Abuse + Reporting

Question 1

Types of child abuse

Answer 1

1) Physical abuse
2) Willful cruelty + unjustifiable punishment (psychological/weirdo)
3) Unlawful corporal punishment or injury (beating)
4) Emotional abuse
5) Sexual abuse (assault + exploitation)
6) Neglect (severe + general)

Question 2

Sexual assault

Answer 2

Rape, statutory rape, incest, lewd or lascivious acts, oral copulation, penetration by a foreign object, child molestation

Question 3

Sexual exploitation

Answer 3

Pornography, prostitution

Question 4

Severe neglect

Answer 4

severe malnutrition, willfully causing child to be endangered, intentional failure to provide adequate food, clothing, shelter or medical care

Explicitly causing physical harm

Question 5

General neglect

Answer 5

negligent failure of the caretaker to provide adequate food, clothing, shelter, medical care or supervision, where no physical injury to the child has occurred

Question 6

Statutory rape vs. sexual assault

Answer 6

We are not mandated to report statutory rape / we are mandated to report sexual assault

Question 7

Lewd and lascivious act

Answer 7

intentional touching of the body or any part or member thereof of a child with the intent of arousing, appealing to, or gratifying the lust, passions or sexual desires of that person or the child

Question 8

Under 14 (+) any age

Answer 8

Report mandated if lewd or lascivious contact occurred

Question 9

14 or 15 (+) 10 years older

Answer 9

Report mandated if there has been lewd or lascivious conduct

Question 10

14 or 15 (+) under 21

Answer 10

Report not mandated if consensual

Question 11

Under 16 (+) 21 or older

Answer 11

Report mandated if sexual intercourse occurred, even when consensual

Question 12

16 or older (+) 16 or older

Answer 12

No report if consensual

Question 13

Under 18 (+) any age (if rape or incest)

Answer 13

Mandated report rape, incest

Question 14

Under 14 (+) under 14

Answer 14

report is not mandated, as long as the therapist believes that both parties are mature enough and not being abused or coerced.

Question 15

When to report elder abuse

Answer 15

“reasonable suspicion” of physical abuse, abandonment, isolation, financial abuse, neglect or abduction made against the elders and dependent adults.

Question 16

Dependent adult

Answer 16

a person residing in California between the ages of 18-64 who has physical or mental limitations that restrict his or her ability to carry out normal activities or to protect his or her rights.

Question 17

Elder

Answer 17

65+

Question 18

Types of elder/dependent abuse

Answer 18

physical abuse, neglect, emotional abuse, abandonment, isolation, financial abuse, mental suffering

Question 19

Physical abuse? (elder)

Answer 19

assault, battery, unreasonable physical restraint, prolonged deprivation of food or water, sexual assault, abuse of a chemical restraint or psychotropic medication

Question 20

Neglect? (elder)

Answer 20

Failure of the person in charge of elder or dependent to exercise a sufficient degree of care (food, shelter, hygiene).

(also includes the failure of the person themselves to care for themselves, defined as self neglect)

Question 21

Reporting elder abuse (steps)

Answer 21

Suspected incidents of elder abuse must be reported to the county adult protective services agency, to a local law enforcement agency or to local ombudsman immediately or as soon as possible by phone. A written report should follow within two working days

Question 22

Reporting child abuse (steps)

Answer 22

• Report required when a therapist learns about child abuse in his or her professional capacity or when there is “reasonable suspicion” of child abuse
  1) Gather as much info as possible. If you believe that you have enough information from the child, make the report.
  2) If you feel it is appropriate to speak with the child’s parent or guardian to gather information before making the report, use clinical judgment.
  3) Suspected incidents of child abuse must be reported BY PHONE to any police department, sheriff’s department, or county welfare department immediately or as soon as possible.
  4) A WRITTEN report should follow within 36 hours

Question 23

Elder abuse - at home vs. facility

Answer 23

• Report to adult protective services or local law enforcement if elder is living at home
• Report to local ombudsman or local law enforcement if abuse in a long term care facility

Question 24

When is report of elder abuse required?

Answer 24

• when the mandated reporter has observed or has knowledge of an incident that reasonably appears to be abuse
• when the reporter is told by the elder or dependent of an instance of abuse

Question 25

When is report of elder abuse NOT required?

Answer 25

1) If mandated reporter is told of abuse/neglect yet there is no corroborating evidence and elder has been diagnosed with mental illness/dementia, and reporter believes abuse did not occur
2) When injury occurs in long term care facility, with properly provided care, and reporter believes the injury was not the result of abuse

Question 26

Assault and domestic violence

Answer 26

• Health practitioners (medical practitioners) who provide MEDICAL services to a person suffering a wound resulting from assault or abuse are mandated to report
• Providers of mental health services are not mandated to report assault, nor are they permitted to report assault unless the patient gives explicit written consent

Question 27

When working with a patient experiencing domestic abuse:

Answer 27

refer them to a medical practitioner (who can report the abuse) and create a safety plan.
Maintain confidentiality