Domestic Violence Discussion Week 5

1. How is child abuse defined in the statute?
   The statute defines child abuse as any current act or failure of a guardian, parent, or
   caretaker to take an action, leading to serious bodily injury or emotional harm, death,
   exploitation, or sexual assault on a child (Child Welfare Information Gateway, 2019). It also
   refers to the failure to act, thus exposing a child to an imminent risk of being seriously harmed.
2. Who are the mandated reporters?
   Anyone who suspects that a child is being exploited or suspects signs and symptoms of
   maltreatment to a child should report the matter and help the child get the necessary assistance.
   The State mandates physicians and teachers to report cases of child maltreatment (Child Welfare
   Information Gateway, 2019). Also, all adults are required to report if they have concerns that a
   certain child is being neglected or abused (Poffenberger, 2018).
3. Is any group specified as \”exempt\”? If yes, please explain
   Some groups are exempted. For instance, when a parent chooses not to seek medical care
   for a child, due to reasons, mostly religious, then this is not considered as child neglect. Since
   there are certain religious beliefs that do not allow members to seek medical attention, children
   whose parents subscribe to such beliefs do not also seek medical care. Thus, the State gives them
   freedom of worship and does not interfere with their religious practices. Also, there are situations
   when a child is terminally ill, and even taking them to the hospital would not save their lives
   (Child Welfare Information Gateway, 2019). A parent in such a case may choose to keep the
   infant at home, and this is not considered as child neglect.

DOMESTIC VIOLENCE DISCUSSION W5 3

4. What are the penalties for failing to report?
   A mandatory report might be charged with a felony for refusing to report cases of child
   abuse (Zeanah & Humphreys, 2018). Such an individual can face a jail term or be civilly liable
   to cater for damages caused.
5. Are child witnesses to domestic violence addressed in the statute? If yes, please explain
   A child can be witnesses to child abuse if the act is committed under their watch (Child
   Welfare Information Gateway, 2019).
6. Do you think there is ever a good reason for a professional to fail to report child abuse?
   I do not think a professional can have a reason to fail to report cases of domestic
   violence. They have a responsibility to protect children.

DOMESTIC VIOLENCE DISCUSSION W5 4

References

Child Welfare Information Gateway. (2019). Penalties for failure to report and false reporting of
child abuse and neglect. Washington, DC: U.S. Department of Health and Human
Services, Children’s Bureau.
Poffenberger, T. (2018). of Child Abuse and Neglect. Child Abuse and Neglect: Cross-Cultural
Perspectives, 71.
Zeanah, C. H., & Humphreys, K. L. (2018). Child abuse and neglect. Journal of the American
Academy of Child & Adolescent Psychiatry, 57(9), 637-644.