UPON HEARING A DISCLOSURE OF ABUSE
DO:
- Practice your response before you are in a real situation.
- Pay attention to your body language. Give the child signals that you are hearing what he/she says and that you can help.
- Know the reporting law (Title 10, §7103).
- Reassure the child they did the right thing by telling you and that you will do everything you can to help the child.
- Let the child know that it was brave to share something (no matter how minimal) about a difficult subject.
- Affirm your caring for the child and that your relationship has not been negatively altered. Some children feel ashamed and assume they are less lovable because of the abuse.
- Document the actual words.
- Call the police (911) or the Child Abuse reporting hotline (1-800-522-3511).
DO NOT:
- Try to determine for yourself if abuse or neglect occurred. This is the role of child welfare and the police.
- Act shocked, horrified, scared, etc.
- Share this information with friends or relatives.
- Try to talk a child out of what he/she is saying.
- Suggest to a child that he/she may have been abused.
- Attempt to find out the details of the abuse.
- Stand over or smother the child while he/she talks to you.
|
