Responding
to Child Victims of Abuse
Key
points to remember when dealing with child victims of abuse:
Caring
adults play a substantial role in preventing and stopping
child abuse. By receiving and reporting disclosures and suspicions
of abuse, as well as supporting child victims, you can be
an essential part of the societal response to child abuse.
However, by crossing the boundary into investigation, you
may cause a victim undue stress, may weaken the actual case
of abuse, and may lessen your own role as a supporter of the
victim.
•
Believe the Disclosure:
It is essential
that disclosures be taken seriously. This may be the child's
only opportunity to tell his/her story and receive help.
•
Establish Trust and the
Child's meaning of Vocabulary: Be sure that you understand what the child is saying. If the
child uses pet names for genitalia, have the child point to
body parts so you have a clear understanding of the disclosure.
Use the child's term throughout the rest of the conversation.
Use of proper terms may be intimidating to the child. Don't
use words that the child does not know such as "abuse", "molest"
or "rape".
•
Verbalize that the Child
is Not To Blame for the Abuse:
Children usually fear that they will be blamed for what happened
to them. Children need to hear that the abuse was not their
fault.
•
Try to Maintain a Calm
Emotional Response:
Although you may find a disclosure to be painful or upsetting,
it is important to know that children will assume that they
are the reason you are upset and that you're upset with them,
so try to remain calm..
•
Praise the Child for
Having the Courage to Tell:
Children may have been threatened with serious consequences
if they ever told about the abuse. Stress that the child did
the right thing in telling about the abuse.
•
Do Not Assume that the
Experience was Painful or that the Child Hates the Offender:
Quite often
children love the offender. Expressing your feelings about
punishing the offender may cause the child to stop the disclosure.
Also, it is possible that the child enjoyed the attentions
of the offender. Assuming the experience was painful may increase
the child's feelings of guilt.
•
Find out what the Child
Expects to Happen: Children
may have unrealistic views about the outcome of the disclosure.
It is important that children understand that you will be
acting on their behalf, but the results of this may not be
immediately apparent. Be honest about what is going to happen.
Try to explain as much of the investigative process as they
can understand.
•
Do Not Make Promises
You Cannot Keep:
It may take a while before the abuse stops. Promising a child
any specific action (which may or may not happen) could be
another betrayal of the child's trust. Promise action on your
part, but not specific results.
•
Determine if There is
an Immediate Threat to the Child:
Is the child safe to go home? If not, be sure to inform Child
Protection (aka the Office of Community Services) of this
concern and advise them of the need for immediate follow up.
•
Take Appropriate Actions
on the Child's Behalf Immediately:
Make a report immediately. Do not wait until the next day.
Evidence needed for the case may heal or fade during that
time spent waiting. If you are a Mandated Reporter then
you are
required by law to make a report. For more information on
mandated reporters please see that section on our website.
To
make a report of suspected child abuse or neglect when the
suspect is a child's caregiver or lives in the child's home,
contact Office of Community Services - Child Protection in
the parish the child lives.
Caddo
OCS: 676-7622 Bossier OCS: 741-7340
If
the threat to the child is from someone that is either not
in the child's home or is not a caregiver, please call law
enforcement to report the suspected abuse.
Shreveport
Police Dept. 673-7300 Bossier Police Dept. 741-8611
Caddo
Sheriff's Dept.
675 - 2170 Bossier Sheriff's Dept. 965-2203
•
You Do Not Have To
Go Through This Alone:
Questions and concerns can be answered by Helpline at
1-800-348-KIDS or Gingerbread House
at (318) 674-2900 .
Information
brought to you by: Jody Plauche' of Victim's Services Center
of Montgomery County, Norristown , PA and Gingerbread
House: Bossier/Caddo Children's Advocacy Center .
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