Samantha Jones Camp Courage Director: John Smith Camp Victory Executive Director: Susan Brown Columbia County CYS: (570) 555-1212 PA ChildLine: 1-800-932-0313 Thank you for your commitment to protecting children!

1. Camp Courage

2. Camp Courage

3. A Seminar for Camp Courage Volunteers
March 18, 2013

4.  Mandated Reporting
 Social Media Policy at Camp Courage
 Fighting Child Abuse
 Camp Courage Policy for Reporting
 Penalties for Failing to Report Child Abuse

5.  In the USA, five children die of child abuse
every day
 Animal cruelty laws predate child abuse laws

6.  Encourage complete reporting
 Involve law enforcement
 Establish Child Protective Services in each
county
 Protect abused children from further abuse
 Provide rehabilitation
 Preserve & Stabilize families
 Assess risk and provide services

7.  § 42.42. Suspected child abuse—mandated reporting requirements.
 (a) General rule. Under 23 Pa.C.S. § 6311 (relating to persons required to report suspected child abuse), licensees
who, in the course of the employment, occupation or practice of their profession, come into contact with
children shall report or cause a report to be made to the Department of Public Welfare when they have
reasonable cause to suspect on the basis of their professional or other training or experience, that a child coming
before them in their professional or official capacity is a victim of child abuse.
 (b) Staff members of public or private agencies, institutions and facilities. Licensees who are staff members of a
medical or other public or private institution, school, facility or agency, and who, in the course of their
employment, occupation or practice of their profession, come into contact with children shall immediately notify
the person in charge of the institution, school facility or agency or the designated agent of the person in charge
when they have reasonable cause to suspect on the basis of their professional or other training or
experience, that a child coming before them in their professional or official capacity is a victim of child abuse.
Upon notification by the licensee, the person in charge or the designated agent shall assume the responsibility
and have the legal obligation to report or cause a report to be made in accordance with subsections (a), (c) and
(d).
 (c) Reporting procedure. Reports of suspected child abuse shall be made by telephone and by written report.
 (1) Oral reports. Oral reports of suspected child abuse shall be made immediately by telephone to
ChildLine, (800) 932-0313.
 (2) Written reports. Written reports shall be made within 48 hours after the oral report is made by telephone.
Written reports shall be made on forms available from a county children and youth social service agency.
 (d) Written reports. Written reports shall be made in the manner and on forms prescribed by the Department of
Public Welfare.
http://www.pacode.com/secure/data/049/chapter42/s42.42.html

8.  Report suspected abuse immediately to the
camp director
 Contact Columbia County Children & Youth
Services & PA ChildLine
 Contact Camp Victory’s Executive Director
 Complete necessary forms

9.  Dial 911 Immediately
 Intervene if possible
 Get help

10.  Drastic change in behavior
 Withdrawn & Antisocial
 Excessive Fear NOTE:
These are also signs
 Sleep Disturbances of grief in children.
 Bed Wetting
 Eating Disorders
 Change in school performance
 Risk Taking Behaviors

11.  Serious Physical Injury
 Serious Physical Neglect
 Serious Mental Injury
 Sexual Abuse or Exploitation
 Imminent Risk

12.  Bruises
 Welts
 Burns
 Multiple injuries in various stages of healing
 Extra, unusual layers of clothing

13.  Inadequate weight gain or growth
 Developmental delays
 Persistent hunger
 Lack of hygiene – soiled clothing
 Lack of supervision
 Untreated physical problems
 Deprivation of necessities

14.  Constant belittling
 Name calling
 Bullying
 Rejection
 Limiting proper physical contact
 Exposing a child to abuse and violence
 Requires Professional Diagnosis

15.  Disruptive behavior
 Bullying
 Inappropriate language
 Believes aberrant behavior is normal
 Describes what you recognize to be an
abusive home environment when questioned
 Hateful
 May speak of suicide

16.  Injury to the genitalia  Pain when using the
 Difficulty sitting or restroom
standing  Bed wetting
 Suspicious stains on  thumb sucking
clothing of skin  Loss of bowel control
 Resistance to remove  Difficulty swallowing
clothing when  Signs of STD’s
appropriate  Sleep disturbances
 Bladder or urinary tract  Age inappropriate sexual
infections knowledge
 Unusual sexual behavior

17.  Disruptive behavior
 Bullying
 Cursing
 Racist / Ethnic Slurs
 Child believes this to be normal behavior
 Reports unrecognized abuse
 Speaks of suicide

18.  The child is the intended target of a shooting
 The child is in the care of a known sex
offender
 The child is unattended in an automobile

19. Suspicious? Seek Help & Advice
Follow Up
Unexplained Injuries
Child is Defensive
A Few Words Can Speak Volumes
Admits / Alleges Abuse

20.  Most likely someone the child knows
 59% of abusers are parents, more often moms
 Often drug abusers and/or mentally ill
 Isolated or very young parents / several kids
 Abused as a child
 Non-related temporary care givers
 Don’t ignore suspicions

21.  Interest in a particular child, often female
 Purchase expensive gifts
 Invitations for ‘sleep-overs’
 Repeated offers to babysit “just because”
 Imposed, unwanted physical contact

22.  Provide what parents won’t allow
 Insist on secrecy
 Threats

23.  Reporting abuse gives victims a voice
 Fear keeps children vulnerable
 Shame keeps children vulnerable
 Abuse leads children to mistrust adults
 Some kids don’t know any other way
 Fear keeps children vulnerable

24. SSABER Make a Difference in a Child’s Life
 Stay Calm
 Support
 Affirm
 Believe
 Empower
 REPORT

25. SSABER “At that moment, truth begins.”
 Stay Calm
 Support “Thank you for telling me.”
 Affirm “I believe you.”
 Believe “You have done nothing
 Empower wrong.”
“I will get help for you.”
 REPORT

26. Stay Calm.
Listen.
Keep the Child With You.
Get Help.

27.  Try to remain in no less than groups of three
 To protect the child
 To protect the buddies
 A group of four is safer

28.  Don’t be silent – Say Something!
 You don’t need to be perfect
 Ask basic questions of the child:
 What happened?
 Where did it happen?
 When did it happen?
 Who did it?
 Were other kids hurt too?
 Are there witnesses?

29. 2011
In Pennsylvania Alone
78%
of all substantiated reports
of abuse came from
People Like You

30.  Call ChildLine
 Anytime – 24/7
 1-800-932-0313
 Remember:800 WEB-zero-DoAFavor
 Remember:800 932 - - - 0 3 1 3
(Not perfect, but maybe it will help)

31.  Inform camp director immediately
 If the child is in immediate danger, CALL 911
 Call ChildLine
 Complete forms within 48 Hours
 Notify Camp Victory
 Follow through!

32.  Ask basic questions of the child:
 Child’s name, address, etc.
 What happened?
 Where did it happen?
 When did it happen?
 Who did it?
 Were other kids hurt too?
 Are there witnesses?

33. Your
Personal Information
Will Remain
Confidential

34. The Child’s Welfare
Supersedes the
Family’s Right to
Privacy

35. Question &
Answer
“What if one of ANSWER:
our Big Buddies is
a Pastor or a Yes. If a Pastor or Lawyer, in
Lawyer?” their capacity as a Big Buddy
May they still at Camp Courage, learns of an
make a report if a abused child, they are in the
child admits
abuse to them in role of a Mandated Reporter
confidence? and must report what they’ve
learned.

36.  As a Big Buddy, you must report the abuse
 A child abuse report will have consequences
for the child and her/his family, but it MUST
be made in the interest of the long term
welfare of the child
 GET INVOLVED – it’s a moral and legal
responsibility
 You are protected if you make the report and
could be committing a crime by not reporting

37.  Incidents discovered at Camp Courage are
“very, very low”
 Much of the required information for
reporting is already on file with Camp
Courage
 If there is a concern, ask the basic questions
and get help
 More information will be available at each
camp experience

38.  Be a role model, let someone know if you
need another person with you
 Create a boundary, you're not a best
friend, or a surrogate parent – you’re a
temporary guardian
 It’s a short term relationship for the kids (and
you), make it clear that there will be no
contact after camp
 Ryan will capture the memories in photos for
the kids

39.  If you encourage too close an attachment
with a camper you may cause deeper grief
after camp
 YOU MAY NOT CONTINUE A RELATIONSHIP
WITH A CAMPER AFTER CAMP
 Be very careful if the child asks ‘difficult’
questions, be honest – seek help if you need

40.  Report concerns of ANY sort to the camp
director or counselor, for example:
 Camper may be self-harming (cutting)
 Substance abuse/use during camp – campers or
their families while on camp property
 A camper intentionally tries to harm another
person – safety is a primary concern
 Inappropriate language – threats, suicidal
thoughts, bullying, etc.

41.  DON’T take personal pictures with your
camera or cell phone
 AVOID social network dissemination of
information via social media regarding Camp
Courage
 AVOID using your personal electronic devices

42. Presenters: Melina Gittler & Sabrina Lyons
Recording: Ryan Craig
Slides and Editing: J. E. Pesta