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12 Child Care Subsidy Provider Handbook Child Abuse + Neglect Awareness Child abuse and neglect, unfortunately, happen everywhere, including Nebraska. Child care providers need to know about child abuse and neglect, how to make a report, ways to strengthen families and how to prevent child abuse in their own child care program. Most abuse is perpetrated by someone a child knows — not a stranger. In most cases, the abuse has gone on for some time before it is discovered. Abuse, and even more so, neglect, is not usually discovered with the first incident. It is very difficult to accept the fact that parents/caregivers may intentionally mistreat their children. Parenting is one of the toughest jobs any of us will ever take on and is one for which we receive the least preparation. No other task requires such absolute commitment of time, energy and emotions. Child abuse/neglect is a community problem. We must all assume responsibility for seeing that all children have the love and care that will enable them to grow into healthy and productive members of society. For resources to support and prevent child abuse and neglect, visit: aap.org/en/patient-care/child-abuse-and- neglect/prevention-of-child-abuse-and-neglect/. TRAINING OPPORTUNITY Licensed providers may be required to complete Power to Protect: Preventing Child Abuse and Neglect training per Nebraska State Statute 43-2606. Consult with CSL for additional training requirements. To complete this training, visit: www.education.ne.gov/oec/ child-abuse-prevention-training Abuse + Neglect Definitions1,2 Nebraska Revised Statutes define child abuse and neglect as knowingly, intentionally or negligently causing or permitting a minor child to be: • Placed in a situation that endangers their life or physical or mental health. • Cruelly confined or cruelly punished. • Deprived of necessary food, clothing, shelter or care. • Placed in a situation to be sexually exploited by allowing, encouraging or forcing such minor child to solicit for or engage in prostitution, debauchery, public indecency, or obscene or pornographic photography, films or depictions. • Placed in a situation to be sexually abused. • Placed in a situation to be a trafficking victim. It is important for providers to be aware of the following definitions of different forms of child abuse and neglect. If you observe any of these signs, it is possible that the child is not receiving proper care. Nebraska law states that anyone, including child care providers, who have reason to believe a child is being abused must notify the proper authorities. Failure to report such cases is a misdemeanor. Child maltreatment: Child maltreatment occurs when a child from birth through age 17 is physically, emotionally or sexually harmed. Physical abuse: Information indicates the existence of an injury that is unexplained, not consistent with the explanation given or is non-accidental. The information may also only indicate a substantial risk of bodily injury. Such injury is considered abuse regardless of whether the caregiver intended to hurt the child. Physical discipline, such as spanking, is prohibited. Emotional abuse: Information indicates psychopathological or disturbed behavior in a child which is documented by a psychiatrist, psychologist or licensed mental health practitioner to be the result of continual scapegoating, rejection or exposure to violence by the child’s parent/caregiver. Such abuse also includes a pattern of criticizing, insulting, isolating or humiliating the child. Sexual abuse: Information indicates any sexually oriented act, practice, contact or interaction in which the child is or has been used for the sexual stimulation of a parent/caregiver, child or other person. Sexual exploitation includes, but is not limited to, any person causing, allowing, permitting, inflicting or encouraging a child to engage in voyeurism, exhibitionism or sexual acts in exchange for something, or in the production, distribution or acquisition of pornographic photographs, films or depiction of the child.