Sample Self-Audit Form for YSOs
Sample Self-Audit Form for YSOs You can use the following “Self-Audit” form to take an inventory of your youth-serving organization’s abuse…
Recognizing Abuse & Neglect
Home / Reporting / Recognizing Abuse & Neglect
Recognizing Abuse & Neglect
The minimum required safety elements for you to prepare leadership, staff, and volunteers to recognize, respond to, and report allegations, suspicions, or disclosures of child abuse are listed in this table.
Minimum Required Elements for Recognizing, Responding to, and Reporting Child Abuse
- All employees and volunteers must be:
- Aware of their legal/organizational obligations to report suspected abuse immediately
- Trained to recognize the signs and symptoms of abuse
- Familiar with how to respond to a child who discloses abuse
- Aware of how to report concerns, suspicions, allegations, and disclosures of abuse
- Clear, written procedures should provide step-by-step guidance on what to do if there are any concerns, allegations, suspicions, or disclosures of abuse (current or historic).
- A person/group/office must be designated as an agent responsible for receiving reports of suspected, observed, or disclosed abuse.
- A clear reporting chain is identified that contacts (or assists reporters in contacting) DCF and/or law enforcement.
- Clear guidelines are set on conducting internal investigations when the alleged perpetrator is an employee or volunteer—including providing supervision and support to staff and volunteers following an incident or allegation, and a communication plan for parents/community.
- Information/training must also include the issues of sexual activity or harm caused by children and youth with Problematic Sexual Behaviors (PSB), and human trafficking (sexually exploited child).
There are clear definitions in Massachusetts law of the various types of child maltreatment, and physical and behavioral signs that a child/youth may be suffering from abuse. But it’s important to note that child abuse, especially child sexual abuse, is rarely observed directly. There are usually three ways in which a potential reporter might recognize that a child is being abused:
- The child/youth demonstrates certain physical or behavioral symptoms
- Another child, youth or adult indicates that a child/youth is at risk
- A child/youth self-discloses the abuse
If there’s no direct disclosure by the child or youth, or communication from another person that a child/youth is at risk, it’s essential that your staff and volunteers are prepared to rely on the signs and symptoms that children and youth exhibit when they are victims of abuse and neglect.
Physical and Behavioral Indicators of Abuse 1
| Type of Abuse | Physical Indicators | Behavioral Indicators |
|---|---|---|
| Physical Abuse | ● Unexplained bruises (in various stages of healing) ● Unexplained burns, especially cigarette burns or immersion burns ● Unexplained fractures, lacerations or abrasions ● Swollen areas ● Evidence of delayed or inappropriate treatment for injuries | ● Self destructive ● Withdrawn and/or aggressive – behavioral extremes ● Arrives at school early or stays late as if afraid to be at home ● Chronic runaway (adolescents) ● Complains of soreness or moves uncomfortably ● Wears clothing inappropriate to weather, to cover body ● Bizarre explanation of injuries ● Wary of adult contact |
| Neglect | ● Abandonment ● Unattended medical needs ● Consistent lack of supervision ● Consistent hunger, inappropriate dress, poor hygiene ● Lice, distended stomach, emaciated ● Inadequate nutrition | ● Regularly displays fatigue or listlessness, falls asleep in class ● Steals food, begs from classmates ● Reports that no caretaker is at home ● Frequently absent or tardy ● Self destructive ● School dropout (adolescents) ● Extreme loneliness and need for affection |
| Sexual Abuse | ● Sexual abuse may be non-touching (obscene language, pornography, exposure) or touching (fondling, molesting, oral sex, intercourse) ● Torn, stained or bloody underclothing ● Pain, swelling or itching in genital area ● Difficulty walking or sitting ● Bruises or bleeding in genital area ● Venereal disease ● Frequent urinary or yeast infections | ● Excessive seductiveness ● Role reversal, overly concerned for siblings ● Massive weight change ● Suicide attempts (especially adolescents) ● Inappropriate sex play or premature understanding of sex ● Threatened by physical contact, closeness |
| Emotional Abusemmmm | ● Emotional abuse may be name-calling, put-downs, etc. or it may be terrorization, isolation, humiliation, rejection, corruption, ignoring ● Speech disorders ● Delayed physical development ● Substance abuse ● Ulcers, asthma, severe allergies | ● Habit disorder (sucking, rocking, biting) ● Antisocial, destructive ● Neurotic traits (sleep disorders, inhibition of play) ● Passive and aggressive – behavioral extremes ● Delinquent behavior (especially adolescents) ● Developmentally delayed |
1 Adapted from the Handbook on Child Safety for Independent School Leaders, by A. Rizzuto and C. Crosson-Tower, Copyright 2012, Reprinted with permission from the National Association of Independent Schools.
Other Reading You Might Be Interested In
Reporting
Reporting Children and Youth with Problematic Sexual Behavior
Thinking of children or youth as capable of sexually abusing other children or youth can be difficult to consider and challenging to address. In…
Reporting
Building a Culture of Prevention
You can help protect the children you serve by maintaining an environment that prioritizes both preventing child abuse before it occurs and—since…
Screening & Hiring
Screening Toolbox: Observation of the Applicant & Home Assessment
When possible, it can be informative to observe an applicant in your environment with the child(ren) and youth you serve, to look for potential red…
Sustainability
Strategies for Implementing Systemic Change
True Change: A Matter of Strategy and Culture Organizational changes are challenging enough, but the issue of child sexual abuse prevention and…
Training
Training Curricula for Children & Youth
Ideally, all children/youth should receive training and education on issues of personal safety and abuse prevention. Personal safety and child…
Policies & Procedures
What’s in a Child Protection Policy?
Policies for youth-serving organizations in Massachusetts should clearly identify the duties and responsibilities of all staff, reflect both Federal…
Policies & Procedures
CDC Child Sexual Abuse Prevention Policy Checklist
The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) 1 suggests that implementing a child sexual abuse prevention policy and making the changes necessary to…
Screening & Hiring
Assessing Risk in Screening and Hiring Requirements
Your Youth-Serving Organization’s (YSO’s) hiring process should include basic screening measures for potential staff and volunteers through…
Monitoring Behavior
What is Monitoring Behavior?
Monitoring Behavior is the responsibility of all staff to hold each other accountable for appropriate behaviors and to report inappropriate conduct…
Sign Up to Access Your Learning Center
Customized child sexual abuse prevention guidelines to meet the unique needs of any organization that serves children.
- Evidence-informed guidance
- Actionable prevention steps
- Keeps track of your progress
- Tailored learning tracks
