- Whom you observed and interacted with in your setting during these 2 weeks
The director that I observed was the Early Head Start director. The early head start director, teacher's and family advocates deals with families who have low income. The teachers/family advocates help these families by any means necessary by helping with early intervention services, referrals for WIC, shelter, etc. While talking to the director, we talked about child abuse within the center or any hands on experience that she might have had. She said to her current knowledge, there hadn't been in child abuse in the center.
And she clarified that she knew child abuse meant sexually, physically, verbally, and mentally. She stated, that at another center where she worked at, a teacher had suspected that a child was being sexually abused. The little girl didn't want people to get too close to her. She brought it to her attention, but there wasn't enough evidence to bring it forth to the Child Abuse Hot line. But, the teacher continued to document. I also talked to the teacher's about any suspected child abuse within the center or if they had experienced any from somewhere else and they told me no.
- Any special learning experiences insights, challenges, etc. related to your topics/focus questions and/or advocacy efforts in this setting, the community, and/or the field
I learned from this experience, that even if you don't have enough evidence at the time, document until you have enough. As well as always pay attention to other signs of abuse. A child can be abused in more than one way. As a advocate, you are suppose to be there for the children, as well as the families. You try to help and aid them in any means necessary. You are not only an advocate at work, but at home and in your community as well. I learned that child abuse happens everyday, and some time isn't even caught. The child or even adult can hold it in for so long, because they are embarrassed, ashamed, or hurt by what happened. But, the best piece of advice that I learned from this interaction, was to document everything.
HI Ramonalisa,
ReplyDeleteIt is so important to document any incidents that occur. In my home state of Indiana, every citizen is a mandated reporter. If you suspect chid abuse and neglect, you are to call the hotline immediately. If you fail to do so, they will question you as to why you waited. I am curious, how long has the director been in her current position? It seemed kind of strange that there has not been any reports of child abuse, but then I thought that maybe she is relatively new.
Did the director give you any of the warning signs to look for with regard to child abuse? This might be some useful information for your paper. I know that I have been to an all day training on what different bruises could mean and what to look for with regard to neglect. This could also be helpful for you...to talk to someone at DCS about what they would consider abuse/neglect.
Hi Ramonalisa, I believ Child Abuse is a very delicate issue, not everybody wants to get involved, and to make a report to the hot line, the teacher needs to have good evidence about the abuse. Teachers are mandated to report and every year they must have Child Abuse training, I think this is good information if you want to include it in your research paper.
ReplyDeleteMichelle,
ReplyDeleteDocumenting and keeping a running record is very important. Not only for the sake of the children, but for yourself as well. This always gives you an back up plan when it comes to any information that you have obtain, observed, and are documenting. Yes, you are to call the hotline immediately, with any suscpcion, but I also think it is good to have some type of evidence as well. The director had been in her current positon for over twenty years. They was accustom to the parent, or shall I say she was familar to them. So this was something normal to them, but they didn't feel as if it was that serious. The child had a strong odor and wet her bed every other day. Or she would pee on herself while she was playing with the other children. At first I thought, well maybe she wasn't fully potty trained, but when I talked to the child she said that no one touched her or did anything to her at home.
Eloisa
Yes, child abuse is a very delicate issue and it has to be HANDLE WITH CAUTION AND PRECAUTION. You have to know what you are steeping in, as well as know what you are talking about when it comes to this subject matter. Making false allegations, can back fire on you. Not only are teacher's mandated reporters, but everyone is. Police offers, psychologist, the pharmacist, doctor, janitor, crossing guard, etc are all mandated reporters. There are so many unheard child abuse cases, because the children or even adults are scared to come forth about, because of the reprecussions.
Thank you ladies for your responses.
Did you talk to the director about the process for reporting child abuse? Teachers are mandated reporters so there is a class we have to go through and sign off on so we know how to report as well as signs etc?
ReplyDelete