Denunciar sospechas de maltrato y descuido de menores

(En inglés)

Action 6. Report Suspected Child Abuse and Neglect.

Narrator: Unlike the other Actions that focus on preventing an unintentional injury, reporting suspected child abuse and neglect is an action related to the intentional injury of a child. Child abuse and neglect is also known as child maltreatment. Children under age 5 are more likely to experience maltreatment than any other age group.

Children younger than age 1 and children with disabilities are more at risk. Programs that promote a culture of safety make sure all staff in an early childhood program understand they are responsible for ensuring the health and safety of the children in their care. Being a mandated reporter means that you are legally obligated to report any suspected or observed instances of child abuse or neglect to the appropriate child protection agency in your jurisdiction.

This includes abuse or neglect that occurs when a child is in the care of your program, as well as abuse or neglect by their parent or guardian. Your job is to report that a child is or may be at risk. The child protection agency is responsible for investigating and determining if a child has experienced abuse or neglect.

Child abuse may include physical, sexual, psychological, or emotional abuse. Child neglect is the most common form of child maltreatment. It occurs when a child's basic needs are not being met. It is important to recognize that poverty is not the same thing as neglect, and connecting families with economic resources and concrete supports may address these needs.

Caring for young children can be stressful, particularly for families who may experience challenges such as social isolation, unemployment, housing instability, and mental health or substance use disorders. One important way to support families is by recognizing their strengths and helping them use these strengths to address the challenges they face.

You can also provide families with referrals to community resources that support their efforts to achieve economic mobility and build connections to other local supports, helping families find more effective ways to parent, even when stressed. A culture of safety also includes strategies to help staff manage stress.

Reflective supervision, with a supervisor who is not responsible for evaluating your performance, can provide an opportunity to talk openly about the strong feelings that young children can evoke. It can help staff learn how to shift their perspective and explore other ways to manage these feelings.

You can also use mindfulness activities, yoga, or other self-care techniques to help you manage stress. If you suspect that someone may have intentionally injured a child, then reporting your suspicion promptly can protect the child from further harm. In a culture of safety, we all have a responsibility to ensure that every child is safe from maltreatment.