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Child Abuse Prevention

Child Abuse Prevention and Reporting:

Although child abuse is a societal problem in need of societal solutions, there are three ways we in education can help prevent child abuse:
1. Recognize when child abuse may be occurring
2. Act on suspected child abuse
3. Help children stay safe

A. Legal Obligations – Mandatory Reporting (ORS 419B), Training Staff, Parents and Students (SB 379), and Reporting Staff Abuse of Children (SB 380)

B. Recognizing Child Abuse and Neglect

  • Child abuse may include physical injury, sexual contact, neglect or witnessing of domestic violence (seeing or hearing).
  • See handout "Recognizing Possible Abuse or Neglect".

C. Acting on Suspected Child Abuse
1. Accepting a disclosure:

  • Give comfort and support to the child. Assure the child that they did the right thing by telling and that it is not her or his fault.
  • Control your own distress for the sake of the child – but be sure to as soon as possible get any support you need in dealing with these stressful situations.
  • Don't make promises you cannot keep.
  • Allow the child to talk but do not ask leading questions (Did John do it?)
  • Stop asking questions if the child becomes distressed about the interview.
  • If the child is willing to talk about the situation try to find out who was involved, when and where it happened, who was present, what happened, what injuries and what fears the child has about going back.
  • In most cases the child will want to know what will happen now. Tell them that you will (must) tell people but that you will only tell people who can help.

2. Deciding whether to report child abuse to Child Protective Services:

  • If reasonable cause exists to believe abuse or neglect may have occurred call in your report without delay. If you think there might have been abuse, you must make the call.
  • A report may be based on visible physical injuries, verbal reports, uncharacteristic behaviors without credible explanation, or inconsistencies in stories.
  • Mandatory reporters are required to report suspected abuse anywhere it occurs, at any time – while shopping, in the neighborhood, on the bus, anywhere, 24 hours per day, 7 days per week, 365 days per year.
  • Your report may be the one that saves a child's life or starts a dysfunctional family down the road to healing. It is hard but it is the right thing to do.

3. Preparing to Report:

  • If possible, have the school's cumulative record folder with you when you call. It will have important information about names, addresses and phone numbers.
  • You will likely be asked for the child's name, address, others living in the home, details about the reasons for your suspicion, any other incidents you may know of, your assessment of the child's safety status, etc.
  • Do not contact family of the child. DHS will do so in any investigation and your contact could compromise the case or put the child in danger.


4. Reporting:

  • Call 911 for emergencies. Otherwise call DHS at 541-686-7555 during work hours or Eugene Police at 541-682-5111 during off hours. Note: Since instances of child crime and out-of-home abuse are handled by law enforcement, response time in these cases can be reduced by calling police or both police and DHS.
  • After answering screening questions, you may be told whether or not an investigation is called for or whether more records need reviewing. (Whether or not it rises to the level of an investigation, you did the right thing in reporting.)
  • Document your report (time, date, particulars, name of screener, status of the report).
  • Tell your supervisor that you made the report.
  • Follow up calls are welcomed. You can find out the non-confidential aspects of the status of the case. Ask for your screener. Document these calls too.
  • Under no circumstances do parents/caregivers have access to information about who made the report. Parents, however, may guess at the identity of the abuse reporter. Staff who made reports should discuss with DHS and/or their supervisors how to respond to parents concerned about reports to Child Welfare.

5. Ongoing support for the child

  • See handout "What You Can Say, How You Can Help"
  • Report again if new incidents occur or new evidence is disclosed. Have your documentation of previous calls with you when you report.
  • If services for the family or the child are required, call or have the parent call the Parent Help Line (541-485-5211 or 888-485-5211), Womenspace (485-6513) or the Child Advocacy Center (682-3938). Resources can be found online at The Lane (http://www.211lane.org).

D. Adult responsibilities in helping keep children safe

  • Follow law and policy.
  • Assure that school is a safe place for children; a place where they know the adults are on their side. Children should be confident that the adults in the school will act in their behalf if they disclose abuse or neglect.
  • Adopt policies that minimize abuse opportunities.
  • Curriculum for students should be age-appropriate and might include: personal health and safety; differentiating between appropriate and inappropriate contact; keeping safe in scary situations (safety planning). Curriculum Resources for download include:
    • Child abuse lessons in 4J's adopted health curriculum
    • Generic safety planning lesson – middle and high school age-appropriate
    • Generic safety planning lesson – elementary school age-appropriate
    • Supplementary Second Step lesson card for elementary students addresses what to do when witnessing violence
    • Training materials – handouts and powerpoints

E. Child Abuse Training Contacts: