mandatory reporting

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

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.

What is the "neglect"?

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

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.

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.

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.

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....

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.

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.

I have had several CPS trainings as well as spoken to case workers. If your gut is telling you that something is wrong then report it. Case workers will then determine if it is a legitimate complaint. They will also see if there has been any other issues with those parents. Always, always, always report. There are far too many cases that go unreported then reported. Children do not have a voice, and we need to be there voice everyone in the whole U.S. should be a mandatory reporter.

People are sometimes afraid to report, because they feel that the child will be taken immediately out of the home. If it is neglect, depending on how severe the parents may just take some parenting courses. If it is severe physical abuse and sexual abuse the child may be taken out, until their is a full investigation. That does not necessarily mean the child will never come back. The examples I said above were from the courses I took. But all of them say it varies case by case. But in general they investigate and determine the need. If there is nothing to be found then the child will come home. Let the professionals make the decisions, not you. If you do report make sure to follow up. If you feel like nothing was done, and you still feel like there is something wrong then report it again. Following up is also important.