7.3 Child Abuse and Neglect in Out-of-Home Care Facilities:
Physical Abuse: Occurs when person(s) responsible for the child's care in a facility inflicts or allows to be inflicted upon a child any bodily harm, other than by accidental means.
Disciplinary Actions: The worker should carefully evaluate disciplinary actions to determine if they represent abuse/neglect or a licensing violation. Common disciplinary actions which may contribute to abuse/neglect include, but are not limited to the following:
- A child is placed in isolation without being provided with ongoing monitoring;
- A child is placed in "time out" for excessive periods of time;
- A child is not permitted to see his family or receive mail as a means of punishment;
- A child is denied clothing because he has damaged clothing already provided;
- A child does not receive bedding because he has soiled the bed.
Sexual Maltreatment: Occurs when person(s) responsible for the child's care at a facility commits or allows to be committed an act of sexual maltreatment against a child.
Neglect: Of child in out-of-home care includes any omissions of care to a child by the person(s) responsible for his/her care, or failure on the part of the person(s) responsible for his/her care to exercise prudent care, which jeopardizes the well-being of a child in such a way that the child sustains physical or emotional injury or damage.
Lack of Supervision: Should be considered when a staff member is under the influence of drugs/alcohol, falls asleep, or is generally inattentive and the child harms himself, or is harmed by other children or adults. In addition, when a staff member leaves a child alone without adult supervision appropriate for his/her age, mental or physical condition, or other special needs.
Emotional Maltreatment: In an out-of-home care setting should be considered when there is evidence that a child is experiencing diminished psychological or intellectual functioning as the result of a harmful pattern of behavior by the person responsible for the child's care.