elearn Course Catalog

Identification & Reporting of Child Abuse in NYS - Mail-Order

Attention participants! This is a mail-order course. Purchasing a mail-order course will not give you access to the online version of the New York State mandatory courses. If you meant to register for the online version of this course, please return to the course catalog and click "New York" under the State Mandated Courses tab.

The New York State Nurses Association has been approved by the New York State Education Department (NYSED) to provide this course for all mandated licensed healthcare providers, certified teachers and social workers. This program is designed as a distance learning self-study program which will meet the New York State child abuse recognition and reporting requirements.

The New York State Nurses Association is accredited as a provider of continuing nursing education by the American Nurses Credentialing Center’s Commission on Accreditation.

This course has been awarded 3.25 contact hours.

Course Introduction

It shouldn't hurt to be a child. Child abuse and neglect are seen in many areas of clinical practice. The content for this course uses the hospitalized child as a specific model. It is important when reviewing the information that professionals realize that the indicators of child abuse, maltreatment and neglect can be applied to all practice settings in which professionals interact with children and their families/caregivers. As child abuse is not limited to one setting, neither is its identification or reporting.

Chapter 544 of the laws of 1988, as amended, established a requirement for certain professions (see list below) to provide documentation of having completed two hours of coursework or training regarding the identification and reporting of child abuse and maltreatment. In addition, Chapter 394 was amended to provide information for persons in the normal course of their employment, travel to locations where children reside on recognizing signs of an unlawful (clandestine) methamphetamine laboratory. The law further states that the coursework or training must be obtained from a provider approved for this purpose by the New York State Education Department. The New York State Nurses Association (NYSNA) has been approved as a provider and this course meets the training requirements of chapter 544 of the laws of 1988.

In addition, Chapter 394 was amended to provide information for persons in the normal course of their employment, or who travel to locations where children reside, on recognizing signs of an unlawful (clandestine) methamphetamine laboratory. While a specific curriculum has not yet been developed to address this amendment, pursuant to this recently enacted legislation content has been added to this course on how to recognize these illegal labs.

In 2005, the New York State Office of Children and Family Services revised and published the Summary Guide for Mandated Reporters in NYS. This helpful booklet can be downloaded and used as an overview of the material in this course as well as a handy reference on the identification and reporting of child abuse, including how to report suspected child abuse to the New York State Central Register (SCR) of child abuse and maltreatment. A copy of the booklet can be obtained at: http://www.ocfs.state.ny.us/main/publications/pub1159.pdf.

Regardless of the mandated reporter's professional discipline or location of provided services, it is important to understand the responsibility of all professionals to be able to recognize child abuse/neglect and to engage in appropriate interventions.

Mandated Reporters
Alcoholism counselor Any child care worker Any employee or volunteer in a residential care facility for children Any other child care or foster care worker Any other law enforcement official Christian Science Practitioner Chiropractor Coroner Day care center worker Dental hygienist	Dentist District attorney or assistant district attorney Emergency medical technician Hospital personnel engaged in the admission, examination, care, or treatment of persons Intern Investigator employed in the Office of the District Attorney Medical Examiner Mental health professional	Optometrist Osteopath Peace officer Physician Podiatrist Police officer Provider of family or group family day care Psychologist Registered Nurse Registered physician assistant Resident	School official Social service worker Social workers Substance abuse counselor Surgeon

Course Objectives

Upon completion of this course, the learner will be able to:

Define what constitutes "abuse," "maltreatment," and "neglect" according to the New York State Family Court Act and Social Services Law.
Distinguish among various behavioral and environmental characteristics of abusive parents or caregivers.
Participants will learn what equipment and chemicals may be signs of a clandestine methamphetamine lab.
Participants will learn what drug-endangered children are and to whom to report child endangerment.
Identify physical and behavioral indicators of physical abuse, maltreatment and neglect.
Contrast the physical and behavioral indicators of sexual abuse.
Identify the professional's role in child abuse identification and reporting.
Describe the actions in caring for abused/maltreated children and their families/caregivers.
Describe situations in which mandated reporters must report suspected cases of child abuse or maltreatment.
Describe what constitutes "reasonable cause to suspect" that a child has been abused or maltreated.
Outline the proper procedure for making a report of suspected child abuse.
List what actions certain mandated reporters might take to protect a child in addition to filing a child abuse report.
Describe the legal protections afforded mandated reporters and the consequences for failing to report.

To enroll in this course, please click the "Register" button below.

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