An interview with Dana
Andrews, licensing administrator for the
Division of Child Care, Colorado Department
of Human Services
When camp professionals call the ACA Camp
Crisis Hotline to discuss mandated reporter
issues, they often want to know what to expect
if they phone their state child abuse reporting
authority. We've gone to one of those
authorities to better understand what happens
when they receive a call.
"Child abuse
and neglect laws, as well as who is defined
as a mandated reporter, vary from state to
state," states Dana Andrews, licensing
administrator for the Division of Child Care,
Colorado Department of Human Services. "In
Colorado, for example, every staff member
at camp is a mandated reporter. In our state's
rules, every camp staff member is required
to read and sign a statement confirming knowledge
of what child abuse is and affirming they
are aware of their role as a mandated reporter." This
important document will be required and sought
during any investigation of child abuse.
The Fall 2008 issue of The CampLine details
the requirements of mandated reporting, www.ACAcamps.org/campline/2008fall.pdf.
We've asked Ms. Andrews to be more
specific about who to call and what to expect
from the phone call.
Who To Call
If you believe
a child has been harmed (whether at home,
outside of camp, or at camp), you should
report concerns to the appropriate authorities.
In every state, qualified experts are available
who can listen to your concerns, examine
the situation, and determine the best course
of action as to whether intervention or other
services are necessary.
Visit www.childwelfare.gov/responding/reporting.cfm for a listing of in-state, toll-free, and
local phone numbers to report suspected child
abuse. An additional resource for information
about reporting child abuse or neglect is
the Childhelp® National Child Abuse Hotline,
800-4-A-Child® (800-422-4453).
What to
Expect
During the intake and assessment after
your initial call is made, your report or
referral undergoes a screening process by
professional staff who use criteria specific
to your state law to determine if your report
should be accepted for detailed investigation
or assessment. Those accepted for a comprehensive
inquiry are often referred to as "screened-in" reports.
If your referral does not meet the criteria
for immediate, intensive investigation, the
call will be "screened out" and
referred to other services. Every report
of potential child abuse and neglect is taken
seriously and is intensely scrutinized during
the screening process. No report is left
without a level of investigation. The level
of investigation is determined by state criteria
and screening requirements. If a call is
screened out of a formal investigation, the
report qualifies for yet another investigative
measure, which may include referral to the
Child Care Licensing Agency for that state.
"When
a call is made to report an abuse or neglect
allegation, an initial screening process
by trained professionals in your state will
take place based on your particular state's
statute for defining what constitutes child
abuse or neglect. This screening process
is not the same in all states. For instance,
in Colorado, if a report is 'screened
in,' the severity of the allegation
of abuse determines how quickly someone is
sent to investigate. Authorities will make
an unannounced visit to the camp," explains
Andrews.
An investigation may be conducted
by authorities deemed by your particular
state, which could include child protective
services staff, the police, or a multidisciplinary
team of professionals. Investigators may
interview camp staff, terminated staff members,
the executive director, program director,
or other campers, depending on what was observed
and the role staff and campers might have
had in the situation. Investigators may travel
outside the state to visit the child's
home and interview the parents.
As a camp
professional, it is your responsibility to
promote the safety and well-being of each
child under your care. Responding to suspicions
of child abuse and neglect and being aware
of your responsibility as a mandated reporter
are ways you can protect a child from imminent
or future harm.
Reference: Child Welfare
Information Gateway. (2008). "Mandated
Reporters of Child Abuse and Neglect." [cited
2 October 2009] Available from www.childwelfare.gov |
