Child and Youth Abuse Disclosure Information for Service Providers in British Columbia
When a Child Discloses Incidents of Abuse Children who are victims of child abuse and/or neglect are in a very vulnerable state. They will choose to disclose their situation to someone whom they trust. If you are this person, you need to be careful not to traumatize or victimize the child further. The following are some guidelines to follow as you talk with the child:
■ Be sensitive. When talking to the child, be sensitive to his or her needs. Your primary role is to support the child, gather basic information and report it to a Ministry of Child and Family Development (or MCFD) immediately.
■ Stay calm and listen. An abused or neglected child needs to know that you are composed and available to help. If you react with shock, outrage or fear, you might inhibit the child and make him or her feel more anxious or ashamed. Remember: Your role is to report the situation to a MCFD as soon as possible. Your role is NOT to interview the child or investigate the situation. If you think the child is in immediate danger, call police first.
A calm response supports the child by allowing him/her to tell you what has happened. It also provides some reassurance that what the child is experiencing (or has experienced) can be talked about and worked through together.
■ Go slowly. It is normal to feel inadequate or unsure about what to do or say when a child tells you about abuse or neglect. Do not let this discomfort rush you into asking questions. Remember to proceed slowly with open-ended, gentle, non-leading questions, such as, “Can you tell me more about what happened?” It is also important to talk to the child at their level of development.
■ Get only the essential facts. Limit your discussion to finding out generally what took place. Do not probe the child for details. If you need general information, be sure to ask how, when, who and what questions. Avoid using why questions as they can suggest indirectly that the child may have done something wrong and increase the child’s reluctance to discuss the matter. Once you have enough information and reason to believe that abuse and/or neglect is occurring (or has occurred), stop gathering facts and be supportive. Later on, the child may be interviewed in depth by a MCFD agency worker and, if there is a criminal investigation, by the police.
■ Be supportive. Reassure the child that he or she has not done anything wrong. Children need support and reassurance when disclosing abuse or neglect. It is helpful to let the child know that:
- The child is not in trouble.
- The child is safe with you.
- You are glad that they have chosen to tell you about this.
- The child is doing the right thing in telling you about this.
- Indicate that you’re sorry that they have been hurt or that the disclosed incident has happened to them.
- You’ll do everything you can to make sure they get the help they need.
- You know others who can be trusted to help solve this problem.
- Don’t make promises. Tell the child only what you know (ex: that they are not in trouble and that you will help). For example, do not promise them the alleged perpetrator will not get into trouble or that everything will be better now.
- Tell the child what will happen next. Children who disclose their abuse feel anxious and vulnerable about what people think of them and what will happen next.
- Take notes. Immediately after the child’s disclosure, write down as much as you can of what the child told you. This will help ensure accuracy when reporting to the appropriate authority. Direct disclosures may be admissible in court, so accuracy is important. Remember: A child is anyone under 19 years of age.
Disclosures of Past Abuse Disclosures from children of past abuse are handled in the same way in which a current allegation of abuse is made. If a child under 19 years of age discloses past abuse, it is the responsibility of the service provider to report the abuse. Adults dealing with past abuse are strongly encouraged to give a statement to the police, who will determine if there is a possible criminal offence. There is no statute of limitations with respect to child abuse.
If an adult discloses that they were abused as a child, they may be in a position to know if their abuser could be abusing other children. As such, they should also make a report to MCFD where staff will determine whether the case should be investigated and whether any children may be at risk.
When there are Indicators of Child Abuse Children do not always tell service providers about their abuse or neglect. Your job is to actively interpret clues and observe non-verbal communication. When you see indicators of child abuse, and are talking to children about possible abuse or neglect, the following points may be helpful.
■ Choose your approach carefully. The child may be fearful or reluctant to talk about what happened.
■ Be relaxed and casual. If you appear anxious or exhibit strong feelings, the child may withdraw.
■ Keep it confidential. Make sure you have enough time, and a private setting, with few chances for interruptions. The child is more likely to confide in you in a place where he or she feels safe.
■ Be neutral. Express your concerns to the child in a neutral, objective manner and seek or ask for their explanation for the indicators you have observed.
■ Be a good listener. Pay attention and express your confidence in the child. This shows your genuine concern for his or her safety and well-being.
■ Make notes. Document your initial observations of the indicators as to date, time and place. Be specific. Make notes as to when you talked with the child and what exactly was said to you. Use the child’s exact words where possible. Keep drawings or journal pages that cause you to suspect abuse. Sign and date them. Documenting the Situation Collect as much information as you can but remember, you are not conducting an investigation. Write down only the facts. Do not include how you are feeling about the incident or personal thoughts about what might have happened.
Key information to document is:
■ full name, age, gender and address of the child and parent(s)/guardian(s)
■ your relationship to the child
■ any immediate concerns about the child’s safety
■ a description of the type of suspected abuse Also, record how the child looks, and other indicators of abuse or neglect that you have observed. For more information on indicators of child abuse and neglect, please contact MCFD.
■ date and time of the disclosure, as well as any direct quotes of the disclosure (if applicable)
■ a description of the family, including names and ages of other children in the household
■ visits and telephone calls to the unit/area by the parent(s)/guardian(s) In addition to the key information that is listed above, you may have additional details that you can document and share with the MCFD worker when you make a report. While this additional information is useful to have, it is not necessary to make a report.
It is important not to question the child to obtain any of this information:
■ when and where the abuse took place
■ whereabouts of the parent(s) or guardian(s)
■ the person alleged to have caused the child’s condition, and the present whereabouts of that person
■ where the person suspected of abusing the child works or volunteers, especially if she/he provides services to children (this includes foster parents)
■ the length of time the abuse has been taking place, as well as the severity and frequency of the occurrence, and the objects used
■ information about other persons or agencies closely involved with the child and/or family
■ the status of guardianship of the child (ex: living at home, voluntary placement agreement or permanent ward of MCFD) ■ consultation with other professionals
■ information about other people who may be witnesses or may have information about the child
■ factors affecting the child’s vulnerability (ex: disabilities, limited social skills or observable developmental delays)
Remember: Keep all records, whether electronic or handwritten, in a confidential place.
