"Negligent treatment or maltreatment" means an act or a failure to act, or the cumulative effects of a pattern of conduct, behavior, or inaction, that evidences a serious disregard of consequences of such magnitude as to constitute a clear and present danger to a child's health, welfare, or safety, including but not limited to conduct prohibited under RCW 9A.42.100. When considering whether a clear and present danger exists, evidence of a parent's substance abuse as a contributing factor to negligent treatment or maltreatment shall be given great weight. The pamphlet, “Protecting the Abused and Neglected Child" outlines indicators of physical abuse and neglect, emotional abuse and neglect, and sexual abuse. Reading the pamphlet will help the childcare professionals familiarize themselves with the indicators of child abuse. Apart from this a handy checklist of symptoms of abuse can be maintained and referred.
The law makes it clear that “When any licensed or certified child care provider or their employee has reasonable cause to believe that a child has suffered abuse or neglect, he or she shall report such incident, or cause a report to be made, to the proper law enforcement agency or to the department as provided in RCW 26.44.040.” This means that when you have reason to suspect that a child is suffering from physical, sexual or emotional abuse, neglect, or exploitation, you must immediately report the circumstances. This report must be made to Child Protective Services.
The CPS will interview and investigate the reported abuse and do the necessary arrangements for the child.
The CPS will interview and investigate the reported abuse and do the necessary arrangements for the child.
Optional Online Resources for Further Study
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