Recognizing Abuse & Neglect

The minimum required safety elements for you to prepare leadership, staff, and volunteers to recognize, respond to, and report allegations, suspicions, or disclosures of child abuse are listed in this table.

Minimum Required Elements for Recognizing, Responding to, and Reporting Child Abuse

• All employees and volunteers must be:
  • Aware of their legal/organizational obligations to report suspected abuse immediately
  • Trained to recognize the signs and symptoms of abuse
  • Familiar with how to respond to a child who discloses abuse
  • Aware of how to report concerns, suspicions, allegations, and disclosures of abuse
• Clear, written procedures should provide step-by-step guidance on what to do if there are any concerns, allegations, suspicions, or disclosures of abuse (current or historic).
• A person/group/office must be designated as an agent responsible for receiving reports of suspected, observed, or disclosed abuse.
• A clear reporting chain is identified that contacts (or assists reporters in contacting) DCF and/or law enforcement.
• Clear guidelines are set on conducting internal investigations when the alleged perpetrator is an employee or volunteer—including providing supervision and support to staff and volunteers following an incident or allegation, and a communication plan for parents/community.
• Information/training must also include the issues of sexual activity or harm caused by children and youth with Problematic Sexual Behaviors (PSB), and human trafficking (sexually exploited child).

There are clear definitions in Massachusetts law of the various types of child maltreatment, and physical and behavioral signs that a child/youth may be suffering from abuse. But it’s important to note that child abuse, especially child sexual abuse, is rarely observed directly. There are usually three ways in which a potential reporter might recognize that a child is being abused:  

• The child/youth demonstrates certain physical or behavioral symptoms  
• Another child, youth or adult indicates that a child/youth is at risk 
• A child/youth self-discloses the abuse 

If there’s no direct disclosure by the child or youth, or communication from another person that a child/youth is at risk, it’s essential that your staff and volunteers are prepared to rely on the signs and symptoms that children and youth exhibit when they are victims of abuse and neglect. 

Physical and Behavioral Indicators of Abuse ¹

Type of Abuse	Physical Indicators	Behavioral Indicators
Physical Abuse	● Unexplained bruises (in various stages of healing) ● Unexplained burns, especially cigarette burns or immersion burns ● Unexplained fractures, lacerations or abrasions ● Swollen areas ● Evidence of delayed or inappropriate treatment for injuries	● Self destructive ● Withdrawn and/or aggressive – behavioral extremes ● Arrives at school early or stays late as if afraid to be at home ● Chronic runaway (adolescents) ● Complains of soreness or moves uncomfortably ● Wears clothing inappropriate to weather, to cover body ● Bizarre explanation of injuries ● Wary of adult contact
Neglect	● Abandonment ● Unattended medical needs ● Consistent lack of supervision ● Consistent hunger, inappropriate dress, poor hygiene ● Lice, distended stomach, emaciated ● Inadequate nutrition	● Regularly displays fatigue or listlessness, falls asleep in class ● Steals food, begs from classmates ● Reports that no caretaker is at home ● Frequently absent or tardy ● Self destructive ● School dropout (adolescents) ● Extreme loneliness and need for affection
Sexual Abuse	● Sexual abuse may be non-touching (obscene language, pornography, exposure) or touching (fondling, molesting, oral sex, intercourse) ● Torn, stained or bloody underclothing ● Pain, swelling or itching in genital area ● Difficulty walking or sitting ● Bruises or bleeding in genital area ● Venereal disease ● Frequent urinary or yeast infections	● Excessive seductiveness ● Role reversal, overly concerned for siblings ● Massive weight change ● Suicide attempts (especially adolescents) ● Inappropriate sex play or premature understanding of sex ● Threatened by physical contact, closeness
Emotional Abusemmmm	● Emotional abuse may be name-calling, put-downs, etc. or it may be terrorization, isolation, humiliation, rejection, corruption, ignoring ● Speech disorders ● Delayed physical development ● Substance abuse ● Ulcers, asthma, severe allergies	● Habit disorder (sucking, rocking, biting) ● Antisocial, destructive ● Neurotic traits (sleep disorders, inhibition of play) ● Passive and aggressive – behavioral extremes ● Delinquent behavior (especially adolescents) ● Developmentally delayed

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¹ Adapted from the Handbook on Child Safety for Independent School Leaders, by A. Rizzuto and C. Crosson-Tower, Copyright 2012, Reprinted with permission from the National Association of Independent Schools.

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