Concerns regarding child maltreatment (physical, emotional, sexual abuse and neglect), brings up a lot of feelings and uncertainties for clinicians and families. Sometimes these feelings can be overwhelming and may unintentionally impact our decision making, the care we provide, and ultimately the safety of the children we see.
This is particularly true when the concerns regarding suspected child abuse and/or neglect have arisen in the setting of an ACEs Screen.
In August, ACEs Aware published a joint letter from the California Surgeon General, California Department of Social Services, and the California Department of Health Care Services that discusses ACEs screening and mandated child maltreatment reporting.
We know that clinicians struggle with lack of certainty regarding child maltreatment. They often hesitate to make mandated reports because they perceive that child maltreatment is rare, that investigative agencies either “do nothing”/not act or “overreact”/remove the child, and concerns about disrupting the relationship with the family. Many clinicians feel underprepared for making a mandated report, do not feel trained to recognize maltreatment, and lack staff support such as social workers.
Casey L. Brown MD, MPH, FAAP, a Developmental-Behavioral pediatrician at Contra Costa Regional Medical Center and a member of our ACEs Aware Think Tank, recently shared with us her tips about what to say to families about ACEs screening and mandated reporting, as well what she sees as the myths and barriers that need to be addressed regarding mandated reporting.
Image Credit: Imaginary play can help build self-regulation skills, allowing children to develop resilience that counteracts traumatic stress. For more information on executive function from the Center on the Developing Child, please go to: developingchild.harvard.edu
