Changing Lives

1. Changing Lives By: Laura K. Gibson Michigan State University

2. Even when we do not recognize it, child abuse and neglect affect us in our classrooms.

3. Who are these children? • The child who comes in filthy and hungry often in clothing the wrong size • The quiet child that rarely participates in class • The ‘”behavior problem” who will do anything – good or bad – to get anyone’s attention • The child that refuses to care no matter how hard we try to motivate him or her

4. If Michigan Were a Village of 100 Children • 7 children would live in a family investigated for child abuse or neglect • 1 would be a confirmed victim of abuse or neglect • For every case of potential abuse/neglect reported 3 are not reported. (Michigan 2002 Data Book)

5. Michigan - 2002 Data Book • 172,984 children living in investigated families • 28,646 confirmed victims of abuse or neglect • 85,938 estimated number of families never investigated and confirmed

6. Macomb County - 2002 Data Book • 9,003 children living in investigated families • 1,503 confirmed victims of abuse or neglect • 4,509 estimated number of families never investigated and confirmed

7. The Incidence Rate of Neglect/Abuse Increases Substantially within Different Populations of Children • Elementary aged children • Young girls • Children with disabilities • Physically Impaired • Cognitively Impaired • Deaf Children

8. How Do Our Students Live?

9. If Michigan Were a Village of 100 Children • 66 would live in a married couple family • 20 would live in a single mother family • 5 would live in a single father family • 7 would live in a household headed by a relative • 2 would live in a household headed by a non-relative

10. What are their lives like? • 340,254 Michigan children living in poverty • 13,031 Macomb County children living in poverty • 24,720 Receiving free/reduced lunch (Michigan 2002 Data Book)

11. Child Abuse and Neglecton theBig Screen(Compilation below created by Harold Johnson)

12. Neglect (U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, 2003.)

13. We have seen children with… • Soiled clothing or clothing that is not the correct size • Inadequate clothing for the weather • Children who always seem to be hungry • Appear listless and tired • Who talk about caring for younger siblings • Poor hygiene • Unattended medical/dental needs • Frequent absences or tardies • Poor peer relationships • Withdrawn behaviors

14. Children who… • Crave attention even eliciting negative responses to gain it • Demonstrate destructive behavior with no apparent guilt for his/her actions • Exhibit low self-esteem • Have a conduct disorder diagnosis or act oppositionally defiant • Have difficulty problem solving or coping • Have a difficulty with language comprehension and expression • Have a variety of academic problems

15. Physical Abuse (U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, 2003.)

16. Extensive bruising, especially in areas of the body that are not usually vulnerable. • Bruises of different colors indicating various stages of healing. • Frequent bruises around the head and face, the abdomen, or midway between the wrist and elbows. • Bruises in specific shapes: hand, buckle, etc. • Bruises on multiple parts of the body • Complaints of soreness or pain • Bald spots from severe hair pulling • Burns especially from cigarettes, irons, etc. • Inquiries for which explanation given is inadequate

17. Emotional Abuse (U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, 2003.)

18. Have you observed… • Inappropriate affect such as turning negatives into jokes and laughing when in pain • Extremes in behavior- manically happy to very depressed • Withdrawal • Self-destructive behaviors • General destructive behaviors • Cruelty to others

19. Difficulties with concentrating or learning new materials or compulsive attention to detail • Vandalism, stealing, cheating • Rocking, thumb sucking, head banging • Accidents • Substance abuse • Eating disorders • Physical manifestations (stomach aches, headaches, unexplained weight loss or gain • Delinquent behaviors

20. Sexual Abuse(U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, 2003.) The U.S. Dept. of Justice says that as many as 1 out of 3 little girls, and as many as 1 out of 5 little boys, may be sexually abused by the time they’re 18.

21. Does the child exhibit… • Exceptional secrecy • More sexual knowledge than is age appropriate • Extreme compliance or withdrawal • Overt aggression • An inordinate fear of males or females • Extremely seductive behaviors • A drop in school performance or sudden lack of participation in school activities • Sleep problems or nightmares • Self-mutilation

22. Crying without provocation • Sudden phobic behaviors • Feelings of little self-worth or talk of being damaged • A much older and more worldly appearance than peers • Suicide attempts or ideas about killing self • Excessive attempts to run away from home • Setting fires and enjoying watching them burn • An eating disorder

23. Their behaviors are screaming out to us, we are just not recognizing them.

24. Children within Our Building • The kitchen and bathroom floors are collapsing, there are mice and bugs in the house, and we often don’t have power • My parents got divorced. My dad has been married three times. My mom has been married twice, and now her boyfriend lives with us. I have a stepbrother and many step-sisters. We had to sell our big house with a yard, and now we live in a small condo on the bad side of town. • My brother and sister and I have three different dads. Our house is always full of family and relatives coming and going when they are in trouble. My parents never tell anyone no. I am around drugs, drinking, and people who are always in trouble or fighting with someone. • Ever since I found my dad dead in his bed, my whole family fights a lot. Things are really bad!

25. My mom left all of us when I was little because of drugs. My dad works all the time and is out of town Monday through Thursday. My older brother watches us. My mom comes around once and a while now to make us food and then she leaves again. • My dad and mom died a year a part. I am now living with my old grandpa and my step-dad who just got out of prison. • My mom left me and my older sister here with our dad when she went out West to live with her wife. She took our little sister with her. • My mom lost all custody of me a long time ago. Now, she is fighting to get me back so that she can have my disability check. She fills my head with self-defeating thoughts and crushes my self-esteem. When I come home after being with her, I am upset, my homework is not touched, and I am overwhelmed. • My parents are in prison for money laundering. I am being raised by my grandparents who are in and out of the hospital now. I worry about them a lot.

26. How Can We Help?

27. What can we do??? • If you are concerned about a child talk to the counselor and/or the SSW. • Take a few minutes to talk with the student as often as possible. • Write brief notes in a log tracking your observations. • Keep this log in case the situation worsens and Protective Services needs to be called.

28. Protective Services (PS) • Protective Services can be contacted by anyone when needed…you can remain anonymous. • The single call may not be enough. • PS tracts the number of incidence reported…call again. • Keep a running log of descriptive behaviors and observation dates

29. Proactive Schools • Provide life skills training…preparing meals, personal hygiene, money management, etc. • Socialization skills • Problem solving and coping strategies • Preparation for parenthood • Self-protection training • “Good Touch/Bad Touch” Education • Mentoring Programs (U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, 2003.)

30. School Goals • To identify more of at risk abused /neglected children • Provide them with supports • Help them to find a mentor (SSW/counselor/teacher) • Teach socialization skills (SSW) and anger management (Macomb Family Services) • Teach them basic living skills • Offer supports and counseling to the family • Teach children “Good Touch/Bad Touch” • Contact Protective Services as needed

31. Behavior • Modeling expected behaviors • Positive reinforcement when it is seen • Behavior Plans for students who need specific guidelines • Anger Management classes offered within the building • Outside counseling information for parents

32. Why is it OUR Problem?

33. The effects of neglect or abuse begin to stand out more in the middle school years. • Educators and school staff see students day after day and are more likely to pick up on changes in behaviors. • By providing early interventions, we can help to increase the success of neglected and abused children.

34. Only 3 Years • These middle school years are very important. • This is the time when children are exploring where they fit in. • Negative choices in friends and actions set them on a bad course for high school and life. • Without support and interventions abused and neglected children are at an increased risk of: -Drop out -Drug and alcohol abuse -Promiscuity and pregnancy -Repeating the same behaviors with their children

35. How does it effect me?

36. We can all relate? • Large class sizes • Reduced number of independent thinkers and workers • More to do in the same amount of time • Additional behaviors to take into consideration • Increased number of special education students in the general education classes with accommodations • More parental demands • Less time to do what we are really here to do…TEACH

37. With scores coming back to reflect what we have been teaching, how can we help students become more successful?

38. By helping these children and teaching them age appropriate skills, we may also improve the environment in our classrooms.

39. Educating Students • On a daily basis, we are not only teaching the benchmarks, we are providing an example that many of our students look to. • Students are coming to school with life styles that are not conducive to learning; they need our understanding and compassion. • We teach the skills they need to be successful in school and in life.

40. Alone our impact may be small, but as a whole, we can reach MANY!

41. Want More Info? www.childhelp.org/gtbt www.stopitnow.com http://preventchildabuse.com/abuse.htm

42. References Michigan League for Human Services. (2002). Kids Count in Michigan Data Book, 2002: County Profiles of Child and Family Well-Being. Annie E. Casey Foundation, Baltimore, MD.; Kellogg Foundation, Battle Creek, MI. O’Mearra, Sara and Yvonne Fedderson. (2006). Prevention and Treatment of Child Abuse. Retrieved October 24, 2007, from www.childhelp.org/gtbt. Stop It Now! (2000-2007). Warning Signs About Child Sexual Abuse. Retrieved October 23, 2007, from www.stopitnow.com. The National Exchange Club Foundation. (1998-2007). Preventing Child Abuse…Serving America. Retrieved November 3, 2007, from http://preventchildabuse.com. U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. (2003). The Role of Educators in Preventing and Responding to Child Abuse and Neglect. (Caliber Associates Contract Number HHS-282-98-0025. Fairfax, VA.

43. Laura K. Gibson • I am a middle school special education teacher. • To fulfill part of the requirements for my final graduate class, I researched child abuse and neglect. • I presented my study to my colleagues using this PowerPoint. • I give Harold Johnson of Michigan State University permission to use my presentation to support this important cause. • If you have any questions please contact Harold Johnson at: hjohnson@msu.edu or 517-432-3926