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Teachers and staff have an opportunity to recognize abused children and advocate for them until they are safe.
Varied roles in education including educators and counselors are trained in identifying and understanding abuse and ways to help.
This legal Padlet is a guide for teachers and staff on child abuse.
Child abuse is a silent terror that most students do not express freely. I chose the topic of child abuse to bring awareness and guidance on how to report it.

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As educators and counselors we are on the front lines of our students daily lives.
The legal guide topic of child abuse is essentially important to the field of counseling.
Counselors form relationships with students to create a safe place. Child abuse impacts education and its stakeholders in many ways. School counselors are recognized as a creditable source with specialized skills to assist and help victims(Otto & Brown, 1982).  Child abuse is a topic that school counselors not only have the opportunity to curb, but the responsibility to address.
Research suggest that preventative programs should be implemented within the school. Individual and classroom engagement should be also be used to educate students and staff on the seriousness of expressing and reporting abuse. ASCA has outlines competencies to be met through direct and indirect services. If counselors implement the preventative programs as suggested, we should keep a watchful eye on the number of cases that are brought forth. This will determine if the strategy is resourceful.

Otto, M.L, & Brown, R.W. (1982). The School Counselor: Understanding and responding to abusive families. The School Counselor, 30 (2), 101-109.

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National Association of School Psychologist (NASP)
Identifying and Reporting Child Abuse-
Adolescents may have a more infested reaction to their abuse  because they are more self conscious and egocentric.
The idea behind a solid support system of reporting child abuse within a school is a creating a safe environment. Schools must be a safe, healthy and trusted environment for students. Research shows that the involvement from at least one caring significant adult in the life of the abused child is an essential ingredient for positive outcomes.
In addition to, school leaders are trained and play a key role in ensuring their staff members are prepared to address the matters of child abuse. (Cruise, 2010)

Cruise, T. (2010). Identifying and Reporting Child Abuse.
Retrieved from https://www.nasponline.org/documents/Resources%20and%20Publications/Handouts/Families%20and%20Educators/Maltreatment_PLSept10.pdf

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Slide #4 A trend related to Child Abuse. (Article)

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Slide #4 A trend related to Child Abuse. (Article)

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The Coronavirus Could Cause a Child Abuse Epidemic- NY Times
The crisis of COVID-19 has created conditions for a rise in abuse of young victims (Agrawal, 2020).
* During stressful times such as this there has been a spike in reported child abuse cases in Texas.
* Abuse hotline calls are up.
* Typically the watchful eyes of educators and guidance counselors serve as lifelines for vulnerable children.
*Educators and counselors are the primary sources of reports to Child Protective Services nationwide, totaling at about 20%.
* Parents are encouraged to visit their pediatricians if they feel their child is in danger of abuse.
* The COVID-19 pandemic had brought with it additional challenges in protecting young children from abuse, since their immediate sources of assistance are no longer within the schools.

Agrawal, N. (2020). The Coronavirus Could Cause a Child Abuse Epidemic.
Retrieved from https://www.nytimes.com/2020/04/07/opinion/coronavirus-child-abuse.html

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Slide #5 A trend related to Child Abuse. (Article)

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Slide #5 A trend related to Child Abuse. (Article)

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Violence Prevention- Center for Disease Control and Prevention
Abuse can have long term impacts on health and well-being, abuse is a serious public health problem (CDC, 2020).
* Individual Risk Factors can identify perpetration:
- parental lack of understanding of needs and development.
-parental history of abuse and neglect
-parental substance abuse
* Family Risk Factors
- Social Isolation
-Family Stress
-Parenting Stress
The CDC suggests protective factors will lessen the likelihood of children being abused or neglected. Protective factors include but are not limited to:
-Supportive family environment
-concrete support for basic needs
-stability in the home
-education
-role models and support outside of the home
Communities need to develop support systems and take responsibility for education about child abuse.

CDC, 2020. Violence Prevention.
Retrieved from
https://www.cdc.gov/violenceprevention/childabuseandneglect/fastfacts.html

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The Federal Child Abuse Prevention and Treatment Act
* child abuse as, “any recent act or failure to act on the part of a parent or caretaker which results in death, serious physical or emotional harm”
* “an act of failure to act which presents an imminent risk of serious harm.”
(42 U.S.C.A.§5106g)
* The federal legislation that addresses child abuse and neglect is the Child Abuse Prevention and Treatment Act (CAPTA)
(42 U.S.C.Chapter 67, asections 5101-5116i)

https://www.childwelfare.gov/topics/systemwide/laws-policies/federal/.

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* The current Texas State Law requires that professionals such as teachers, doctors, nurses, or daycare workers must make a verbal report within 48 hours.

(Texas Family Code, Chapter 261.101)

https://statutes.capitol.texas.gov/Docs/FA/htm/FA.261.htm

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* Child protection Courts
*Chapter 201 of the Texas Family Code
*Texas Family Courts assigns trial courts to manage abuse and neglect cases.

https://www.tecourts.gov/about-texas-courts/childrens-courts/

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* Section 21.11 of the Texas Penal Code
* Discusses state laws that authorize cross reporting of suspected child abuse or neglect.
* Typically shares reports with local law enforcement  and child protective services
* Must make a report in good faith in suspected instances of child abuse.
* An investigation will be completed upon any report of child abuse or neglect.

https://www.childwelfare.gov/topics/systemwide/laws-policies/statutory/

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* All MISD employees are required by state law to report any suspected child abuse or neglect, as defined by Texas Family Code §26.001, to a law enforcement agency within 48 hours of the event that led to suspicion (MISD, 2020 pg. 53)
* Educators may not rely on any other person to make a report. The report must be made by the founding employee.

www.mabankisd.net

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The ASCA is a professional organization supporting school counselors. The standards are the ethical responsibility of all school counseling professionals.
Ethical Standard A.11
b. Report suspected cases of child abuse and neglect to the proper authorities and take reasonable precautions to protect the privacy of the student for whom abuse or neglect is suspected when alerting the proper authorities.

When making child abuse reports, confidentiality is of utmost importance. A scenario that could jeopardize the privacy of the student is a counselor or educator speaking of the situation around others or making the report in an area that is not secure.

https://www.schoolcounselor.org/asca/media/asca/Ethics/EthicalStandards.pdf

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Psychology Today
What is considered Child Abuse?
This is a complex question. Most parental or guardian disciplinary strategies do not meet the definition of child abuse or neglect.
As counselors and educators we must be able to differentiate between acceptable punishment and child abuse.
The article issued by Psychology Today identifies the types of behavior that could be considered as child abuse or behavior that does not fit the criteria.
Sometimes as educators and counselors it is hard to determine if a child is being abused or if that is just how discipline is done in their home. Most of the time abuse is evident and it's not up to us to decide, if we feel that a report needs to be made then we should make it without hesitation.

Howard, E. (2019). What is considered Child Abuse?
Retrieved from
https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/parent-s-guide-children-s-therapy/201810/what-is-considered-child-abuse%3famp

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Slide #13 Recommendations / Best Practices for Compliance 

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Slide #13 Recommendations / Best Practices for Compliance 

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* Child abuse can be classified into four categories: physical, sexual, emotional and neglect, the types are often found in combination rather than alone.
* It is your DUTY to report suspected child abuse!!
* Section 261.101 of the Texas Family Code mandates that anyone who suspects child abuse or neglect must report it immediately. (Texas Family Code § 26.001)
* Child Abuse reports are made within 48 hours to Child Protective Services thru the Texas Abuse Hotline:  (1-800-252 5400)
* The first step in helping children who are being abused is learning and recognizing the signs and symptoms.
* Texas Educator Code of Ethics A failure to report suspected child abuse may result in prosecution as a Class A misdemeanor. In addition, a certified employee failing to report may result in disciplinary actions by SBEC for a violation of the Texas Educators’ Code of Ethics.