Issues in Youth and families: child abuse

1. Child Protection Issues
HMNS 10111

2. Dynamics of Abuse
• The occurrence of abuse is seen as an interaction between
characteristics of the parent, stresses from the environment
and child behaviours or characteristics that combine to create
a crisis.

3. Canadian Incidence Study 2008
http://www.phac-aspc.gc.ca/cm-vee/cishl01/index-eng.php
• rate of investigation not
changed significantly
between 20003 and 2008
• 36% of all investigations
were substantiated
• 92% of investigations did
not involve placements
(change of residence for
child)
• 22% of substantiated cases
involved children of
aboriginal heritage
• 2 most frequent occurring
categories for investigation
were exposure to intimate
partner violence (34%) and
neglect (34%)
• Physical abuse (20%)
• Emotional maltreatment
(9%)
• Sexual Abuse (3%)

4. Power vs Vulnerability
A child who is being
abused is usually in a
position of
dependence on the
abuser. The power
imbalance between
the child and the
abuser often increases
the burden of
disclosure.
E.g. sexually abused
children
• A child’s vulnerability
to abuse may
increased by factors
such as: dislocation,
colonization, racism,
sexism, homophobia,
poverty and social
isolation.
deptofJustice,2001

5. Risk Factors
CIS(2008) frequently noted
primary caregiver concerns
• Domestic violence (46%)
• Having few social supports
(39%)
• Having mental health issues
(27%)
Household risk factors 12%:
• Receiving social assistance
• Household moves
• Household hazards (access
to drugs, paraphernalia,
unhealthy unsafe living
conditions, accessible
weapons)
They may:
• Expect a great deal from their
children
• Unrealistic about child’s ability
• These parents often behave like
unloved children
• Perceive child as a rival for
affection from others
• Show little ability to understand or
listen to the child’s needs, feelings
or helplessness
• Speak of the abused child as bad
and blame him for problems
• Not have been parented well
• Not recognize their own needs

6. Physical Abuse
1. Any non-accidental
infliction of physical
injury upon a child by a
care taker, most
physical abuse is
associate with physical
punishment and
confused with child
discipline

7. Emotional Abuse
Injury to the intellectual or psychological capacity of the child as
evidenced by observable impairment to his ability to develop
and function within a normal range of performance and
behavior with regard for his culture.
There is always emotional abuse where there is serious physical
abuse
• Examples of emotional abuse:
• Shutting the child in a closet for hours, vicious verbal assaults on child’s
character or mannerisms, terrorism
• Emotional abuse is incremental – it builds up serious damage
over time
• Chronically abusive behavior by parents harms children

8. Child Neglect
Lack of attention to the physical and/or emotional needs of a
child and a failure to use available resources to meet those
needs
• Neglect is passive but still dangerous
• Most common form from CIS (2003)was failure to supervise
leading to physical harm (48%)
• Concepts of neglect are also related to values regarding the way
children should be cared for

9. Types of Neglect
• Physical (food,
shelter, clothing,
cleanliness, safety)
• Medical
• Educational
• Supervision and
guidance
• abandonment

10. Children At Risk for Neglect
• No preparation for child’s arrival
• Seen as ugly, odorous, offensive
• Vomit and feces disgusting
• Absence of touching, talking
• Lack of empathy for infant’s helplessness or crying
• Failure to thrive: means child not gaining weight, not
developing and not growing within a normal range
• Need to rule out:
• Organic problems
• Lack of incorrect feeding techniques
• Not preparing formula properly
• Lack of emotional and physical response by parents

11. Sexual Abuse
4. Exposure of child to sexual stimulation inappropriate for age
and role
• Sexual exploitation of child
• Large majority of children know their perpetrator
• Power imbalance over child
• Touching and fondling of the genitals was the most common
form from the CIS 2003 (68%)

12. Sexual Abuse
• Most perpetrators of
sexual abuse are known
to child (parent, step-
parent, neighbor)
• Some characteristics of
perpetrators:
• Emotionally immature,
narcissistic, sexually
immature or psychotic,
mentally delayed,
drug/alcohol abuse,
• 10% of children
experience some type of
abuse
• More cases are
investigated and
reported
• Boys more likely to be
abused physically
• More than twice as
many girls as boys are
sexually abused
• 80% of sexually abused
children know their
abuser

13. Behaviour impacts of Sexual Abuse
• Sleep disturbances
• Unusual unexplained
fears
• Secretive relationships
with older persons
• Sudden dramatic
change in behaviour for
that child
• Unusual sexual
knowledge or play
• Regressive behaviour

14. Responding to
Others
How to report abuse (see Notes to Professionals in course area for reference
material)

15. Supporting a Child’s
Disclosure
• Allow the child to tell their story – use active listening skills, no
pressure
• It is not your job to investigate/gather or interpret what the
child shares with you. Report the disclosure and allow the
appropriate protocol and personnel to respond to the
information.
• Reassure the child by validating feelings, “sounds like that was
scary for you”…depending on matter you may tell them you
are glad they told you, that abuse is never a child’s fault, and
that no one should be hurt.
• Don’t criticize or speak negatively about the abusive parent
• Don’t make commitments you cant keep
• Follow the child’s lead

16. What to do if a child tells you of abuse or neglect?
• Stay calm
• Do not judge the sit’n or react
emotionally
• Acknowledge feelings such as
feeling fear, embarrassment,
guilt
• Reassure the child
• Explain you will help – that you
will need to tell the authorities

17. What happens when you call the
Children’s Aid Society…
The CAS intake worker will ask the following information from
the caller:
• What are the family name, address and phone, if possible?
• What is the name of the child(ren) of concern?
• What information does the caller have? What is the cause of
their concern? Why are you calling?
• How do they know this information? Is it first hand or second
hand?

18. What happens when you
call…• How long has the issue of concern been going on? Is it current, i.e.,
still happening or is it about an incident(s) from the past?
• If the person calling wishes to remain anonymous, CAS worker
will ask what the relationship is to the child/family. This helps to
assess the credibility of info
• Professionals will be asked their name – doctors, teachers, day care
providers are required by law to report suspected abuse
• Where is the child at the time of the call, i.e., school, day care,
home?
• Provide any relevant background information

19. What happens next?
• Once information is recorded, the case is assigned to an intake
Social Worker
• If it has been assessed that a child is potentially at risk – child
must be seen within 12 hours of the report being made
 Worker speaks to the parents
 Worker ensures child is safe – will provide appropriate
services to keep the child at home
 If the risk is too high and cannot stay in the home –
worker will look at an alternative placement with
friends/relatives

20. What Next?
• If there are no appropriate friends/family, parents will be
asked to sign a contract for the child to be placed in
temporary care of the Society, in a foster home until problems
are resolved
• If parents do not agree to sign the contract, the Society must
apply to court for temporary guardianship

21. What happens when you
call…
 Private consultations are available to callers
 Even a professional can ask for private consultation
 Caller is able to give the scenario and why they are calling and
CAS can recommend whether or not the caller should report
Initiate further contact if:
 You require the outcome of a report
 Concerns on behalf of the child have not been understood and you
require more information
 Any further suspicions or concerns occur

22. Supporting parents
If you tell the parent of your
report:
 Emphasize both concern
for the child and your legal
obligation to report
• Respect confidentiality,
even with others involved
with the family
• Emphasize concern for the
child
• Discuss your legal
obligation
• There is help for parents as
well as the children
Not informing is justified if:
 your intention is to avoid
or prevent further harm to
the child
 you think a parent might
flee with the child
Consult first with the CAS

23. Supporting Parents
• Accept that opinions and solutions will change over time and
that they parent will make decisions with which they can live
• When involving social control agencies involve the non
offending parent as much as possible
• Allow the non offending parent to make decisions or involve
them in decision making process to avoid re-victimization

24. Document…
all conversationsall conversations re: disclosure, reports and CAS personnel
complete with full names and phone numbers.
Once you have a name and number you have a contact to
call and leave messages with.
Record information immediatelyimmediately, as it occurs, don’t leave it
for long. Try and record disclosures or concerns verbatim.