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Cabinet for Health and Family Services

Department for Community Based Services

Southern Bluegrass Service Region

Central Intake Presentation

Reporting Abuse, Neglect, Domestic Violence and Exploitation

Doug Abrams, MPA(859) 245-5258

doug.abrams @ky.gov


Reportable Information

• If you suspect that a child or an adult is being neglected or abused that information is reportable. However…

• Central Intake (CI) does not function like a 911 call center; meaning, CI documents all reports made, but only send reports to Investigative Teams for investigation that Meet Acceptance Criteria.

• The purpose of this presentation is to provide reporters of suspected child abuse and neglect with information that will assist Central Intake in the screening process of reports of suspected child abuse and neglect.


Kentucky Child/Adult Protective Services Reporting System

Kentucky Child / Adult Protective Services Reporting System

This reporting system has been provided for your convenience to report suspected instances of abuse / neglect which occurred in Kentucky and does not require an emergency response.

A situation where a child or adult is at immediate risk of abuse / neglect that could result in death or serious harm is considered an emergency and should be reported to 911 immediately.

To access this web site go to: https://prd.chfs.ky.gov/ReportAbuse/home.aspx


Advantages of Using the Non-Emergency Reporting Option

1. You get an immediate e-mail response that your report was made;

2. You do not have to call the CI unit inquiring about the status of your report; because

3. If your report does not meet acceptance criteria you will receive e-mail notification from the CI unit that your report did not meet acceptance; see example below

Web ID #

This e-mail is to advise that the report you submitted via the web based reporting system for the Commonwealth of Kentucky did not meet acceptance criteria.

If you have additional information or concerns not included in the original report, please call the abuse hotline at 1-877-597-2331.

Thank you,


Southern Bluegrass Service Region Reporting

Phone, FAX & e-mail Reporting Monday—Friday 8 a.m.—4:30 p.m. Call (859) 245-5258

E-mail reports to: [email protected]

FAX (859) 271-3624

e-mail inbox and FAX machine are monitored continuously8 a.m.—4:30 p.m. Monday—Friday excluding weekends and state holidays.


After Hours Call

(800) 752-6200

OR

Your Local Law Enforcement Agency


Helpful Information Needed to Make A CPS Report

A. The names and addresses of the child(ren) and his or her parents or other persons exercising custodial control or supervision;

B. The child's age, date of birth and social security number if you have it;

C. As much detail regarding the alleged abuse , neglect or dependency, including witnesses and previous instances of abuse, neglect or dependency to this child or his or her siblings that you are aware of;

D. The name and address of the person allegedly responsible for the abuse or neglect; and

E. Do you think there are safety hazards for a social worker visiting the home, e.g., firearms, threats of violence by parents, dangerous animals etc..


Physical Abuse

PHYSICAL ABUSE• Physical abuse is the injury by other than accidental means

of a child under 18 years of age which is the result of actions by a parent, guardian, or other designated (temporary or permanent) caretaker.

EXAMPLES:• Hitting, kicking, biting• Harmful restraint (choking)• Beating (repeated blows)• Use of weapon or instrument• Action resulting in substantial pain


Reporting Physical AbuseWhen reporting physical abuse, it is helpful if you can:

Describe observable injuries inflicted by a caretaker;

If possible, described the severity of the injury;

Indicate where on the child’s body s/he has been hit; especially if the child has been hit in critical areas which include the head, face, ears, neck, genitals, abdomen or kidney area;

Indicate if the child reports s/he has been punched, kicked, strangled or suffocated;

Has been exposed to bizarre or cruel forms of punishment or inappropriate restraint.


Reporting Risk of Physical Harm to a Child

If you suspect that a child is at risk of physical harm it is helpful to indicate if; The child or other family member being threatened with a

weapon; A child being verbally threatened in a manner that creates

fear of bodily harm or death to self and/or others; Bizarre behavior by a caretaker when there is reason to

believe that the caretaker may lose control, which may result in injury to the child;

Self-reports from parents or guardians who state they are unable to cope or who feel they may hurt their children.


Reporting Medical Neglect

When reporting medical neglect it is helpful if you can indicate that:

The lack of medical attention could be life-threatening;

The lack of medical attention could result in permanent impairment;

The lack of medical attention could interfere with normal physical functioning and worsen without treatment; or

Be a serious threat to the child’s health due to the outbreak of a vaccine preventable disease.


Reporting Supervision Neglect

When reporting lack of appropriate supervision it is helpful if you can indicate:

Is the child currently alone; If known is the child experiencing a current emergency; How long the child has been left alone; Does the child have disabilities; Does the child know what to do in case of an emergency, e.g., contact law

enforcement of fire department. Has the parent provided the child a list of emergency contacts and access to a

phone to contact those persons; Is the child age appropriate, i.e., a teen who lacks the maturity expected for his

or her age; Is the child in the caretaking role of other children.


Reporting Parental Substance Abuse

When reporting neglect due to a caregivers alcohol and or drug use, it is helpful if you can indicate:

Is the parent in a caretaking role when using alcohol and drugs; Describe how the alcohol and or drug use impairs the ability to provided for the

needs of the child; If you suspect current intoxication, describe what behaviors or physical

indicators you have observed; Is the parent driving while intoxicated with the child in the vehicle; Does the child have access to drugs or alcohol; Has law enforcement been notified? Also Has the parent permitted a child to use drugs or alcohol under circumstances

that create a risk to the physical health of the child;


Reporting Food Neglect

When reporting that a family has a lack of adequate food to meet the nutritional needs of the child, it is helpful to indicate:

If the child has special dietary needs that are not being met or unexplained weight loss;

That because of the lack of food the child shows symptoms of dehydration, food poisoning, malnutrition or failure to thrive;

If the family has been offered assistance and still can’t meet the nutritional needs of the child.

Does the child frequently go to a neighbors home asking for food?


Reporting Environmental & Hygiene & Clothing Neglect

When reporting environmental neglect, it is helpful to indicate: How, if known, the presence of the health and safety hazard is or may be

affecting the physical health of the child; and

If the caretaker has been made aware of the concern, has s/he failed to take appropriate action to eliminate the problem.

When reporting hygiene/clothing neglect it is helpful to indicate: How, if known, the child's physical health and safety is negatively affected due

to an act or omission by the caretaker; and

Has the caretaker failed to address the concern or been offered assistance to address the concern.


Reporting Educational Neglect

When reporting educational neglect it is helpful to indicate:

The child’s educational needs that are not being met by the caretaker;

The number of days absent or tardy and how many of those are unexcused;

Disabilities, if any, of the child;

The impact that the alleged educational neglect is having on the child’s school performance and development.

Any documented efforts by the school to address the concern and the caretaker’s response;


Emotional Injury EMOTIONAL INJURY• Emotional injury is any injury to the mental or psychological capacity or emotional stability of a child

noted and evidenced by a substantial and observable impairment in his or her ability to function within a normal range of performance and behavior with regard to the child’s age, development, culture, and environment (as testified to by a mental health professional).

EXAMPLES:

Withdrawal of loveIgnoring Name callingRidiculingThreats IsolatingScapegoatingCruel or bizarre punishmentTerrorizationTotal rejection


Reporting Child Exploitation

Report a child exploitation if you suspect:

A caretaker is/has used a child or a child’s financial resources for personal gain, such as money or drugs;

A caretaker is/has enticed a child to become involved in criminal activities; or

One (1) or more child(ren) have been subjected to engage in criminal activity involving forced labor services or commercial sexual activity regardless of whether or not force, fraud or coercion is involved.


Reporting Child Sexual Abuse

When reporting child sexual abuse it is helpful if you can indicate:

If the child has made specific statements of being touched, kissed or fondled in a sexual manner by a caretaker;

The exact language that the child used to disclose the sexual abuse to you;

If the child is exhibiting sexualized behaviors;

If the caretaker is allowing or forcing the child to participate in pornography;


Risk of Sexual Harm

If you suspect that a child may be at risk of sexual harm it is helpful to indicate if;

• There are specific statements alleging past sexual abuse where the caretaker was the perpetrator;

• A child exhibiting physical or behavioral indicators of sexual abuse, e.g.; statements indicating precocious sexual knowledge, a child making sexual advances to adults Sexually explicit drawings (not open to interpretation) Sexual aggression toward younger or more naïve children

• Suspicious circumstances that would cause a person to believe that an act of sexual abuse may occur; or

• A child is left unsupervised with a person listed on the Sexual Offender Registry.


Risk of Harm to a Child in Domestic Violence Situations

When a child is present during a DV incident it is helpful if you can report the following: The alleged perpetrator assaults the non-offending

parent/victim while holding the child; Items are thrown or weapons are used in the vicinity of the

child; The alleged perpetrator uses a firearm during the DV

incident; A child intervenes in an incident of DV, even if uninjured; or A child is restrained or restricted from leaving during the DV

incident.


Questions

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