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	Signs of Abuse: N.C. Law Requires Child Abuse Be Reported By Roselee Papandrea The Times-News November 13, 2011 http://www.thetimesnews.com/news/abuse-49638-reported-law.html If an adult has reason to suspect that a child is being abused, North Carolina law requires that the information is reported to the Department of Social Services. Deana Joy, executive director of Crossroads Sexual Assault Response and Resource Center in Burlington, knows that a lot of people don't know that's the law. If anything positive has come out of the Penn State scandal involving former assistant football coach Jerry Sandusky being charged recently with sexually assaulting eight boys over a 15-year period, it's that professionals who work with abused children have the public's attention. "The one good thing that has come out of this case is that we have the opportunity to educate the public about reporting laws," Joy said. In the Sandusky case, assistant football coach Mike McQueary allegedly witnessed Sandusky sexually assaulting a young boy in the Penn State showers in 2002. At the time, McQueary was a graduate assistant. He reported what he saw to Sandusky's longtime friend and the team's head coach Joe Paterno. Paterno notified athletic director Tim Curley and vice president Gary Schultz, who then notified the school's president Graham Spanier. No one reported it to the Department of Social Services or law enforcement. Curley and Schultz were recently charged with failing to report the incident to authorities. In North Carolina, if an adult witnessed what McQueary claims he saw, that person has a legal obligation to go beyond the chain of command at their job. "Reporting it to your supervisor is not reporting it to authorities," Joy said. "Certainly reporting to your supervisor is protocol for most agencies, but they need to also make sure the reporting protocol for the state has been followed. … You are obligated by law to report within 24 hours." The report can be made to the Alamance County Department of Social Services. If it's after hours, the report can be made to a local law enforcement agency. Some cases might not be quite as clear cut as someone actually witnessing abuse, but there are signs that adults can look for that might indicate a child has endured sexual abuse, including the following: -- Changes in a child's behavior: Young children might withdraw socially. They might regress to an earlier age and begin wetting the bed or sucking their thumb. -- Children might not want to go to certain places or be around certain people. -- Children might dress differently when they are around certain people. They might start wearing lots of layers. -- They might complain of stomach aches or have recurring bladder, urinary tract or yeast infections. If someone isn't sure if a child was abused or why the behavior has changed, Crossroads has people on staff that can help. "They can always call Crossroads' 24-hour crisis line and we would be happy to assist them by making phone calls and making referrals," Joy said. "For adults, there is not a lot of education out there about what the process should be for the general public. They are unsure of what they should do or who they should call." If a child is being sexually abused, the abuser frequently insists that child not tell anyone and might even threaten the child. Abused children often fear that no one will believe them if they do tell — a fear the abuser will reinforce. If abused children do tell a trusted adult and aren't believed or know that an adult knows the truth but isn't doing anything to help them, it only makes the abuse more traumatic, Joy said. "It solidifies their own fears as well as the lies they've been told, which just adds to their guilt," Joy said. Once information is reported to authorities, Crossroads gets involved. The child is interviewed on site by a trained interviewer. The session is video and audio taped so the child only has to tell the story once. An assessment is done to determine a child's needs. A staff pediatrician does a medical exam and the staff therapist does two different forms of evidence-based therapy. If an abuser lives in the home, Crossroads staff works with DSS and law enforcement to create a safety plan for the child. Once an incident is reported and a child starts receiving help, it can still be difficult for them. "It's kind of a roller coaster," Joy said. "There is some relief to have people believe them and to know they are working to protect them. But children can go through some hard times dealing with grief and shame." Joy encourages children who are being abused to tell a parent, teacher, school social worker, counselor, pastor or another family member. "Always tell a responsible adult and continue to tell a responsible adult until someone gets help," Joy said. "… What's happening to them is not their fault."
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