Can I ask 8 year old child how they were brusied on back in suspected abuse?

Question

I'm studying and would like help

Answer 1

How did u find out? Did the child come to you? Do not ask him to show it to you by lifting his clothing. If you suspect something, you should talk to you a person in your school releted to that. It is ok to report something if you suspect something with reasonable cause. Hope you do the right thing. Good luck.

Answer 2

I wish my 1st grade teacher would've looked harder into it for me.

I went to school all the time with a fat lip, from my dad, he told me say a word about how I got it, & I would be dead.

Unfortunalty my teachers were afraid of my dad.

I wouldve gladely wanted my teachers to step in so bad.

Answer 3

Yeah you should never come right out and ask or question the child.  

I suggest you consult the counselor about it.  If he/she does nothing, or does not pursue, then advance your concern to the principal.  

If you contact child protective services about the issue they will contact the school, and you do not want the counselor and principal completely out of the circle.  

Answer 4

yh i studied it

x

Answer 5

yes

Answer 6

If you are a teacher/educator I would say you have an obligation to ask informally "hey what happened there buddy?" However, I am hoping if you saw the kid with his shirt off you are a summer camp counselor. In that case, report it to your superiors and let them take the flak. If you have not been trained how to handle it, DON'T!!! report it to a superior.

Answer 7

Yes, I would.

Answer 8

I would casually ask them what happened to their back. I know some kids actually get bruises from brothers and sisters being to rough with them when play fighting. Then report it to child protection officer at your school. Then keep an eye on the child not just for signs of injury, but for changes in behaviour also.  

Answer 9

Please report it immediately, if it seems to have been made by another, bigger person - no one knows what's going on in a human being's head, much less a child, and for all you know asking him or her could make him/her feel scared, angry, or humiliated. Worst case scenario: this could all rebound on you if the court found out you were talking to the child about it.

Answer 10

Are you a teacher?

Stay away from asking... but if you have a strong reason to suspect abuse you are required by law to report it to Child Protective Services, and they will find out what is going on.

Even if you are not a teacher and you work with kids you are a Mandated Reporter, which means you have to report it or be in defiance of the law.

If they offer the information to you write it down and include in your CPS report. Include date, time, circumstances...

Call them and start a file to cover yourself.

You can talk to your supervisor as well ( I would).

They both are usually very helpful and do a good job.

Answer 11

speak to your tutor about the correct way of going about this,  you could do a lot of unintentional harm if you get this wrong.  On the other hand you are right to be observant.

Answer 12

you must have been given guide lines on this - ask you tutor.

you must do something but be careful - often these really are accidents

Answer 13

You can certainly talk to the child.  Do not make any accusations though while speaking with him/her.  Just casually say "Hey "Billy" I noticed you had a bruise on your back, what happened?  You need to be all ears... do not ask incriminating questions. Some children may tell the truth, some may not.  No matter what the answer is you need to report this to your school guidance counselor or nurse.  They will handle it from there.  The police as well as DSS may become involved in which case you will likely be questioned as to what you know and possibly subpoenaed(?not sure on spelling) in court.   I have been though this.  Good luck!

Answer 14

Yes!

Answer 15

freedom of speech, parents can't stop you from talking to their children as long as it isn't inappropriate (like if you were talking to them about s*x or death or something- you could get arrested for that and rightly so) ... you just can't ask them "johnny/jill are you being hit by your parents" or "is some one abusing you". Just be like "where did you get that bruise" or "what happened" or "how did you get that booboo" and if they tell you they walked into a door you just say "you don't have to be afraid to tell me the truth, you won't get in trouble, is that what really happened" and if they say yes, then there's really nothing you can do on that specific wound, but if it's something that keeps happening than report to an authority like the principle or something.

Answer 16

no, if your not helping them then keep out, if it turns out in court that the child was talking to you about it, the defence could argue that it was you that put all this abuse c**p into the child's head.

if you suspect a child may be being abused then report it

Answer 17

you should report it to some one in authority there is a official preceding to go through in a case like that

Answer 18

Absolutely. Do not put answers in his/her mouth, but ask. Even if he/she lies or won't say, it lets him/her know that you are someone who he/she can talk to.

Answer 19

Yea, don't ask the child yourself. The reason is that the more the child is asked the less valid the answer becomes, and since who ever you tell after this will probably have to talk to the child, any thing that you say to him will only invalid the answer even more... which is especially bad if he is being abused.

Also don't be surprised if after reporting it, you never hear about it again. You're required by law, if your a teacher, to report it up the chain, and your supervisors are required by law to follow the proper guidelines, but often, these become multiple reports, and they fall together to an already pending case, and though your required to tell them, they are never required to tell you the final result.  

Answer 20

ask them how it happened, they may lie, you will have to mention your concerns to your superior, Be extra vigilant with the child concerned and try to build up a trust relationship with them they may feel able to open up to you eventually. Good luck