CHILD ABUSE

The Child Abuse Prevention and Treatment Act (CAPTA), 42 U.S.C. § 5101, is the federal model for state child abuse statutes in the United States, mandating minimum definitions for child abuse and sexual abuse. For states to qualify for funding under CAPTA, child abuse statutes must contain these minimum definitions. As care takers of children, Camp Rainbow Gold will strictly adhere to the Idaho Child Protection Law.

DEFINITIONS

• “Child” means a person under 18 years of age.

• “Child abuse” means harm or threatened harm to a child’s health or welfare by a person responsible for the child’s health or welfare, which occurs through nonaccidental physical or mental injury, sexual abuse, or maltreatment.

• “Child neglect” means harm to a child’s health or welfare by a person responsible for the child’s health and welfare which occurs through negligent treatment, including the failure to provide adequate food, clothing, shelter, or medical care.

• “Agency” means the state Family Independence Agency.

GENERAL INFORMATION ABOUT ABUSE AND NEGLECT

Camp is one of the safest places outside the home where we can tell our story. It’s a community which fosters growth, development, and values. Affectionate touch is an important factor in helping a child grow into a loving and peaceful adult. Hugging is an important part of the Camp Rainbow Gold experience. However, it’s essential both staff and volunteers are sensitive to everyone’s need for personal space, not everyone wants to be hugged. Personal touch is appropriate when the child initiates the contact but even then, please be sure to remain appropriate with the children and your peers.

Abuse and neglect to children can, in general, create embarrassment, confusion, guilt, anxiety, a sense of rejection and unworthiness, distrust, self-abusive behaviors, physical, emotional, and sexual problems, loss of dignity, poor peer interactions, isolation and more.

NEGLECT

The continued failure, refusal, or inability to provide a child with the things necessary to meet their needs and failing to provide a child with protection or care. To sum it up, neglect is what a parent or caregiver does not do.

TYPES OF NEGLECT

• Physical - Includes abandonment, lack of supervision, failure to provide food/shelter/clothing, medical services or not making the home environment safe. • Emotional - Includes allowing illegal behaviors to continue, including drug/alcohol abuse, withholding affection, emotional support, attention and not complying with treatment recommendations by school officials, etc., harm to a child’s intellectual or psychological well-being and functioning.

SIGNS/SYMPTOMS OF NEGLECT

• Behaviors that are extreme, disruptive, aggressive, or destructive that belong to children who go to anyone, even strangers, for attention and affection. • Children that look dirty and “unkempt”, who constantly wear old, worn out, torn clothes, who are not dressed for the weather, who look undernourished, or whose personal hygiene habits are poor. • Parents who do not provide adequate supervision, who do not know where their children are or do not appear to be concerned as to what their children are doing. • Children that have illnesses or medical problems that are not being treated which include dental exams, immunizations, and eye/hearing exams.

ABUSE

Incidents in which parents or other individuals cause injury, emotional damage, or threatened harm to a child. Abuse is what individuals do to a child.

TYPES OF ABUSE

• Physical - Includes any physical injury caused by non-accidental means. This includes burns, bruising, lacerations, bites, fractured bones, internal injuries, or great bodily harm which means injury that causes severe or permanent disfigurement or creates a high probability of death for the child. • Sexual - Includes sexual contact, intentional touching of private parts, sexual intercourse, exploitation of children sexually (pornography) and prostitution.

Sexual abuse runs from nonphysical, including obscene phone calls, indecent exposure and “Peeping Toms”, to physical which includes fondling, oral or genital stimulation or sexual intercourse, to violent sexual abuse that includes rapes and beatings.

The majorities of all children who have been sexually abused know and trusted the abuser who is usually a family member, relative, neighbor, or childcare provider. The victims can be boys or girls of almost any age.

SIGNS/SYMPTOMS OF ABUSE

• Physical symptoms: o Unusual marks on the child’s body o Incongruent explanations of how injuries occurred o Difficulty in movements, walking or sitting o Complains of pain or itching in the vaginal area, bruising, or bleeding o Venereal disease o Pregnancy o Frequent and unexplained sore throats • Behavioral symptoms: o Extreme fear/anger towards a specific individual o Loss of trust towards adults in general o Increase in acting out or antisocial behaviors o Loss of self-esteem that affects schoolwork and relationships o Withdrawal, isolation, engagement in age-inappropriate behavior/fantasy o Cries easily for no reason o Develops severe problems in adolescence such as anorexia or attempted suicide

STAFF PROCEDURES

• Upon arrival of the campers, as part of the preliminary health screen, the medical staff shall note any cuts or markings on the child’s body. • The Counselors shall watch for any signs of child abuse or neglect. • If child abuse is “suspected”, report to the Program Manager. • If a camper confides in you of having been abused or neglected, only relate this to the Program Manager. Do NOT tell any camper or other counselor, staff member, or volunteer! • Campers’ records and applications shall be kept confidential. No one shall have access to the camp and campers’ files except the Program Manager or medical team. Counselors shall be made aware of their camper’s health care needs as it relates to their supporting their camper’s medical needs at camp.

REPORTING PROCEDURES

• The Program Manager or LMSW shall make an oral report within 8 hours. • Within 72 hours, a written report shall be made to the appropriate reporting agency in the state of Idaho. The written report shall contain the name of the child and a description of the abuse or neglect. If possible, the report shall contain the names and addresses of the child’s parents/guardians, or the persons with whom the child resides, the child’s age, and other information that might establish the cause of abuse or neglect and the way it occurred. • If a camper seems to be injured, medical treatment will be given by the nearest hospital or doctor-on-call.