of a Class A misdemeanor
• And
• Civilly liable for damages after the point at
  which abuse was known

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TIPS ON MAKING A REPORT TO SCR

• Include the your name, telephone number, source
  of the report, and relationship to child
• Relevant information about the child such as,
  age, address, siblings, language spoken at home,
  special needs, parent information
• Extent of injuries, including past experiences
  and any known injuries to siblings
• Immediate concerns about childs safety
• Concerns about case workers safety upon making a
  home visit

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MORE TIPS

• Current location of the child
• The name of the suspected abuser
• Use childs exact words and state facts, not
  feelings
• ALL OF THIS INFORMATION SHOULD BE INCLUDED IN THE
  DSS 2221-A FORM
• Consider that the child might not being able to
  go home that day

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WHAT TO TELL PARENTS

• PARENTS CANNOT BE NOTIFIED OF A REPORT MADE BY
  THE SCHOOL, UNLESS THE CHILD HAS BEEN TAKEN INTO
  PROTECTIVE CUSTODY
• If you inform a parent they may
• Harm or intimidate the child
• Harm you
• Flee or encourage the offender to flee

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WHAT TO TELL PARENTS

• When an SCR report is unwarranted and you do
  contact the parent
• Choose a location that is private, but not
  isolated
• Encourage parents to seek help offer resources
• Reassure child and parents of your
• availability and support
• Document everything

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Thank You Very MuchRona and Katie!

• Questions and Answers