April Is National Child Abuse Prevention Month – Help Strengthen Families and Prevent Child Abuse

child abuse prevention child welfare

Help Promote Child Abuse Prevention with these Programs and Activities

child abuse prevention child welfareApril is National Child Abuse Prevention Month. This month and throughout the year, Holzfaster, Cecil, McKnight & Mues, encourages all individuals and organizations to play a role in making the Dayton, Ohio community a better place for children and families. There are many ways that each of us can help!

We all need to help promote the social and emotional well-being of children and youth and prevent child maltreatment within families and communities. Protective factors are the strengths and resources families draw on during difficult times to shield them from life’s stresses. Research shows that when parents possess protective factors, the risk for neglect and abuse diminish and optimal outcomes for children, youth, and families are promoted. It is important that parents have the knowledge, skills, and resources they need to care for their children. Major protective factors include knowledge of parenting, knowledge of child development, parental resilience, social connections, and concrete supports.

In support of these efforts, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Children’s Bureau, Office on Child Abuse and Neglect, together with Child Welfare Information Gateway, and the FRIENDS National Resource Center for Community-Based … Read More... “April Is National Child Abuse Prevention Month – Help Strengthen Families and Prevent Child Abuse”

LEGAL ALERT: New Ohio Child Welfare Reforms

Alert! Key Legal Update

Death of 10-year-old Takoda Collins Spurs Reform Of Existing Ohio Child Welfare Laws

Ohio Governor DeWine Signs Ohio House 4 Bill Into Law; New Law Intends to Protect Abused Children From Gaps In The Child Services System

takoda collins abuse montgomery county children servicesNew legislation aimed to reform existing child welfare laws in the state of Ohio was signed into law by Governor Mike DeWine at the end of February. These reforms intend to protect abused children from gaps that existed in the system that was designed to help them; gaps like the ones in Takoda Collins’s case.

“Takoda’s case is one that fell through the cracks and in Ohio we don’t want a tragedy like this to ever happen again,” said state Rep. Phil Plummer R-Butler Twp. to Dayton Daily News.

Takoda Collins was a 10-year old boy from Dayton, OH who died in 2019 after suffering extreme abuse from his father for years. His father, Al-Mutahan McLean, contacted authorities in December of 2019 when his son was unresponsive, and Takoda Collins later died at Dayton’s Children Hospital. An investigation into his death had revealed a long history of torture by his father, and Takoda Collins  had suffered both physical and emotional abuse.… Read More... “LEGAL ALERT: New Ohio Child Welfare Reforms”

In Ohio, Will Your Counselor or Lawyer Report Suspected Child Abuse to Children Protective Services?

suspected child abuse divorce cps

Suspected Child Abuse: Questions Both Lawyers and Psychologists, Therapists and Counselors Consider Before Notifying Child Protective Services

suspected child abuse divorce cpsAll 50 states and the District of Columbia have enacted statues requiring the reporting of suspected child abuse. Not all state statutes are the same. While all states support the mission to eliminate child abuse, they have enacted very different legislation.

Since I am an Ohio divorce lawyer, I want to focus in this blog on reporting issues that I have seen in my practice pertaining to the obligation for both lawyers and psychologists, therapists and counselors to report suspected child abuse  to Child Protective Services (CPS).

Perhaps a good way to illustrate the difference in how a lawyer and therapist must deal with this client/patient is by creating a hypothetical pattern.

HYPOTHETICAL FACT PATTERN:

A divorce client comes into the office and tells me that he believes that his wife has sexually abused their 15-year-old son. He did not actually witness it, but he has recently noticed odd and inappropriate interactions between the two of them. He is extremely troubled by his wife wanting to divorce him and of course by the suspected relationship between his son and wife. … Read More... “In Ohio, Will Your Counselor or Lawyer Report Suspected Child Abuse to Children Protective Services?”

When a Child Discloses Abuse

child abuse Law enforcement forensic interview

The First Steps You Should Take When Child Abuse Is Suspected With A Child Under Your Supervision

How To Conduct An Interview With A Child That May Have Been Physically Or Sexually Abused And When To Call Law Enforcement

child abuse Law enforcement forensic interviewYou are a teacher, a daycare worker, a babysitter, or any other person who has contact with children. One day, you observe a child engaged in highly abnormal sexual play; for example, putting a doll’s head close to the child’s genital area, or “humping” another child. You know from your experience working with children that this is not normal. Perhaps a child infer that they may have been physically or sexually abused. What should you do?

First, keep calm. Do not display exaggerated facial expressions. This may cause the child to shut down. Children often “test the waters” when they disclose abuse. If the adults around them are calm, the child is more likely to tell about what happened. If the adults around the child react emotionally or forcefully, or blame the child, the child may clam up. You may never find out what happened, and if the child is being abused, you may unwittingly allow the abuse to continue.

Next, find out … Read More... “When a Child Discloses Abuse”

April is Child Abuse Prevention Month. Learn more and watch singer, Jana Kramer explain the ‘Hot Chocolate Talk.’

child abuse hot chocolate talk

Singer Jana Kramer’s Hot Chocolate Talk Campaign To Protect Children From Child Abuse

PUBLISHER’S NOTE: Child abuse is horrible! We all need to be more aware of the signs of child abuse and its extent is truly alarming. Below is an excellent press release and video of Jana Kramer from April 2, 2019 discussing child abuse, which they have encouraged me to repost. Locally, in the Dayton area, please consider making a gift to the CARE House Child Advocacy Center which supports more than a thousand kids annually! The work that they do is AWESOME! Here is a link to their website: http://thecarehouse.org/how-to-help/donate/

child abuse hot chocolate talkIn support of Child Abuse Prevention Month this April, Jana Kramer, country music singer and actor, has partnered with Committee for Children (CFC), the global leader in research-based social-emotional learning (SEL) programs, to educate parents about their role in child sexual abuse prevention. The Hot Chocolate Talk campaign is designed to get families talking about child sexual abuse, which research shows can protect children against future harm.

“We are thrilled Jana is joining us for our annual Hot Chocolate Talk campaign. Jana is an accomplished woman but maybe most importantly, a mother and great role … Read More... “April is Child Abuse Prevention Month. Learn more and watch singer, Jana Kramer explain the ‘Hot Chocolate Talk.’”

The Legal Contours of Child Endangerment

child endangerment child abuse

Child Endangerment In Ohio

Could You Be Legally Charged With Child Endangerment Or
Child Abuse?

child endangerment child abuse

Adults who care for children have a legal obligation to ensure that those children avoid unreasonably dangerous situations. Failing to adequately protect a child may result in the caregiver being charged with “child endangerment” or “endangering the welfare of a child.”

Examples of child endangerment may include:

  • Driving while intoxicated with a child in the vehicle
  • Leaving a child alone and unsupervised with available dangerous weapons
  • Leaving a child unattended  in an unsafe area or vehicle
  • Hiring a person with a known history of sexual offenses  to supervise a child
  • Leaving a young child unsupervised or in the care of another young child
  • Providing drugs or alcohol to an underage driver
  • Opting for spiritual healing rather than conventional medicine when a child’s life is in danger
  • Failing to report suspected child abuse
  • Domestic violence episodes that take place in front of children

The Supreme Court of Nebraska recently had the opportunity to explore the contours of this concept in State v. Mendez-Osorio, 297 Neb. 520 (2017). The case revolved around a domestic incident between defendant Abel Mendez-Osorio and his partner Katia Santos-Velasquez. … Read More... “The Legal Contours of Child Endangerment”