Presented by the National Children’s Alliance – https://www.nationalchildrensalliance.org/10-signs-of-child-abuse/
How to Recognize Abuse:
1. Unexplained Injuries – Be aware of injuries that a child presents with that would be difficult to explain as accidental.
2. Changes in Behavior – Be on the lookout for any changes in personality. You know your children best!
3. Returning to Earlier Behaviors – Be aware of any coping skills or actions a child might have done after they experienced trauma at a younger age. If this child is returning to those behaviors, it could be a red flag.
4. Fear of Going Home – Take notice if a child is afraid to go home. Using open-ended questions, you may try to explore why the child is fearful, and may need to make a report.
5. Changes in Eating – Changes in eating can be a response to coping with trauma, so take note if anything changes in a child’s eating habits.
6. Changes in Sleeping – Whether a child indicates they are sleeping more, or less, this can be a red flag to something that is affecting their emotional health.
7. Changes in School Performance or Attendance – If a child is suddenly unable to focus on their education, it could be because they are coping with trauma.
8. Lack of Personal Care or Hygiene – Be aware of a child’s hygiene, and if these areas are lacking, it could be a sign of neglect, depression, anxiety, or something else they may need help with.
9. Risk-taking Behaviors – If a child or teenager is suddenly taking interest in risky behaviors such as smoking, drinking, or anything else that could cause harm, this is a red-flag.
10. Inappropriate Sexual Behaviors – Youth who are experiencing Problematic Sexual Behaviors are verbalizing or acting out sexual behaviors in an appropriate context and outside of normal development.
Reporting:
Anyone who suspects a child is in danger of emotional, physical, or sexual abuse, neglect, or could be a victim of human trafficking, they should immediately report to the Department of Children and Family Services, and local law enforcement where the abuse occurred. Below you will find a more outlined path to reporting for mandatory reporters.
Who are Mandated Reporters?
Mandated Reporters are any individual who works in a professional capacity, or volunteers with children.
The Louisiana Children’s Code outlines exactly who mandated reporters are and those definitions are listed below:
– “Health practitioner” is any individual who provides health care services, including a physician, surgeon, physical therapist, dentist, resident, intern, hospital staff member, podiatrist, chiropractor, licensed nurse, nursing aide, dental hygienist, any emergency medical technician, paramedic, optometrist, medical examiner, or coroner who diagnoses, examines, or treats a child or his family.
– “Mental health/social service practitioner” is any individual who provides mental health care or social services diagnosis, assessment, counseling, or treatment, including a psychiatrist, psychologist, marriage or family counselor, social worker, member of clergy, aide, or other individual who provides counseling services to a child or his family.
– “Member of the clergy” is any priest, rabbi, duly ordained clerical deacon or minister, Christian Science practitioner, or other similarly situated functionary of a religious organization unless not required to report a confidential communication as defined in the Code of Evidence Article 511.
– “Teaching or child care provider” is any person who provides or assists in the teaching, training and supervision of a child, including any public or private school teacher, teacher’s aide, instructional aide, school principal, school staff member, school resource officer, bus driver, coach, professor, technical or vocational instructor, technical or vocational school staff member, college or university administrator, college or university staff member, social worker, an employee or an operator of an early learning center as defined in R.S. 17:407.33, an operator or employee of a registered family child day care home, a licensed or unlicensed daycare provider, or any individual who provides such services to a child in a voluntary or professional capacity.
– Police officers or law enforcement officials.
– “Commercial film and photographic print processor” is any person who develops exposed photographic film into negatives, slides, or prints, or who makes prints from negatives or slides for compensation.
– “Mediators” appointed pursuant to Children’s Code, Chapter 6 of Title IV.
– “Court-Appointed Special Advocates (CASA)” is any CASA volunteer under the supervision of a CASA program appointed pursuant to Chapter 4 of Title IV.
– “Organizational or Youth Activity Provider” is any person who provides organized activities for children, including administrators, employees, or volunteers of any day camp, summer camp, youth center, or youth recreation programs or any other organization that provides organized activities for children.
– “Coach” is any school coach including but not limited to public technical or vocational school, community college, college or university coaches and coaches of intramural or interscholastic athletics.
– A foster parent
– A group home or other institutional child care staff member or personnel of residential home facilities.
– A probation officer.
– Any employee of the office of juvenile justice or the Department of Children and Family Services, whose duties include supervisory or disciplinary authority over children.
How to Report:
If a child is in imminent or immediate danger, call 911! There are reporting options that will allow you to stay anonymous.
When making a report, it is important to gather the following information, if possible:
– Child’s name, age, and address
– Parent’s names, siblings names, and anyone else who may live in the home
– Current injuries, medical issues, or other relevant information about the child
– Any information you have about the alleged offender
Call toll-free 1-855-4LA-KIDS (855-452-5437) to speak with a trained specialist 24 hours a day, 7 days a week; OR for reports of alleged abuse/neglect that do not require immediate assistance, submit a report online through the DCFS Mandatory Reporter Portal found at https://mr.dcfs.la.gov/c/MR_PortalApp.app; OR make a report from any DCFS Child Welfare office. Per Louisiana law, reports made orally must be followed by a written report to DCFS within five days. https://dcfs.louisiana.gov/page/556
It is also important to report all concerns to local law enforcement.
Caddo Parish Sheriff’s Department: (318) 675-2170
Bossier Parish Sheriff’s Department: (318) 965-2203
DeSoto Parish Sheriff’s Department: (318) 872-3956
Webster Parish Sheriff’s Department: (318) 377-1515
(These agencies investigate if the abuse occurred outside the city limits)
Shreveport Police Department: (318) 673-7300
Bossier City Police Department: (318) 741-8611
Mansfield Police Department: 318-872-0520
Minden Police Department: 318-371-4226
(These agencies investigate if the abuse occurred inside the city limits)
Helpline for support: 1-800-348-KIDS (5437)
Gingerbread House Children’s Advocacy Center: (318) 674-2900
If you have questions about who to call or when to call, please feel free to call the Gingerbread House Child Advocacy Center.