Dean Hope Center for Education & Psychological Services

Dean Hope Center for Educational and Psychological Services

Teachers College, ColumbiaUniversity

Box 91, 525 West 120th. Street, New York, N.Y.10027-6696

Tel. (212) 678-3262Fax. (212) 678-8105

Dinelia Rosa, Ph. D., Director

QUICK GUIDE FOR HANDLING SUSPECTED CHILD ABUSE

(For more detailed information, consult the CEPS document GUIDELINES FOR HANDLING CASES OF SUSPECTED CHILD ABUSE)

1. Students who have even the slightest reason to suspect that a child is being neglected or abused sexually, physically or emotionally should discuss the matter immediately with both their supervisor and CEPS’ Director. Students are not expected to decide the best way to handle such situations. Instead that is the responsibilities of your supervisor and administrator, both of whom should be contacted without delay. Do not wait for a regular or chance meeting with them to do this.

1. Students will likely be involved with collaborative efforts to gain further, clarifying information about such matters. This can be a valuable learning experience concerning professional and effective approaches in dealing with child abuse. To further this goal, and also especially to insure that the investigation proceeds optimally, a crucial responsibility for all parties concerned is to communicate with one another regularly and promptly as the exploration continues

1. Every contact that a student has with a chilled or parent, with supervisor or administrator, or with any other person or persons about this matter must be documented in dated progress notes. These notes should describe the nature of the contact (e.g. in person, phone, letter, session, etc.) and should summarize the communication and any other relevant information (e.g. other people present, emotional reactions that occurred). These are, of course, the type of cases in which the probability is high that this paper record will be consulted in the future

9/14/07