Wk 8 DQ’s
Research legal and ethical standards for child abuse reporting in New Jersey. Provide a list of these standards and highlight the information that you feel is most useful to you as a burgeoning counselor.
Child abuse
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In New Jersey, a child is a person under the age of 18 years. Abused children are those whose guardians, parents, or custodians inflict physical injury or allow other people to cause physical harm that results in disfigurement, impaired emotional and physical health, affects the functioning of body organs, and results in a significant risk of death. Child abuse also entails committing sexual abuse to the child or allowing other people to do so, neglecting the child by failing to provide basic needs, excessive physical restraint or corporal punishment, and abandonment (State of New Jersey Department of Children and Families, 2021).
Child abuse reporting
All persons who believe that a child may be abused are expected to contact the Child Protection and Permanency and make a report via telephone or any other means. The reports should include the address and name of both the child and the parent, custodian, or guardian, the nature and extent of abuse, and any evidence of previous maltreatment, abuse or injury. All people who report cases of abuse have immunity from any form of liability that may result from the report. Any individual who violates the child abuse reporting laws including those who fail to report even though they have witnessed or rightfully suspect acts of child abuse are regarded as disorderly persons (State of New Jersey Department of Children and Families, 2021).
The most important information to me as a burgeoning counselor is that child abuse reporting is an ethical act and everyone should make a report when they suspect it. Counselors, especially those who work in schools, are mandated reporters.
References
State of New Jersey Department of Children and Families. (2021). How and When to Report Child Abuse/Neglect. https://www.nj.gov/dcf/reporting/how/.