Identifying the Signs of
Abuse and Neglect
Why do I have to know about child abuse?
Because, as an educator, child abuse is your problem, too. You have a legal responsibility to report suspected cases. If you don’t, you may be subject to disciplinary action by the Board of Education, held liable for a child’s suffering and/or brought up on criminal charges that could result in a jail sentence and a fine.
Most importantly, you have a responsibility to your students—who may
be the innocent victims of child abuse and neglect. You could save a life
by being aware of the signs of child abuse and reacting quickly and responsibly.
What is child abuse and neglect?
The definitions are spelled out in New York State’s Social Services Law and Family Court Act. A parent or guardian commits child abuse if he/she:
• Physically injures a child under age 18 (unless by accident) or allows
an injury to occur;
• Creates substantial risk of physical injury, death, disfigurement
or impairment of a child’s physical or emotional health; or
• Commits or allows to be committed a sex offense against a child.
Handicapped children under age 21 in residential care are also covered by
this definition.
What is educational neglect?
The regulations define it as the “failure of a person in parental relation to a child to ensure that child’s prompt and regular attendance in school or the keeping of a child out of school for impermissible reasons.”
What should I do if I suspect educational neglect?
Before making a report of educational neglect educators should document all their attempts to remedy the situation such as telephone calls to parents, home visits,
consultation with attendance teachers and school/parent meetings. If these actions do not ameliorate the situation, the attendance teacher or the school’s designated reporter should make a report.
What do I do if I suspect someone other than the parent or guardian is abusing the child?
Abuse by someone other than a parent or guardian is considered a crime. Check with your principal; he or she should call the police.
How am I supposed to know if one of my students
has been abused?
As the UFT has consistently said, knowing the legal definition is not enough. You need training about the signs of child abuse.
Will I receive training?
Yes. Besides the course you must take for state certification (see box), you are supposed to get ongoing staff development about child abuse.
In consultation with the UFT and the Council of Supervisors and
Administrators, each superintendent of community districts, high
school districts and citywide special education must establish
a Child Abuse and Maltreatment Prevention and Intervention Team.
It will review, evaluate and approve each school’s child abuse prevention plan. The plan includes
a yearly staff development component.
You are supposed to receive up to one full staff development day
each year to address mental health issues, including child abuse
intervention and prevention. If you do not get training, contact
your chapter leader.
Training will include:
• Signs of physical abuse, sexual abuse, physical neglect and
emotional maltreatment.
• Reporting responsibilities and procedures.
• Characteristics of abusers.
• Managing and working with students and parents—before,
during and after reporting.
• Understanding the family.
• Understanding procedures of the city Administration for Children’s
Services (ACS) and the state Central Register.
• Legal aspects and implications of reporting child abuse.
Who will do the training?
Each school is required to create a team of faculty members who will train their colleagues how to recognize and report suspected child abuse. Team members may provide training if they already have been trained, or they may bring in a specialist from the Department of Education, the community or the UFT.
The principal and the UFT chapter leader will decide who will
serve on the school team. The team should be able to use time
during the school day and faculty meetings.
CERTIFICATION REQUIREMENT
Anyone applying for a provisional or permanent certificate or license needs a state-mandated two-hour course on recognizing and reporting child abuse. The course must be provided by a school, hospital or agency approved by the state Education Department. The UFT offers this course. Read the New York Teacher course catalogue editions or go to www.ufttc.org for information about taking it.
Will the team do anything else?
The team also must formulate a plan for intervening in and educating about child abuse and neglect. This plan must be tailored to the specific needs of each school and its parents. There should be school-parent support groups and parent involvement programs. Community resources should be used to support high-risk parents and students.
In addition, the team is supposed to facilitate communication
with local agencies. Principals must designate a staff member
from the school team to serve as liaison with the district, high
school, borough or citywide special education program, which
each must have a child abuse intervention and education
plan.
All of these plans must be revised annually to reflect experience
and changing realities.