Essay Sample on Child Abuse and State Reporting Policies

Introduction

Child abuse can be referred to as any physical maltreatment or sexual molestation of a child. It can be evidenced when a parent or caretaker, fails to deliver the required necessities to the children they are nurturing. There are many forms of child maltreatment, including physical abuse and neglect, verbal abuse, sexual abuse, emotional abuse, and exploitation. Physical abuse is the one that involves intentional harming, for example, burning, breaking of joints or burning with anything is it fire or petrol. Verbal on the other hand refers to harming a child by for example undermining him or her like in the case study two of this case study, or threatening activities. Emotional injury can result from several kinds of abuse. Research has it that 25% and 13% are abused sexually before they reach majority age, and also that 5% of children are abused physically in each and every year. Sexual abuse of children refers to the act of exposing children in the acts of sexual activities that they cannot actually adhere to, this means that a child is walked to or forced to take part in sexual activity by another party of person. Some of the examples or occasions that can indicate child abuse may include touching of ladies breasts.

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Child abuse occasionally results when someone doesn't provide the requirements of life to a child that they require in their day to day life and activities for survival, disregarding of the child's well-being. Emotional deterioration may include denying the child some affection or love.

The religion of late is becoming a point of concern, some states only allow for the neglect due to the existence of religious assumptions exceptions or objections. There also exists another example of some extreme religious behaviors that are taken as cases of child abuse, that on the other hand, are acceptable in other states. All states require that if pediatricians and child care workers know or even suspect the existence of child abuse occurrence, they must report the abuse to the authorities. These laws were established to help in initiating fast delivery of information concerning child abuse.

In most instances, the reports are always anonymous and therefore people should not become so resistant on reporting such behavior. Though the majority believes that an action may be taken against them if at all the case is found to be unfounded. A reporter might be punished when it is found that there is no other basis for the case because the person might be in need of the person with other interest of landing someone innocent in trouble. Perhaps the strongest weapon that can be taken against child abuse is reporting the matter as soon as possible. In the case of Mandy, the same happened as she was so resistant to disclose the truth fearing that an action may be taken against the person and possibly land him in trouble. This is why many states, anonymous reporting is allowed and the agents are allowed to investigate the case and keep themselves.

Reporting Of Child Abuse Instances

The major problem faced today concerning child abuse is resulting from the so-called fear of getting others in trouble. In addition, that the people involved are children as the name child abuse suggests, they have got fear that maybe, landing individuals who abuse their rights would be unfair and would make them suffer either psychologically or mentally. This is not a true imagination as the whole process just involves justice to them, and children should be mentored thoroughly, this includes those who have witnessed the abuse on them and those that have not. Personally as a mandated reporter, in the first case study, I would be so fast to report these of Michelle and his brother Christopher, it is anticipated that the two have gone through some abuse but they are not ready to disclose the truth. In my state, it is clearly indicated in the children laws enactment that any suspect or confirmed maltreatment to any child of below 12 years by age should be reported with an immediate effect to the concerned party. As a result, a proper procedure of the process to follow when doing this is given and I would not hesitate to do this just to save the lives of the two children.

In the second case study, I would also report the instance as the law also indicates the case where one parent or both are abusing their child's rights either physically or emotionally. In the state when such a report similar to that of Mandy is reported to the court which would be of course be the best place to take the issue, the court would take an act of taking the child away from parents and take him/her into intensive care or with a relative as well. This movement can time be for some short duration or the child may be taken and fail to return to the parents depending on the circumstances involved. With this existing in the laws, I would, therefore, report the matter to benefit Mandy a 12-year old girl.

The 3rd case study is extremely dangerous and as a mandated reporter I would ensure that the father passes through the correct channel of the law in order to give Andrew and Lucas the two brothers some justice. Just to begin with the research that I have done on the laws and rules regarding child abuse cases in various states, i realized that it is highly prohibited to subject a child to injuries as that is considered a major type of child abuse, and this is not different from the state where I am, it is the same case and in some areas the actions taken could vet similar to those that are highlighted in the case study two

The following procedure or process should be followed when there is suspicion of the violation of the child rights or confirmed by any individual including the mandated reports I inclusive. And this can only be done after understanding what abuse is in your state, in my state the definition is elaborated In the first paragraph. Research from the "Childhelp, has it clear that "Every year not less than three million reports of child abuse are taken, involving more than 6 million", as the research indicates. Calls should be made instantly to the agencies involved or physical report can also be done to ensure confidentiality between one person and the investigation agents. There also exists some website that contains the online team dealing with the cases of neglect and they are ever working 24 hours a day and so they can easily be contacted.

Child Welfare Investigation Laws

The Time Interval for Reporting Cases of Child Abuse

According to the state rules and guidelines, it is highlighted that any case of abuse suspected or evidenced to have happened either witnessed by any authority like the professionals like teachers and everyone, should be reported within 54 hours to any relevant or nearby authority to ensure that firsthand information is provided, since there are high chances that if the occasion takes too long to be reported there won't be enough evidence since those who could have been in the scene might not be the same people who are reporting the case that late.

Placement of a Child Withdrawn From Her Parent(s)

In the child abuse, prevention and treatment act organizations like NICE dictates that, except in very limited occasions, the states must always take the care and protection of the children and families, in the occurrence of the cases of the children rights and. In explaining the provisions of the confidentiality requirements, always uphold the information for themselves and so confidential. For example in the HHS report it says that;

"Authorized recipients of confidential child abuse and neglect information are bounded by the same confidentiality and restrictions in place as the child protective services agency". Thus the recipients of this crucial information must always keep the information they have been presented for their own use and never make an attempt to disclosing the information to anyone regardless of the position. Like in this case study there are different girls and boys of the age below 12-years are suffering from the same cases of abuse.

Response to Child Abuse and Neglect Cases

It is advisable that for the children who have witnessed the instances of abuse could be offered to counsel and their parents granted that opportunity to take part in the support of their children. This guideline makes it easy for professionals who are not aware of the steps that should be taken in case of such cases of abuse arise wherever they are.

For some workers and those with professions who are supporting in the fight against abuse, the guideline sets out worldwide agreements and definitely the most effective approaches to be followed. It provides a basis of parenting programmers that can be utilized in consideration of the age and the type of abuse in question or depending on the circumstance involved in that particular case study, for example, the three cases of Mandy, Andrew, and Lucas and the one for Michelle and his brother. Children and their families should always be given good counseling so that they be aware of the occasions of the cases of abuse.

The guideline also highlights some recommendations for the top officials and the caretakers. I was a mandated reporter I would, therefore, follow these steps and guidelines to report the instances of abuse indicated in the three case studies.

Professionals including teachers, police officers and other individuals in the working industry, should always take actions as fast as possible to avoid further problems of the cases that could be helped in time, the guidance says. If any case of abuse is detected, then professionals should make an immediate call to the concerned party or security officials. The professional can also use the contact centers for the children social cares.

The process is advanced and as a mandated reporter, and in the past, I have reported some cases and they were solved using the methods as indicated in the laws. I would strongly agree with all the processes of responding to the child abuse case or neglect. NICE (national institute of health and care excellence) an organization dealing with the care of individuals encourages people to take care of the children's statements on all the suspicions.

Conclusion

In conclusion, I would say that many young individuals should always be a major concern since there is some likelihood that many are currently suffering or likely to suffer. The modern concept as per the (children's act 1996) of significant harm as a serious issue that justifies compulsory intervention in family satisfying the needs of children, and provides local authorities a chance to make enquiries to determine on whether they should take action of safeguarding the rights or take part in promoting the lives and welfare of those children who are suffering, or likely to suffer in future (child welfare , 1995-2014) In the case where an issue taken to court, the court may only take action if the submitted appeal satisfies the following:

• The child is physically or mentally suffering, or is likely to suffer either of them,
• The occurrence of any harm, which is an attribute of a lack of adequate motherhood care and control as evidenced in (Section 31).

Additionally, in future, organizations or individuals regardless of the position, like teachers, and all other people working in other fields, should assist the security organs or the investigation agents, to reduce the burden since it is not logical that only the parties involved shall find and file all the cases of abuses, this means the ground which includes everyone other than the agents concerned must also be made aware of the contact credentials of the organization's that deals with the child abuse and neglect cases.

References

Flaherty, E. G., & Sege, R. (2005). Barriers to physician identi...