What is Child Abuse and Maltreatment?

Child abuse and maltreatment is when a parent or other person legally responsible for a child’s care causes or creates a risk of harm to a child. The child must be under the age of 18.  Child abuse involves serious physical harm or sexual abuse. Maltreatment (neglect) involves physical, mental or emotional harm.

Physical abuse is when a parent/caretaker hurts or lets someone else hurt a child physically, or creates a substantial risk that a child will be hurt. There must be a serious injury or a risk of serious injury such as a severe burn, a broken bone, the loss of a body part, an internal injury or death. The injury or risk of injury must not be due to an accident.

Sexual abuse is when a parent or caretaker commits a sexual offense against a child or allows someone else to do this. Sexual abuse includes both touching and non-touching sexual offenses.

• Examples of touching offenses include: fondling, intercourse, and sodomy (oral or anal sex acts).

• Examples of non-touching offenses include: using a child in a pornographic or sexually explicit video or picture, distributing such a video or picture, or using a child as a prostitute.

Maltreatment (neglect) is when a parent or caretaker does not provide for a child’s basic needs, where the parent or caretaker has the means or is offered a reasonable way to do so. It also includes a parent or caretaker failing to properly supervise a child or hitting a child too hard. Examples of maltreatment may include: not getting, or waiting too long to get, health care for a child; not giving a child adequate food, shelter, or clothing; not properly looking after a child; misusing drugs/alcohol such that it interferes with their ability to adequately supervise the child; abandoning a child; or not sending a child to school when the child is able to attend school. The parent or caretaker’s actions must cause physical, mental or emotional harm, or a risk that the child will soon be harmed.

Exposure to Domestic Violence: Witnessed domestic violence occurs when a child sees his or her parents or caregivers use behaviors against each other that make the child feel scared, controlled or intimidated

What are some indicators of child abuse and maltreatment? You may see signs of child abuse or maltreatment in the way a child looks or in the way a child acts.

Physical signs can include: a child whose hair, clothing or body is often very dirty; a child whose clothing is too hot or too cold for the season; a child who is not being watched properly; a child who is ill or hurt but is not seeing a doctor; or a child with bruises, burns, cuts, vaginal or rectal bleeding, or with soreness or itching in the genital area.

Behavioral signs can include: a child who is afraid to go home; a child who does not think well of him- or herself, avoids people, or is very sad; a child who misuses drugs or alcohol, has an eating disorder or hurts him- or herself; a child whose mood or behavior changes a lot without a reason; a child who acts in a sexual manner that is unusual for the child’s age; or a child who often misses school without a good reason.

Handling Disclosures: Disclosure can be a very difficult process for a child. Children often tell their stories over a period of time. Some never fully disclose what happened.

• Find a private place to talk.

• Believe and support them, stay calm and limit the discussion

• Tell the child it is not his/her fault.

• Tell them that you are going to call someone that can help

• Report the situation immediately.

DON’T:

• Do not allow contact between the child and the offender

• Do not confront the offender or discuss the incident with the offender (it is better for a trained law enforcement officer to talk with the offender first)!

• Do not conduct an investigation

Whom Do I Call If I Think a Child May Be Abused or Maltreated?

If a child is in immediate danger, call 911 or your local police department.

As soon as you suspect abuse or maltreatment, you must report your concerns by telephone to the New York Statewide Central Register of Child Abuse and Maltreatment (SCR). The SCR is open 24 hours a day, seven days a week, to receive your call.

The timeliness of your call is vital to the timeliness of intervention by the local department of social services’ Child Protective Services (CPS) unit. You are not required to notify the parents or other persons legally responsible either before or after your call to the SCR. In fact, in some cases, alerting the parent may hinder the local CPS investigation and adversely affect its ability to assess the safety of the children. The telephone numbers to report abuse or maltreatment are:

Mandated Reporter (800) 635-1522

Public Hotline (800) 342-3720

You do not need proof of child abuse or maltreatment to make a report; you only need to think that it has happened or that a child is at risk of being abused or maltreated. Your call to the Child Abuse Hotline is confidential. This means that only certain persons may learn about the information you report. The family you reported will not be told you made the report unless you say it is okay for them to know.

Law Enforcement Referrals: If a call to the SCR provides information about an immediate threat to a child or a crime committed against a child, but the perpetrator is not a parent or other person legally responsible for the child, the SCR staff will make a Law Enforcement Referral (LER). The relevant information will be recorded and

transmitted to the New York State Police Information Network or to the New York City Special Victims Liaison Unit. This is not a CPS report, and local CPS will not be involved.

Mandated Reporter Responsibilities: New York State recognizes that certain professionals are specially equipped to perform the important role of mandated reporter of child abuse and maltreatment. The entire current list can be found in Article 6, Title 6, Section 413 of the New York Social Services Law, which can be accessed online through the New York State Legislature’s Website (http://public.leginfo.state.ny.us/menuf.cgi). Click on Laws of New York to access Social Services Law.

When Am I Mandated to Report?Mandated reporters are required to report suspected child abuse or maltreatment when they are presented with a reasonable cause to suspect child abuse or maltreatment in a situation where a child, parent, or other person legally responsible for the child is before the mandated reporter when the mandated reporter is acting in his or her official or professional capacity.

Reasonable Cause to Suspect: Reasonable cause to suspect child abuse or maltreatment means that, based on your rational observations, professional training and experience, you have a suspicion that the parent or other person legally responsible for a child is responsible for harming that child or placing that child in imminent danger of harm. Your suspicion can be as simple as distrusting an explanation for an injury.

Immunity from Liability

If a mandated reporter makes a report with earnest concern for the welfare of a child, he or she is immune from any criminal or civil liability that might result. This is referred to as making a report in “good faith

Penalties for Failure to Report

Anyone who is mandated to report suspected child abuse or maltreatment—and fails to do so—could be charged with a Class A misdemeanor and subject to criminal penalties. Further, mandated reporters can be sued in a civil court for monetary damages for any harm caused by the mandated reporter’s failure to make a report to the SCR.

What Happens When I Call the Child Abuse Hotline?

A hotline employee will answer your call and ask you for information about why you called. Based on the information you provide, the hotline employee will decide whether to take a report of child abuse or maltreatment. It is helpful if you can give information about who the child is and where he or she can be found; the person who you think abused or maltreated the child; and the child’s parent, guardian or other person legally

responsible for the child. If a report is not taken, the hotline employee will tell you why it could not be taken. If you disagree, you can ask to speak with a supervisor.

If a report is taken, it will be sent right away to the local Child Protective Service (CPS), where the child resides. A local CPS caseworker will start an investigation within 24 hours. The CPS caseworker must work with the family on any issues that make the child unsafe. If the family does not want to make the changes needed for a child to be safe, CPS may go to court to ask a judge to require the family to make the changes or to remove the child from the home. However, in most cases, CPS can work with the family to protect the child in his or her home. This is done by making a plan with the child’s parent or caretaker to change any unsafe actions, or to get services so that the child will be safe.

Prevention Strategies

Understand the causes and effects of abuse and neglect. If you know a parent who is under stress, encourage them to seek help. To locate a parenting program that can provide guidance and support, call the Prevention Information and Parent Helpline at 1-800-342-7472; a program of www.preventchildabuseny.org

Twelve Alternatives to Lashing out at Your Child The next time everyday pressures build up to the point where you feel like lashing out — STOP! Try any of these simple alternatives. You’ll feel better… and so will your child. http://www.preventchildabuse.org/images/docs/twelvealternativestolashingoutatyourchild.pdf

Advice for new Moms and Dads

Being a parent is the most difficult, yet most important and satisfying work you will ever do. During the busy and exciting days that make up the first weeks of parenting, remember to take good care of yourself as well as the new baby. Here are some tips on how to survive the early weeks with the new baby: http://www.preventchildabuse.org/images/docs/advicefornewmomsanddads.pdf

Shaken Baby Syndrome (Abusive Head Trauma): Shaken Baby Syndrome refers to injuries to a baby’s brain and body that results from being shaken. Some babies die from these injuries.

What causes the shaking? Usually a caregiver becomes frustrated with a baby’s crying. The caregiver loses control and shakes the baby.

• Never ever shake a baby

• Make sure that everyone who cares for your child knows not to shake a baby

Helpful tips to keep your baby safe: http://ocfs.ny.gov/main/publications/Pub5004.pdf

begin_of_the_skype_highlightingReduce risk. Protect children from sexual abuse

• Understand that abusers often become friendly with potential victims and their families, enjoying family activities, earning trust, and gaining time alone with children.

• Think carefully about the safety of any isolated, one-on-one settings. Choose group situations when possible.

• Think carefully about the safety of situations in which older youth have access to younger children. Make sure that multiple adults are present who can supervise.

• Set an example by personally avoiding isolated, one-on-one situations with children other than your own.

• Monitor children’s Internet use. Offenders use the Internet to lure children into physical contact.

One – on – one time with trusted adults is healthy and valuable for a child. It builds self-esteem and deepens relationships. To protect children while nurturing these relationships:

• Drop in unexpectedly when the child is alone with an adult or another youth, even if it a trusted family member.

• Make sure outings are observable – if not by you, then by others.

• Ask adults about the specifics of planned activities before the child leaves your care. Notice their ability to be specific.

• Talk with the child following the activity. Notice the child’s mood and whether he or she can tell you with confidence how the time was spent.

• Find a way to tell adults who care for children that you and the child are educated about child sexual abuse. Be that direct.

Talk Openly With Children to Prevent Child Sexual Abuse

Age appropriate, open conversations about our bodies, sex, and boundaries gives children a foundation for understanding and developing healthy relationships. It also teaches them that they have the right to say “no.”

With this foundation in place, they are less vulnerable to people who would violate their boundaries, and are more likely to tell you if abuse occurs.

• Teach children that it is “against the rules” for adults to act in a sexual way with them, and use examples.

• Teach them what parts of their bodies others should not touch.

• Be sure to mention that the abuser might be an adult friend, family member, or older youth.

• Teach children not to give out personal information while using the Internet, including email addresses, home addresses, and phone numbers.

• Start early and talk often. Use everyday opportunities to talk about sexual abuse.

• Be proactive. If a child seems uncomfortable, or resistant to being with a particular adult, ask why.

Sources and Resources

New York State Office of Children & Family Services (Pub. 5056 (07/07 & Pub. 1159 (Rev. 9/2012) www.ocfs.state.ny.us

Darkness to Light: http://www.d2l.org/site/c.4dICIJOkGcISE/b.6035035/k.8258/Prevent_Child_Sexual_Abuse.htm

www.preventchildabuse.org

CAC of Putnam County: The Child Advocacy Center (CAC) of Putnam County is a child- and family-focused facility, providing comprehensive, multidisciplinary services to children suspected of being abused.

A multidisciplinary team (MDT) of child protective service workers, law enforcement investigators, prosecutors, medical care providers, victim advocates and therapists work together to provide all necessary services in one place.

Our Goals:

• Reduce trauma to the child

• Provide family with support and assistance

• Promote thorough investigations and hold offenders accountable

• Improve communication and information sharing between MDT members

For further information, contact the Child Advocacy Center at 845-808-1400 begin_of_the_skype_highlighting or end_of_the_skype_highlighting https://www.putnamcountyny.com/child-advocacy-center/

SUBSTANCE ABUSE PREVENTION

Each year, drug abuse and addiction cost taxpayers nearly $534 billion in preventable health care, law enforcement, crime, and other costs. The best approach to reducing the tremendous toll substance abuse exacts from individuals, families, and communities is to prevent the damage before it occurs. Over 20 years of research demonstrates that prevention interventions designed and tested to reduce risk and enhance protective factors can help children at every step along their developmental path, from early childhood into young adulthood.

Alcohol and substance abuse prevention is an ongoing process with each new generation of parents, children, educators and community leaders. Effective prevention helps reduce violence, teen pregnancy, high school dropout rates, HIV/AIDS infection and many other related issues. By maintaining public awareness of the truth and dangers of drugs, prevention has a positive effect on children, teens, families, businesses and communities.

There are currently two prevention providers in Putnam County that strive to carry out substance abuse prevention efforts. They are:

National Council on Alcoholism and Other Drug Dependencies/Putnam

67 Gleneida Avenue

Carmel, NY 10512

Contact: Kristin E. McConnell, Executive Director

http://putnamncadd.org/

845-225-4646

Putnam Family and Community Services

1808 Route Six

Carmel, NY 10512

Contact: Diane E. Russo, Executive Director

http://www.pfcsinc.org/

845-225-2700

There is also a community Drug Free Communities prevention coalition in Putnam County. They are:

Putnam County Communities That Care Coalition

67 Gleneida Avenue

Carmel, NY 10512

Contact: Elaine Santos, Coalition Coordinator
http://putnamncadd.org/html/ctc.html

845-225-4646

IF THIS IS AN EMERGENCY DIAL 911

IF THERE IS AN EMERGENCY DIAL 911

Putnam County Crisis Hotline 845-225-1222

Putnam County Information & Referral 211

Mental Health:

Mental disorders are common in the United States and internationally. An estimated 26.2 percent of Americans ages 18 and older — about one in four adults — suffer from a diagnosable mental disorder in a given year.  That would represent approximately 25,000 residents in Putnam County.

Fortunately, mental illness-like diabetes and heart disease-can be successfully managed with the proper treatment.  Recovery is possible and you are not alone!

Categories of Major Mental Illnesses:

• Depression: severe symptoms that interfere with your ability to work, sleep, study, eat, and enjoy life. An episode can occur only once in a person’s lifetime, but more often, a person has several episodes.
   
• Bi-Polar Disorder: also called manic-depressive illness, is not as common as major depression or persistent depressive disorder. Bipolar disorder is characterized by cycling mood changes—from extreme highs (e.g., mania) to extreme lows (e.g., depression).
   
• Anxiety Disorders: Anxiety Disorders affect about 40 million American adults age 18 years and older (about 18%) in a given year,¹ causing them to be filled with fearfulness and uncertainty. Unlike the relatively mild, brief anxiety caused by a stressful event (such as speaking in public or a first date), anxiety disorders last at least 6 months and can get worse if they are not treated.  They include: panic disorder; obsessive compulsive disorder; post-traumatic stress disorder; social phobia; and generalized anxiety disorder.
   
• Schizophrenia: Schizophrenia is a chronic, severe, and disabling brain disorder that has affected people throughout history.  People with the disorder may hear voices other people don’t hear.  They may believe other people are reading their minds, controlling their thoughts, or plotting to harm the.  This can terrify people with the illness and make them withdrawn or extremely agitated.
• Eating Disorders:   The three main types of eating disorders are anorexia nervosa, bulimia nervosa, and binge-eating disorder.

Warning Signs and Symptoms:

To learn more about symptoms that are specific to a particular mental illness, visit www.mentalhealthamerica.net  or contact your local MHA at (845) 278-7600 www.mhaputnam.org.

The following are signs that your loved one may want to speak to a medical or mental health professional.

 

In Adults:

• Confused thinking
• Prolonged depression (sadness or irritability)
• Feelings of extreme highs and lows
• Excessive fears, worries and anxieties
• Social withdrawal
• Dramatic changes in eating or sleeping habits
• Strong feelings of anger
• Delusions or hallucinations
• Growing inability to cope with daily problems and activities
• Suicidal thoughts
• Denial of obvious problems
• Numerous unexplained physical ailments
• Substance abuse

 

In older children and pre-adolescents:

• Substance abuse
• Inability to cope with problems and daily activities
• Changes in sleeping and/or eating habits
• Excessive complaints of physical ailments
• Defiance of authority, truancy, theft, and/or vandalism
• Intense fear of weight gain
• Prolonged negative mood, often accompanied by poor appetite or thoughts of death
• Frequent outbursts of anger

 

In younger children:

• Changes in school performance
• Poor grades despite strong efforts
• Excessive worry or anxiety (i.e. refusing to go to bed or school)
• Hyperactivity
• Persistent nightmares
• Persistent disobedience or aggression
• Frequent temper tantrums

 

Getting Help:The first step to getting appropriate treatment is to visit a doctor or mental health specialist. Certain medications, and some medical conditions such as viruses or a thyroid disorder, can cause the same symptoms as depression. A doctor can rule out these possibilities by doing a physical exam, interview, and lab tests. If the doctor can find no medical condition that may be causing the symptoms, the next step is a psychological evaluation.

The doctor may refer you to a mental health professional, who should discuss with you any family history of depression or other mental disorder, and get a complete history of your symptoms. You should discuss when your symptoms started, how long they have lasted, how severe they are, and whether they have occurred before and if so, how they were treated. The mental health professional may also ask if you are using alcohol or drugs, and if you are thinking about death or suicide.

Once diagnosed, a person with depression can be treated in several ways. The most common treatments are medication and psychotherapy.

How can I help a loved one who is depressed?

If you know someone who is depressed, it affects you too. The most important thing you can do is help your friend or relative get a diagnosis and treatment. You may need to make an appointment and go with him or her to see the doctor. Encourage your loved one to stay in treatment, or to seek different treatment if no improvement occurs after 6 to 8 weeks.

To help your friend or relative

• Offer emotional support, understanding, patience, and encouragement.
• Talk to him or her, and listen carefully.
• Never dismiss feelings, but point out realities and offer hope.
• Never ignore comments about suicide, and report them to your loved one’s therapist or doctor.
• Invite your loved one out for walks, outings and other activities. Keep trying if he or she declines, but don’t push him or her to take on too much too soon.
• Provide assistance in getting to the doctor’s appointments.
• Remind your loved one that with time and treatment, the depression will lift.

How can I help myself if I am depressed?

If you have depression, you may feel exhausted, helpless, and hopeless. It may be extremely difficult to take any action to help yourself. But as you begin to recognize your depression and begin treatment, you will start to feel better.

To Help Yourself

• Do not wait too long to get evaluated or treated. There is research showing the longer one waits, the greater the impairment can be down the road. Try to see a professional as soon as possible.
• Try to be active and exercise. Go to a movie, a ballgame, or another event or activity that you once enjoyed.
• Set realistic goals for yourself.
• Break up large tasks into small ones, set some priorities and do what you can as you can.
• Try to spend time with other people and confide in a trusted friend or relative. Try not to isolate yourself, and let others help you.
• Expect your mood to improve gradually, not immediately. Do not expect to suddenly “snap out of” your depression. Often during treatment for depression, sleep and appetite will begin to improve before your depressed mood lifts.
• Postpone important decisions, such as getting married or divorced or changing jobs, until you feel better. Discuss decisions with others who know you well and have a more objective view of your situation.
• Remember that positive thinking will replace negative thoughts as your depression responds to treatment.
• Continue to educate yourself about depression.

Everything didn’t get better overnight, but I find myself more able to enjoy life and my children.

Where can I go for help?

If you are unsure where to go for help, ask your family doctor. Others who can help are listed below.

IF THERE IS AN EMERGENCY DIAL 911

Putnam County Crisis Hotline 845-225-1222

Putnam County Information & Referral 211

• See Resources

WHAT IS A DEVELOPMENTAL DISABILITY?

HOW IS ELIGIBILITY DETERMINED?

ACCESSING SERVICES FOR INDIVIDUALS WITH DEVELOPMENTAL DISABILITIES

A Developmental Disability is a disability of a person which is (1) attributable to mental retardation, cerebral palsy, epilepsy, neurological impairment, autism or familial dysautonomia; (2) originates before the age of 22; (3) is expected to continue indefinitely; and (4) constitutes a substantial handicap to a person’s ability to function normally in society.  (A substantial handicapping condition is determined by administration of an approved adaptive behavior assessment scales administered and interpreted by a qualified professional.) Eligibility for services is determined by the Developmental Disabilities Regional Office (DDRO) of the NYS Office for People with Developmental Disabilities (OPWDD).  In order to determine eligibility, the DDRO requires information about a person’s disability including (1) a psychological report which includes an assessment of intellectual functioning (IQ) and a standardized assessment of adaptive behavior; (2) a recent general medical report and for conditions other than Intellectual Disability, a medical or specialty report that includes health status and diagnostic findings to support the diagnosis; and (3) a social/developmental history, psychosocial report or other report that shows that a person became disabled before age 22.  In some cases, the DDRO may require additional information to determine eligibility. Eligibility must be officially determined by NYS OPWDD in order to access the services they provide. The NYS Office for People with Developmental Disabilities provides a variety of supports and services for individuals with developmental disabilities.  OPWDD works with a network of not-for-profit providers to deliver services to individuals with developmental disabilities and their families.  Services include residential services, day/employment services, and family and individual supports.  Examples of family and individual supports are clinic services, in-home care, senior services and service coordination.

RESOURCES FOR PUTNAM COUNTY RESIDENTS

Putnam County Department of Mental Health’s Developmental Disabilities Coordinator is available to help individuals and families connect with the New York State Office for People with Developmental Disabilities by providing information, referral and assistance with the eligibility application. Medley Broege, Developmental Disabilities Coordinator Putnam County Department of Mental Health 110 Old Route 6, Building 3 Carmel, NY 10512 845-808-1641 medley.broege@putnamcountyny.gov   NYS OPWDD Taconic DDRO 1620 Route 22 Brewster, NY 10509 845-279-2905   PARC (Putnam ARC) 31 International Boulevard Brewster, NY 10509 845-278-7272 www.putnamarc.org   Hudson Valley Cerebral Palsy Association 40 Jon Barrett Road Patterson, NY 12563 845-878-9078

Careers for People with Disabilities
401 Columbus Avenue, 2nd FloorValhalla, New York    10595(914) 741-8500Fax:  741-6901Christina Comish-Lauria, Executive Director

Hudson Valley Community Services
Robin Hill Corporate ParkPatterson, New York    12563(845) 878-9078Fax:  878-3203Howard Yager, Executive Director