CCD Setback

[Nichevo]

We have a student in our program who we believe is caught in an abusive relationship at home. This student has talked several times in vague terms about a journal detailing the abuse but never come out and said the word abuse. Without the admission of abuse we can not take any action nor can the state.

Last week the father came to pick up the student and had words with the teacher. The teacher (a trained psychiatrist) pursued the matter as far as she could. Again without any complaint, there is no way any action can be taken. Now, the parents have taken the student out of the program.

I’m just venting. It’s been a rough day.

 

[NightRider]

I pray you have a better day tomorrow, Nichevo.

In my state there is a Child Protective Service that takes anonymous calls about child abuse. Certainly there is one in your state, too. I am not sure what the protocol is but I do know that if someone makes an anonymous complaint the agency must investigate. Perhaps you could make such a call on behalf of this young person? You might feel better about it if you could do that–then at least you would know that you did everything you could under the circumstances. And I’m sure you don’t need to be reminded to pray for this poor kid. I’ll pray, too, because I was an abused kid myself. Take care and God bless.

 

[little_flower_1]

you can’t contact family services to investigate the family? even without an admission of abuse, the mere suspision is usually enough to get family services involved and send a social worker to the home.

 

[Nichevo]

I’m only an observer in this case. The student isn’t in my class but in someone else’s. The teacher is a child psychologist who has truly done all that she can. I was really venting more than anything else.

 

[puzzleannie]

In my state, and in most jurisdictions, if a volunteer, which most catechists are, has reason to suspect abuse, with or without a direct accusation, you are required to report to whoever is in authority, your DRE or pastor, who is required to report to the civil authority within 48 hours. what CPS or police do or are hampered in doing is not your concern. Failure to report may make you (and the parish) liable and/or negligent. It is not necessary to have direct evidence, legitimate suspicion is enough. The teacher must report. As a professional, she should be aware of that requirement. By the way, unless your volunteer duties have you in direct contect with this child, you should not be aware of this situation, because the catechists should not be talking about such confidential matters, the catechist should be talking to the DRE or pastor.

Your diocese should have had every volunteer go through Protecting God’s Children or a similar education program on recognizing and preventing abuse, which should have made clear the law in your state, and reporting requirements.

You also touch on another important point. If keeping journals is a class requirement, then the catechist must review the journals regularly, and if anything in a student’s journal gives rise to a legitimate suspicion of abuse (or intent to harm self or another) that is a mandatory reporting situation. Do not assign journals unless you have time to read them. Make it optional. Also be very careful in promising absolute confidentiality, a promise you cannot keep legally if evidence or suspicion of abuse or other harm arises. Please get further advice and guidance from your pastor and the legal advisors of your diocese at once.