NCJ Number
77962
Date Published
1978
Length
59 pages
Annotation
Written for professionals mandated by Connecticut law to report suspected child abuse, neglect, and sexual abuse, this booklet contains guidelines for detecting and reporting abuse, as well as summaries of the State's emergency coverage system and child protection laws.
Abstract
The first section describes the usual circumstances associated with child abuse reporting and the special responsibilities toward child protection of the following groups of mandated reporters: medical professionals, educators, social service and mental health professionals, law enforcement personnel, and supportive resource groups such as clergymen. Sample indicators and cues of physical abuse, neglect, and sexual abuse are then listed. Guidelines for medical evaluation of suspected abuse and neglect in a clinic, hospital, or physician's office consider immediate reporting procedures, legal issues, and methods of handling parents. Medical procedures that must be followed are also reviewed, including diagnostic tests. Suggestions are offered regarding the content of a medical affidavit which is often required by the juvenile court for a temporary order of custody. The discussion on cases of suspected sexual assault addresses legal definitions, the medical examination, the interview for facts, and collection of evidence. A separate section is devoted to the special circumstances encountered when a child is seen in a school setting. Procedures for reporting suspected child abuse to the Department of Children and Youth Services' (DCYS) Protection Services are described, followed by a list of their regional offices. An overview of the statewide emergency system which includes a hotline, standby consultants, and a central registry is provided, as is a summary of Connecticut's laws governing child abuse. The appendixes contain the texts of these laws, reporting forms, a map of the DCYS regions, nine references, and the statute which authorizes the DCYS to remove a child believed to be in imminent danger from the home for 96 hours.