Mandatory Reporting

By: Paige Doyle

 NH Mandatory Reporting

The Child Protection Act mandates that any person

who has reason to suspect that a person is being
abused or neglected must make a report to BEAS or
DCYF

For more information on the Child Protection Act go to

https://www.dhhs.nh.gov/dphs/holu/documents/reporting-abuse.pdf

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Types of Abuse
Physical: Physical child abuse is physical
injury inflicted upon the child with cruel and/or
malicious intent. Physical abuse can be the result
of punching, beating, kicking, biting, burning,
shaking, or otherwise harming a child physically.
Emotional: Emotional child abuse is any act
including confinement, isolation, verbal assault,
humiliation, intimidation, infantilization, or any
other treatment which may diminish the sense of
identity, dignity, and self-worth.
Neglect: Neglect is when a parent/guardian
fails in meeting a child's basic needs, including the
failure to provide adequate health care,
supervision, clothing, nutrition, housing as well as
their physical, emotional, social, educational and
safety needs.
Sexual: Sexual abuse is when an adult or older
adolescent uses a child for sexual stimulation.
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Signs and Symptoms of Abuse

▪ Withdrawal from friends or usual activities ▪ Frequent absences from school

▪ Changes in behavior — such as aggression, ▪ Reluctance to leave school activities, as if

anger, hostility or hyperactivity — or he or she doesn't want to go home

changes in school performance ▪ Attempts at running away

▪ Depression, anxiety or unusual fears, or a ▪ Rebellious or defiant behavior

sudden loss of self-confidence ▪ Self-harm or attempts at suicide

▪ An apparent lack of supervision

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 Non Leading Questioning Techniques

Ask open ended questions: These

questions are used to paint a big picture, to
help you gain information from a child in
his or her own words. Open-ended
questions allow the child to tell the full
story without being influenced by the
question itself
Avoid “Why?” Questions:
Children usually have limited
understandings about why they
are abused and often feel it is
their fault.

Examples:
Examples To Avoid:
▪ I notice that you have a
bruise. How did it ● Why did he/she hit you?
happen?
● Why was he/she angry?
▪ Tell me more about that.

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Sources

▪ https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/child-abuse/symptoms-causes/syc-20370864
▪ https://www.dorightbykids.org/how-to-ask-questions/
▪