Lesson One - About Suspicions
What do I do when my suspicion is just a feeling?
Many situations of suspected child abuse or neglect are not obvious. One study finds that only about 1/3 of sexual abuse cases involve an initial verbal report from children. The more common experience among mandated reporters is that a child’s behavior is just “not right.” For example, a young child in your day care seems to masturbate excessively or a youth in your after-school program suddenly becomes withdrawn and uncooperative. Are these behaviors due to potential abuse and neglect and should you act as a reporter? Is your "hunch" strong enough to casue you to file a report?
You should not report if you just have a "gut feeling". There must be some evidence that indicates to you that something is wrong. However, you should not take on an investigative role.
So, how do you know if abuse and neglect may be happening? To answer this question, it is important to “think about your thinking” by:
- Writing down your observations about a child who concerns you. Then evaluate those observations for their specificity as well as frequency. (How often and how much?)
- Speak to the parent or caregiver directly. A parent may give a description of the household environment in which abuse and neglect may be present. A parent may disclose to you that the other parent or another family member is displaying abusive behaviors towards this child. And, sometimes, a parent may be able to allay your concerns.
- Speak to a colleague, supervisor or co-worker who also knows the child and compare observations.
- When in doubt-report. Oakland County’s CPS Centralized Intake [(248) 975-5010] is open to discuss those situations that appear to fall in the “gray” area of whether a report should be made.
