The Assignment Respond to at least two of your colleagues by providing at least two ways that their strategies may be expanded or improved. Support your responses with evidence-based literature with at least two references in each colleague’s response with proper citation. Colleagues Response # 1 Treating Childhood Abuse The number of incidents that Child Protective Services (CPS) investigates annually in the United States is over two million alleged incidents of child abuse, 18 percent of physical abuse, 650,000 are confirmed to be physical violence, and neglect or abuse claims 1500 lives of children each year, with 80 percent being children under the age of four.  Psychological and somatic symptoms, as well as psychological and medical diagnosis, including depression, anxiety disorders, eating disorders, posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), chronic pain syndromes, chronic fatigue syndrome, and irritable bowel disorder, have been correlated with childhood violence. From exposure to traumatic incidents in which they are victims of physical and sexual assault, domestic violence, motor vehicle accidents, serious medical disease, natural or human-created disasters, a large number of children and adolescents can experience PTSD (Sadock, Sadock, & Ruiz, 2017). Assessing for Abuse Identification and assessment of childhood abuse can be a complex process. It needs careful consideration of the situation involving alleged childhood abuse. A detailed interview is used in policies used to assess childhood abuse. In evaluating childhood violence evaluation, both physical examination and behavioral review should be assessed during the interview.   A conducive environment should be created to enable the client to feel comfortable so as to be forthcoming with information.  The client and the therapist should develop a good relationship. Prevention, early identification of violence with intervention restrict incidence, and avoid further development of trauma. Trauma screening refers to a brief method, centered survey to evaluate if a person has undergone one or more traumatic events, has reactions to such events, has particular mental or behavioral health needs, and requires referral for a thorough trauma-informed mental health evaluation.  Screening and screening questionnaires and clinical interviews are techniques that help in evaluating for violence. The questionnaires can help diagnose a high-risk parent or caregiver who can mistreat a child or teenager and can determine whether they are at risk of abuse, are sexually abused or have been abused in the past. Media Exposure Media visibility can be helpful, but it has several drawbacks as well. An advantage of the media is that it can serve as a place for people to interact and exchange thoughts about the risks of child violence and prevention. Social networking and the internet also encourage abuse-victim children to find resources to aid coping.  Their emotional health will benefit fro.

1. The Assignment
Respond
to at least
two
of your colleagues by providing at least two ways that their
strategies may be expanded or improved.
Support your responses with evidence-based literature with at
least two references in each colleague’s response with proper
citation.
Colleagues Response # 1
Treating Childhood Abuse
The number of incidents that Child Protective Services (CPS)
investigates annually in the United States is over two million
alleged incidents of child abuse, 18 percent of physical abuse,
650,000 are confirmed to be physical violence, and neglect or
abuse claims 1500 lives of children each year, with 80 percent
being children under the age of four. Psychological and somatic
symptoms, as well as psychological and medical diagnosis,
including depression, anxiety disorders, eating disorders,
posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), chronic pain syndromes,
chronic fatigue syndrome, and irritable bowel disorder, have
been correlated with childhood violence.
From exposure to traumatic incidents in which they are victims

2. of physical and sexual assault, domestic violence, motor vehicle
accidents, serious medical disease, natural or human-created
disasters, a large number of children and adolescents can
experience PTSD (Sadock, Sadock, & Ruiz, 2017).
Assessing for Abuse
Identification and assessment of childhood abuse can be a
complex process. It needs careful consideration of the situation
involving alleged childhood abuse. A detailed interview is used
in policies used to assess childhood abuse. In evaluating
childhood violence evaluation, both physical examination and
behavioral review should be assessed during the interview. A
conducive environment should be created to enable the client to
feel comfortable so as to be forthcoming with information. The
client and the therapist should develop a good relationship.
Prevention, early identification of violence with intervention
restrict incidence, and avoid further development of trauma.
Trauma screening refers to a brief method, centered survey to
evaluate if a person has undergone one or more traumatic
events, has reactions to such events, has particular mental or
behavioral health needs, and requires referral for a thorough
trauma-informed mental health evaluation. Screening and
screening questionnaires and clinical interviews are techniques
that help in evaluating for violence. The questionnaires can help
diagnose a high-risk parent or caregiver who can mistreat a
child or teenager and can determine whether they are at risk of
abuse, are sexually abused or have been abused in the past.
Media Exposure
Media visibility can be helpful, but it has several drawbacks as
well. An advantage of the media is that it can serve as a place
for people to interact and exchange thoughts about the risks of
child violence and prevention. Social networking and the

3. internet also encourage abuse-victim children to find resources
to aid coping. Their emotional health will benefit from their
receiving support. Media networks' limitation can also be
gateways for the perpetration of child exploitation and exposure
to sex predators. It allows children easy access to the attacker
which can lead to cyberbullying and sexual assault.
Colleagues Response # 2
Treating Childhood Abuse
Child abuse is a horrifying problem and is the third
leading cause of death in children between the ages of one and
four (Kodner & Wetherton, 2013). Practitioners need to
persistently assess children for possible abuse and neglect. The
practitioner must know how to assess for abuse and what risk
factors to look for. Emotional and behavioral difficulties in
children place them at a high risk for abuse and children that
have abuse and trauma often have mental health issues
(Christian, 2015). Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioners
(PMHNP) must know how to assess children because of the
increased risk of abuse.
Assessing Children for Abuse
Assessment of abuse in children varies by age and cognitive
level. In pre-verbal children, it is important to look for signs
and symptoms of abuse, how they act during play, and the
relationship between the child and their parents (Stanford
Medicine, 2020). Symptoms in this age group can be behavioral,
such as excessive crying or bedwetting, or physical, such as
poor hygiene or poor weight gain (Stanford Medicine, 2020). In
verbal children, it is suitable to ask age-appropriate questions
(Stanford Medicine, 2020). It is important that practitioners

4. don’t ask leading questions and only ask questions that are
necessary (Stanford Medicine, 2020). Some questions include,
“what happens when you do something your parents don’t like”
or “has anyone ever touched you in a way that you don’t like”
(Stanford Medicine, 2020)? It is important to examine the
child’s history to look for patterns of abuse and risk factors for
abuse (Kodner & Wetherton, 2013). A physical exam can also
be a part of the assessment piece for abuse and neglect (Kodner
& Wetherton, 2013). PMHNPs do not often do a complete
physical exam, but they can assess visually and ask about pain
and medical issues. Lastly, the PMHNP should document and
report any concerns when necessary (Kodner & Wetherton,
2013). Prevention and early detection of child maltreatment are
essential to the outcome of the situation.
Media and Social Media
Exposure to media and social media can influence
patients, especially teenagers. Social media is popular with
teenagers and carries with it many dangers for children today.
Social media allows teens to constantly compare themselves to
others and decrease social interactions. Isolation can be
especially dangers for kids that are abused or neglected at home
because they have fewer relationships where they can reach out
for help. Social media increases the potential for cyberbullying,
trolling, identity issues, and fake news (Baccarella et al., 2018).
All of these can negatively affect teenagers, especially those
who are being mistreated. When teenagers are immersed in
social media they have fewer outlets that they can find reprieve.
Media and social media can also be positive. It can
allow teenagers to find groups and support online. Teens might
also be more willing to reach out to someone about abuse and
neglect online instead of in person. They can search for
resources and numbers to call for help. Media can be used to
spread news about resources and help concerning abuse and

5. neglect. Media and social media have good and bad things
depending on how it is utilized.
Mandatory Reporting
In the case study for this week, Morgan confides in the PMHNP
that he was molested by his cousin, as a child and was neglected
by his family. Morgan is 19 years old and is disclosing past
abuse as a child and the family member has already served a
sentence for molesting him and other children. Because the
patient is technically an adult and is no longer in harm, the
practitioner is not mandated to report the information.
In Michigan, where I will be practicing, practitioners are
mandatory reporters. If a practitioner is seeing a child who
discloses abuse or neglect we must report suspensions of abuse
or neglect to the Department of Health and Human Services
immediately (Michigan.gov, 2020). The reporter can remain
anonymous and can also be punished if they fail to report abuse
(Michigan.gov, 2020). It is important that practitioners report
all abuse or suspected abuse to prevent potential harm from
occurring.