mandatory reporting

tyvin, BSN, RN · Oct 24, 2011

Be very careful on what u report n who u report it on because they can say u falsely accused someone wrong... If u don't have "proof" .. Just b careful .. I did report something that was told to me n now the state is coming back to me w legal action .. So b careful

You don't need proof to report something that you believe is wrong when it comes to domestic violence which this OP's topic falls under. It's if you go around telling people about it that get's people in trouble ... defamation of character. Report and then don't do anything further but to comply with the investigation if CPS wants your help futher ... they usually don't. And of course anyone can report anything anonymously.

SuesquatchRN, BSN, RN · Oct 24, 2011

This was described as "amost neglect" or something similar.

whichone'spink, BSN, RN · Oct 24, 2011

Be very careful on what u report n who u report it on because they can say u falsely accused someone wrong... If u don't have "proof" .. Just b careful .. I did report something that was told to me n now the state is coming back to me w legal action .. So b careful

Don't states have Good Samaritan laws for that. The way I see it, there's far more danger of me losing my license not reporting abuse than reporting something that really wasn't abuse.

bluemorningglory · Oct 24, 2011

What is the "neglect"?

xtxrn, ASN, RN · Oct 24, 2011

http://www.childwelfare.gov/can/defining/

http://www.rainn.org/public-policy/legal-resources/mandatory-reporting-database

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mandatory_reporting

http://www.childwelfare.gov/systemwide/laws_policies/statutes/manda.cfm

http://www.ndaa.org/pdf/Mandatory%20Reporting%20of%20Child%20Abuse%20and%20Neglect_May%202010.pdf

vanburbian · Oct 24, 2011

May not have a legal obligation to do so, but report it anyways. This is from last week in my community. The neighbors all really just thought it was either a normal teen-parent issue, or that they just shouldn't be butting in to family dynamics.

I'm certain many of them now wish they had been more aggressive in reporting these parents.

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2016559527_apwaadoptedtwinabuse1stldwritethru.html

the twins were isolated from family members and restricted from touching their parents or siblings.

The interior doorknob of their bedroom was removed, the window was locked and an alarm was set up to go off if they tried to leave the room, the documents said. The twins, who were home schooled, said they were only permitted to leave their room for chores and occasionally to eat.

The pair described being forced to "steal" food in the house where cabinets and the refrigerator were secured with locks and chains.

If caught, "both are made to lie on the kitchen floor with no pants or underwear covering them and are struck on their buttock region repeatedly with a wooden stick, often making them bleed," the court documents said. Their stepfather administered weekly beatings while their mother watched, the teens told police.

AJPV · Oct 24, 2011

Think about how nurses are taught to complete incident reports at work - direct quotations and only describe exactly what you saw/heard first-hand. Don't offfer your personal interpretations of what you saw. If you report a suspected case in that manner and you only say that you believe there may be abuse or neglect occurring, I don't see how you could ever be held liable for falsely accusing. Any interpretation of the report would then be on the part of the investigator receiving your report.

xtxrn, ASN, RN · Oct 24, 2011

Hi everyone,
I am a Registered Nurse at a nursing home in Iowa. I've obviously taken both the mandory reporting class for dependent adult abuse and child abuse. I had a situation occur tonight with a neighbor that borders on the side of neglect towards the child. Since I work in a nursing home with older adults, am I REQUIRED by law to report this?

I'm re-reading this. The Iowa link in the first reply talks about how the mandatory reporter does not have to have direct care of the kid...but observation of potential abuse/neglect.

This is a neighbor- so I'm guessing (??) that you've seen this kid/caretaker before. Something was different.

My question is this. Why would you not report something that could protect a child?

My experience w/mandatory is not with Iowa, but TX and IL.... when they said mandatory, it meant mandatory. In a lot of ways that protects you by taking the decision out of your hands. And as another poster said, it's not like they're going to want you to set up a stakeout to see what else goes on- you report, and move on (unless they have questions later). OR, see about the anonymous reporting options.

I know of many adults who would have been eternally thankful to have someone care enough to step in when they were kids. EVEN if it meant being taken out of the home. Instead, they are still walking wounded after years of neglect and abuse that were blown off by anyone who they came in contact with who ASKED them if something was wrong.

Most kids are too afraid to speak up- plus they don't know anything else.

If it's bugging you enough to wonder, maybe call a helpline about child abuse (1-800-4-A-CHILD used to be a hotline) and get some clarification about if what you saw counts as a reportable offense??? Just an idea.

Esme12, ASN, BSN, RN · Oct 24, 2011

be very careful on what u report n who u report it on because they can say u falsely accused someone wrong... if u don't have "proof" .. just b careful .. i did report something that was told to me n now the state is coming back to me w legal action .. so b careful

even joe citizen can make anonymous reports of possible child abuse and not be hunted down and prosecuted unless there was malicious intent and purposeful falsification of police reports/public record.

op.....xtxrn gives excellent advice....follow it. if you have concerns contact legal representation.

from the iowa board of nursing link........

any lpn, rn or arnp who has frequent contact with children and/or dependent adults in the course of their work are considered to be mandatory reporters.

it is important to note that frequent contact does not necessarily mean "hands on nursing care", but may simply mean observation of a child or dependent adult.

i hope this helps....

BuckyBadgerRN, ASN, RN · Oct 24, 2011

Hi everyone,
I am a Registered Nurse at a nursing home in Iowa. I've obviously taken both the mandory reporting class for dependent adult abuse and child abuse. I had a situation occur tonight with a neighbor that borders on the side of neglect towards the child. Since I work in a nursing home with older adults, am I REQUIRED by law to report this?

What do you think the MORAL answer is? I know what it is for 99% of nurses....

BuckyBadgerRN, ASN, RN · Oct 24, 2011

Be very careful on what u report n who u report it on because they can say u falsely accused someone wrong... If u don't have "proof" .. Just b careful .. I did report something that was told to me n now the state is coming back to me w legal action .. So b careful

You can make an anonymous report. As long as a report isn't made KNOWING that it is false, I can't imagine that anyone would take legal action against a reporter.

Lifeofanurse · Oct 24, 2011

It's very easy for us to sit back and say...omg report report report.

But we've ALL been in a situation where we see something/hear something and say...wow, that isn't right. But...there is a fine line between abuse and neglect and something quite innocent...or just a single bad parenting choice.

I myself, as a mother have had some not so steler moments. I've gone off the grocery store..lost track of time and left my son without a house key. He did what he was supposed to and sat in the fenced backyard on the covered porch until I came home. Was this neglect? In my eyes..yes. I neglected my parental duty to protect my child. No he wasn't 5 or anything like that...but still it was a honest mistake. One that you can be assured will/has never been repeated. I felt awful. He was scared. When you do something that scares your child you don't forget it. Needless to say...a new plan was put in place. Extra keys kept at two different neighbors and a SAHM down the street willing to let him hang with her kids if he beat us home.

I would have been devastated if my neighbor looking her window had seen him and reported me for neglect. AND it would have been a waste of already thin resources for truly abused and neglected kids.

I think if you see something...watch more. If a pattern of neglect is clear then call. If it was an accidental oversight...like what I did....I don't see that as neglect.

They are your neighbors...you know them. You have to do what you think is right but be cautious. I know more than a few people who have alcoholism, drug addiction and domestic violence in their homes...if we called on every one of those people...well considering CPS won't do anything about those type of situations unless the childs life is in danger... it's just taking resources from families that the child's life IS in danger due to direct abuse and severe neglect of basic care needs such as food and water.

I find it appalling that this country has starving children. Not because of neglect or abuse but because it has become hard to feed our children on the household income...through no fault of their own.

I just think it needs to be addressed on a situation by situation basis.

and remember...what I call neglect may be different parenting.

witholding a meal for poor table behavior...if taken out of context could be considered neglect. Yet at what point when little johnny is throwing his mash potatoes at the wall or his sister do you say..enough. Your done. Go to your room.

See what I mean?

Do what your heart tells you is best but weigh all the options first. Maybe some direct involvement. it may be a family in crisis that getting CPS involved will only make things more difficult. Maybe they just need some help and don't know where to get it... think about it before you decide if it's truly a neglectful situation and something that needs CPS involvment.