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Recognizing & Reporting Suspicion of Child Abuse & Neglect

Mandated Reporting

Call 1-800-452-1999 to report suspected child abuse & neglect in Maine

In Maine, the following are mandated reporters:

A.

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Mandated Reporter Training
The Hancock County Children’s Council offers professional training to those mandated reporters responsible for reporting suspicion of child abuse & neglect. Call 667-5304 ext. 261 to request onsite training.

The State of Maine offers online training for mandated reporters of suspected child abuse at www.maine.gov/dhhs/bcfs/
abusereporting.htm

Required report to department. The following adult persons shall immediately report or cause a report to be made to the department when the person knows or has reasonable cause to suspect that a child has been or is likely to be abused or neglected:

  1. When acting in a professional capacity:

  2. An allopathic or osteopathic physician, resident or intern

  3. An emergency medical services person

  4. A medical examiner

  5. A physician’s assistant

  6. A dentist

  7. A dental hygienist

  8. A dental assistant

  9. A chiropractor

  10. A podiatrist

  11. A registered or licensed practical nurse

  12. A teacher

  13. A guidance counselor

  14. A school official

  15. A children’s summer camp administrator or counselor

  16. A social worker

  17. A court-appointed special advocate or guardian ad litem for the child

  18. A homemaker

  19. A home health aide

  20. A medical or social service worker

  21. A psychologist

  22. Child care personnel

  23. A mental health professional

  24. A law enforcement official

  25. A state or municipal fire inspector

  26. A municipal code enforcement official

  27. A commercial film and photographic print processor

  28. A clergy member acquiring the information as a result of clerical professional work except for information received during confidential communications

  29. A chair of a professional licensing board that has jurisdiction over mandated reporters

  30. A humane agent employed by the Department of Agriculture, Food and Rural Resources
B. Any person who has assumed full, intermittent or occasional responsibility for the care or custody of the child, regardless of whether the person receives compensation.
C.

Any person affiliated with a church or religious institution who serves in an administrative capacity or has otherwise assumed a position of trust or responsibility to the members of that church or religious institution, while acting in that capacity, regardless of whether the person receives compensation.

Whenever a person is required to report in a capacity as a member of the staff of a medical or public or private institution, agency or facility, that person immediately shall notify either the person in charge of the institution, agency or facility or designated agent who then shall cause a report to be made. The staff also may make a report directly to the department.

Indicators of Child Abuse are:

The following charts show lists of possible indicators of abuse or neglect. Taken alone these indicators may not mean anything. You will have to decide when something seems wrong, based on a pattern of indicators and your instinct.

Indicators of Physical Abuse

Physical Indicators

Behavioral Indicators

Unexplained bruises and welts

  • On face, lips, mouth

  • Torso, back buttocks, thighs

  • In various stages of healing

  • Clustered, forming rectangular patterns, reflecting shape of article used to inflict (e.g., electric cord, belt buckle)

Unexplained burns

  • Cigar, cigarette burns, especially on soles, palms, back, or buttocks

  • Immersion burns (sock-like, glove-like, doughnut shaped on buttocks or genitalia)

  • Patterns like electric burner, iron, etc.

  • Rope burns on arms, legs, neck or torso

  • Infected burns, indicating delay in seeking treatment

Unexplained fractures or dislocations

  • To skull, nose, facial structure

  • In various stages of healing

  • Multiple or spiral fractures

Unexplained lacerations or abrasions

  • To mouth, lips, gums, or eyes

  • To external genitalia

  • In various stages of healing

Bald patches on scalp

  • Feels deserving of punishment

  • Wary of adult contact

  • Apprehensive when other children cry

  • Behavioral extremes

  • Aggressiveness

  • Withdrawal

  • Frightened of parents

  • Afraid to go home

  • Reports injury by parents

  • Vacant or frozen stare

  • Lies very still while surveying surroundings (infant)

  • Responds to questions in monosyllables

  • Inappropriate or precocious maturity

  • Manipulative behavior to get attention

  • Capable of only superficial relationships

  • Indiscriminately seeks affection poor self-concept

 

Indicators of Physical Neglect

Physical Indicators

Behavioral Indicators

  • Underweight, poor growth pattern; e.g., small in stature, failure to thrive

  • Consistent hunger, poor hygiene, inappropriate dress

  • Wasting of subcutaneous tissue

  • Unattended physical problems or medical needs

  • Abandonment

  • Abdominal distension

  • Bald patches on scalp

  • Begging or stealing food

  • Extended stay at school

  • Rare attendance at school

  • Constant fatigue, listlessness or falling asleep in class

  • Delayed speech

  • Inappropriate seeking of affection

  • Does not change expression

  • Assuming adult responsibilities and concerns

  • Alcohol or drug abuse

  • Talks in whisper or whine

  • Delinquency (e.g., thefts)

  • States there is no caretaker at home

 

Indicators of Sexual Abuse

Physical Indicators

Behavioral Indicators

  • Pain, swelling, or itching in genital areas

  • Pain on urination

  • Bruises, bleeding, or lacerations in external genitalia, vaginal or anal area

  • Vaginal or penile discharge

  • Venereal disease, especially in pre-teens

  • Poor bowel control

  • Pregnancy

  • Unwilling to change for gym or participate in physical-education class

  • Withdrawal, fantasy, or infantile behavior

  • Bizarre, sophisticated, or unusual sexual behavior or knowledge

  • Poor peer relationships

  • Delinquent or runaway

  • Reports sexual assault by caretaker

  • Change in performance in school

 

Indicators of Emotional Maltreatment

Physical Indicators

Behavioral Indicators

  • Speech disorders

  • Lags in physical development

  • Failure to thrive

  • Hyperactive or disruptive behavior

  • Empty facial appearance

  • Habit disorders
    Sucking
    Biting
    Rocking

  • Conduct or learning disorders
    Antisocial behavior
    Destructive

  • Neurotic traits
    Sleep disorders
    Inhibition of play
    Unusual fearfulness

  • Behavioral extremes
    Child does not change expression
    Compliant, passive
    Aggressive, demanding threatening behavior (threat to kill or harm other people)

  • Overly adaptive behavior
    Inappropriately adult
    Inappropriately infantile

  • Developmental lags
    Mental
    Emotional

  • Attempted suicide

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