Washington State DSHS - Children's Administration - What is child abuse or neglect?

Common Indicators of Physical Abuse

Consider the possibility of physical abuse when the child:

• Unexplained burns, bites, bruises, broken bones, or black eyes.
• Fading bruises or other marks noticeable after an absence from school.
• Frightened of the parents and protests or cries when it is time to go home.
• Shrinks at the approach of adults.
• Reports injury by a parent or another adult caregiver.

Consider the possibility of physical abuse when the parent or other adult caregiver:

• Offers conflicting, unconvincing, or no explanation for the child's injury.
• Describes the child as "evil," or in some other very negative way.
• Uses harsh physical discipline with the child.
• Has a history of abuse as a child.

Common Indicators of Neglect

Consider the possibility of neglect when the child:

• Is frequently absent from school.
• Begs or steals food or money.
• Lacks needed medical or dental care, immunizations, or glasses.
• Is consistently dirty and has severe body odor.
• Lacks sufficient clothing for the weather.
• Abuses alcohol or other drugs.
• States that there is no one at home to provide care.

Consider the possibility of neglect when the parent or other adult caregiver:

• Appears to be indifferent to the child.
• Seems apathetic or depressed.
• Behaves irrationally or in a bizarre manner.
• Is abusing alcohol or other drugs.

Common Indicators of Neglect

Consider the possibility of neglect when the child:

• Is frequently absent from school.
• Begs or steals food or money.
• Lacks needed medical or dental care, immunizations, or glasses.
• Is consistently dirty and has severe body odor.
• Lacks sufficient clothing for the weather.
• Abuses alcohol or other drugs.
• States that there is no one at home to provide care.

Consider the possibility of neglect when the parent or other adult caregiver:

• Appears to be indifferent to the child.
• Seems apathetic or depressed.
• Behaves irrationally or in a bizarre manner.
• Is abusing alcohol or other drugs.

Common Indicators of Emotional Abuse

Consider the possibility of emotional maltreatment when the child:

• Shows extremes in behavior, such as overly compliant or demanding behavior, extreme passivity, or aggression.
• Is either inappropriately adult (parenting other children, for example) or inappropriately infantile (frequently rocking or head-banging, for example).
• Is delayed in physical or emotional development.
• Has attempted suicide.
• Reports a lack of attachment to the parent.

Consider the possibility of emotional maltreatment when the parent or other adult caregiver:

• Constantly blames, belittles, or berates the child.
• Is unconcerned about the child and refuses to consider offers of help for the child's problems.
• Overtly rejects the child.

Author: National Clearinghouse on Child Abuse and Neglect Information (DHHS)

What Happens Once Abuse & Neglect is Reported?

Child Protective Services

Staff within DSHS provides Child Protective Services (CPS). When someone reports that a child may be abused or neglected, CPS determines if it meets the criteria for investigation. A report of suspected child abuse or neglect could be made to CPS or the police. Even though CPS staff and the police work together, they make separate investigations. CPS conducts family assessments, and the police conduct criminal investigations.

Protective Custody

When it appears that a child is in danger of being harmed, or has already been seriously abused or neglected, a police officer can place the child in protective custody. Custody of the child is then transferred to CPS which places the child with a relative or in foster care. By law, a child can be kept in protective custody for no more than 72 hours, excluding weekends and legal holidays. If the child is not returned to the parents or some other voluntary arrangement made within 72 hours, the matter must be reviewed by a court.

Parental Rights

In very serious cases of abuse and neglect, a child can be removed permanently from the parents. This is called termination of parental rights. When this happens, the child becomes legally free through a court procedure. The parent no longer has any rights or responsibilities toward the child. If a parent voluntarily gives up a child for adoption, the process is called relinquishing parental rights.

Child Welfare Services

Child Welfare Services (CWS) provides services to children and families with long-standing abuse and neglect problems. Typically these children have been removed from the family home and are in the foster care system. The focus of CWS is to achieve a permanent plan and placement for these children as soon as possible.

Go to DSHS Children's Administration Child Abuse and Neglect Website for more information - CLICK HERE!

Okay, so if you look at the Washington State Statistics On Child Protective Services Cases in Senator Pam Roach's blog, Pam Roach Report ,the statistics not only do not add up, but it leaves even a regular citizen of Washington state with a mere average IQ to wonder what happens with all the children in our state that fall through the cracks?

Well, if you look at all the state funding that DSHS gets for each program, paid by your taxes, it isn't too difficult to know that their real aim isn't for the safety and well being of Washington state's children, it is to use their power to make decisions over our children that will ultimately protect their financial security.

Just imagine this huge sifter that has all the abused and neglected children in Washington state along with state funds for the Child Protective Services department. Now, imagine the management of the Child Protective Services cranking the handle on this sifter. The final result is that this sifter will save out the state funds while letting our children who need help to live a safe and loving childhood will be discarded right back into the hands of their abusers and neglectful caregivers.

What's sickening is that all case workers know what provisions Washington state's laws give abused and/or neglected children protection. Yet, they routinely do what the CPS management tells them to do, in order to protect their job and income. This is horrifying and pathetic! Since when does the safety and well being of a child take priority over someone's job or bank account?

Meanwhile, these children that have fallen through the cracks are growing up in abusive and unhealthy homes, and will grow up to be potentially screwed up adults. For us, who are getting up in to our golden years, this is a scary thought. When the times, if any of us should become totally dependent on these children that are being screwed up in the head when they become adults, I would hate to think of the quality of care that we will get.

Child abuse and/or neglect doesn't affect only the child, it affects us all. And, so many of us in Washington state are waiting for CPS to get their priority straight and start protecting our children as they are by law required to do so. For the sake of our children, for the sake of us of the older group of society, and for the sake of a safe and healthy Washington state!

Get it together CPS!