Tuesday, September 16, 2014
The Indiana Department of Child Services (DCS) recently launched an online informational training course available to the public, which focuses on preventing and reporting child abuse.
Child abuse occurs whenever the mental or physical condition of a child is seriously impaired or endangered due to one of the following:
In 2011, Indiana recorded an alarming 151,442 reports of child abuse. Sadly, each year since, the number of reports has continued to increase with 177,539 in 2012, and 187,465 in 2013.
The new, much-needed training program will educate Hoosiers on how to recognize and report child abuse and neglect in Indiana. Participants will also learn the steps taken after DCS receives a report.
In 2012, lawmakers expanded the DCS Child Abuse and Neglect Hotline to include five new call centers throughout the state. These central points of contact are located in Marion, Saint Joseph, Blackford, Lawrence and Vanderburgh counties. With the increase in caseworkers, phone wait times have significantly decreased. Caseworkers are required to be trained family case managers with college degrees.
The DCS hotline does not require callers to provide their names or contact information, but that information could help in some circumstances. State and federal law requires DCS to protect the identity of individuals reporting abuse or neglect.
All Hoosiers, especially school teachers, nurses, counselors and principals, are strongly encouraged to go to the DCS website and complete the training course. The course takes roughly an hour to finish.
If there are any suspicions or reasons to believe a child is being abused, call the hotline at 1-800-800-5556. As adults, we are responsible for the safety of all children. Remember, no child will benefit from an adult’s silence.
