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Our
Mission "In partnership with the community, Children Services of Wayne County protects children at risk of abuse or neglect and strengthens, preserves and empowers families. Through evaluation of that risk, we identify and coordinate community services. We work in collaboration with others to provide these children with safe, nurturing and permanent families, whether their own or another. We seek to enhance community awareness by educating the public."
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We Respond 24 HOURS / Day! |
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Wayne County Children Services responds to emergency child abuse and neglect reports 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. During business hours 8:00 am to 4:30 pm Monday through Friday, you can call us directly at 330-345-5340 (excluding holidays). Call 9-1-1 after work hours, on holidays or when Children Services is closed due to weather conditions, if a child is in imminent danger. A law enforcement officer will contact Children Services' on-call staff. Assigned Children Services staff have pagers and cell phones to assist law enforcement in such emergencies. IF A CHILD IS IN IMMINENT DANGER (LIFE THREATENING), CALL LAW ENFORCEMENT IMMEDIATELY BY DIALING 9-1-1.
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SIGNS OF CHILD ABUSE & NEGLECT Must have Adobe 5.0 to view
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Children are our future and we believe in their value. Children need to be protected & sometimes cannot protect themselves. They deserve a SAFE environment to grow and develop. Protecting children involves everyone in the community. We all share the duty to help abused and neglected children. Children need to be able to depend on us to make their world safe and secure. You are doing the right thing by getting involved and reporting that a child is being abused or neglected.
SIGNS OF CHILD ABUSE & NEGLECT
Neglect is essentially inadequate or dangerous child rearing practices; a form of child maltreatment occurring when a parent or caregiver fails to act on behalf of a child. A child who does not receive adequate food, shelter, clothing, medical care, supervision or education may be neglected. It may not produce visible signs and it usually occurs over a period of time.
Physical Indicators of Neglect:
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poor hygiene, including lice, scabies, severe or untreated diaper rash, bedsores, body odor |
| squinting |
| unsuitable clothing; missing key articles of clothing (underwear, socks, shoes); overdressed or underdressed for climate conditions |
| untreated injury or illness |
| lack of immunizations |
| indicators or prolonged exposure to elements (excessive sunburn, insect bites, colds) |
| height and weight significantly below age level |
Behavioral Indicators of Neglect:
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unusual school attendance |
| chronic absenteeism |
| chronic hunger, tiredness, or lethargy |
| begging or collecting leftovers |
| assuming adult responsibilities |
| reporting no caretaker at home |
Environmental Indicators of Neglect:
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a large family with marital disruption |
| poverty |
| long-term parental illness |
| indifferent parental attitude |
| situational stress, such as unemployment |
| lack of material resources |
| parental characteristics stemming from neglect. |
Emotional Abuse is chronic and consistent attitude or acts which interfere with the psychological and social development of a child. A child who is repeatedly belittled, ignored or blamed for the family’s problems may be emotionally abused.
Physical Indicators of Emotional Abuse:
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eating disorders, including obesity or anorexia |
| speech disorders (stuttering, stammering) |
| developmental delays in the acquisition of speech or motor skills |
| weight or height level substantially below norm |
| flat or bald spots on head (infants) |
| nervous disorders (rashes, hives, facial tics, stomach aches) |
Behavioral Indicators of Emotional Abuse:
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habit disorders (biting, rocking, head-banging) |
| cruel behavior, seeming to get pleasure from hurting children, adults or animals; seeming to get pleasure from being mistreated |
| age-inappropriate behaviors (bedwetting, wetting, soiling) |
| behavioral extremes; overly compliant-demanding; withdrawn-aggressive; listless-excitable |
Physical Abuse may be the result of excessive or out-of-control discipline from a parent or caregiver. It may appear as bruises, marks or injuries inflicted by other than accidental means.
Physical Indicators of Physical Abuse:
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unexplained bruises and welts on the face, throat, upper arms, buttocks, thighs or lower back in unusual patterns or shapes which suggests the use of an instrument (belt buckle, electric cord) in various stages of healing |
| unexplained burns or cigarette burns found on palms, feet, abdomen, buttocks or genitalia especially in the shape of household utensils or appliances |
| immersion burns producing sharp lines of demarcation producing a "glove" or "stocking" effect on the hands and feet and a "doughnut" shape on the buttocks |
| rope burns |
| infected burns indicating delay in treatment |
Behavioral Indicators of Physical Abuse:
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behavioral extremes (withdrawal, aggression, regression, depression) |
| inappropriate or excessive fear of parent or caretaker |
| anti-social behavior such as substance abuse, truancy, running away, fear of going home |
| unbelievable or inconsistent explanation for injuries |
| infant who lies unusually still while surveying surroundings |
| unusual shyness, wariness of physical contact |
Sexual Abuse may involve any sexual activity between an adult and a child to include everything from fondling to rape. Over 80% of cases reported involve the parent, a relative or other known adult as the perpetrator.
Physical Indicators of Sexual Abuse:
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torn, stained or bloody underclothes |
| frequent, unexplained sore throats, yeast or urinary infections |
| somatic complaints including pain and irritation of the genitals |
| sexually transmitted diseases |
| bruises or bleeding from external genitalia, vagina or anal region |
| pregnancy |
Behavioral Indicators of Sexual Abuse:
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the victim’s disclosure of sexual abuse |
| regressive behaviors (thumb-sucking, bedwetting, fear of the dark) |
| promiscuity or seductive behaviors |
| disturbed sleep patterns (recurrent nightmares) |
| unusual and age-inappropriate interest in sexual matters |
| avoidance of undressing or wearing extra layers of clothes |
| sudden decline in school performance, truancy |
| difficulty in walking or sitting |
Environmental Indicators of Sexual Abuse:
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prolonged absence of one parent |
| overcrowding |
| alcoholism |
| social and/or geographic isolation |
| inter-generational pattern of incest; parental characteristics indicative of sexual abuse; such as extremely protective of child, jealous of child, often refuses to allow child any social contact, distrust of child, accuses child of sexual promiscuity. |
When making a report of suspected child abuse or neglect to Wayne County Children Services, you may be asked some of the following questions:
1.) Name and identifying information of the alleged child victim, parents or caretakers, siblings or children living in the home, and the alleged perpetrator.
2.) Specifics about the alleged abuse or neglect (when and where it occurred, duration or number of occurrences, extent of abuse or neglect, child’s current condition and any known causes for the abuse or neglect).
3.) If any other children live in the home and if they are currently, or ever have been, victims of child abuse or neglect.
4.) Information about the behavior and level of functioning of the alleged victim, the caretaker and the alleged perpetrator.
5.) If there have been any prior suspected incidents of child abuse or neglect incurred by the alleged victim.
6.) If any other actions have been taken regarding this incident of suspected child abuse/neglect (police notified, pictures taken, medical attention, non-offending parent/caretaker notified).
7.) Location of the child at the time of the report.
We realize that as a reporter, you will probably not have all of the above information, and may even have very little information about the child and their family situation. Please be patient with us as we ask you for this information. The State Rules mandate that we ask you for this information, and it is also very helpful for us to have as much information as possible about the alleged child abuse/neglect when beginning our investigations.
