|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
Written with Michael Server, a 26-year veteran of the Lakeville, MN Police Dept. who now lectures on child abuse at St. Mary's University.
MORE
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
--Recognize abuse
--Talk to a child
--Know when to report
--Comply with the law
--Take effective action
MORE
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
LEARNING OBJECTIVE: MANDATED REPORTERS
Teachers are legally required under state law to report instances of child abuse. This course will help you answer the legal and psychological questions that mandated reporters must face:
--What are the two key indicators of child abuse that legally require you to file a report?
--When talking to possible child abuse victims, what are the four key emotional mistakes that teachers make?
--How soon am I required to report a case of suspected child abuse?
--How certain must I be that child abuse is actually taking place?
--Could I get in trouble if I don't report child abuse properly? Or if I don't report it at all?
LEARNING OBJECTIVE: CHILD INTERVIEW TECHNIQUES
After you've explored this course (there are over 150 conversational paths), you will be able to answer questions such as:
--Is it more effective to express outrage at the child's abuse or to downplay the seriousness of the situation?
--Should I express skepticism at some of the child's more shocking statements, or should I take everything he or she says at face value?
--How do I decide what is abuse, and what isn't? What if I'm wrong? What if I don't report it and it turns out to be child abuse after all?
--What if the child doesn't want to discuss the abuse with me?
--How much can I share my feelings and emotions with this abused child? How much do I need to "play the cop" and just investigate the facts?
--How do I get the child to tell me the whole story in the midst of fear and confusion?
Interviewing a possible child abuse victim requires a careful mix of tact, persuasion and neutrality. It's crucial that you understand your own feelings as well as those of the child. Any mistakes could make the child stop talking about the abuse -- or give a distorted account. Either way, the abuse could end up going on and on.
This course includes extensive role-playing which lets you practice a wide variety of conversational approaches. You can see what works -- and what doesn't. Best of all, no one gets hurt or embarassed. So when a real situation confronts you, you'll be better equipped to do the right things.
|
|
|
|
