SEXUAL ABUSE
WE ’ VE MADE A REPORT — NOW WHAT ?
What to expect from child protection agencies
By Gregory Love & Kimberlee Norris
Child sexual abuse continues to present a compelling concern to the Church .
An understanding of mandatory reporting requirements is critical for ministry leaders . If every allegation of child sexual abuse is simply reported by church leaders to appropriate authorities , the resulting positive impact will be immeasurable .
Every state has reporting requirements mandating reports of abuse and neglect of vulnerable populations , specifically children and minors . Every state reporting statute lists ‘ mandated reporters ’ — those individuals who are required to report , typically listed by licensure or profession ; in some states , every adult is required to report . In many states , clergy are named mandatory reporters , and failure to report is not simply a failure of leadership ; it ’ s a crime . The purpose of reporting laws is to identify children in crisis situations and address each circumstance . Depending on the facts , some reports are referred to law enforcement authorities to investigate and , where appropriate , initiate criminal prosecution .
BARRIERS TO REPORTING ABUSE Reporting child sexual abuse remains a significant stumbling block for the Church , and sexual abuse continues to be drastically underreported . Why is this so ? In general , ministry leaders must understand mandatory reporting requirements , understand how child sexual abuse manifests in ministry environments , and have the courage to act in deeply difficult circumstances . In some cases , ministry leaders struggle with the thought : What if I ’ m wrong ? What if I make this report that impacts this person ’ s life ... and I ’ m wrong ? Here ’ s the reality : by creating very broad reporting obligations and requiring that reasonable suspicions of abuse be reported , each state legislature has decided that the safety and welfare of the child outweigh the inconvenience to an adult ( or another child , in peer-to-peer sexual abuse scenarios ).
Circumstances giving rise to a need to report are rarely convenient or unemotional . Sexual abuse allegations commonly involve behavior that is difficult to believe about an individual who is difficult to suspect . Almost without exception , abusers ‘ groom the gatekeepers ’ in ministry environments , working diligently to have those around them believe they are responsible , trustworthy individuals . Keep in mind : false allegations are rare . Studies indicate that only 2 % -3 % of all sexual abuse allegations are false ; the majority of outcries are truthful and factual .
FEAR OF THE PROCESS Another reason some ministry leaders fail to report is fear-based : fear of what will happen after a report is made . Common questions include :
• I made a report in the past and never heard back — I wonder if anything actually happened ?
• If I make a report to authorities , will someone come and take the child away ?
• If I make a report , will the parents know it was me who reported ?
• Can my identity be protected ?
Each question above highlights uncertainty about the reporting process , which creates hesitation to initiate communication with the authorities . This article addresses what happens after a report is made to Child Protective Services or law enforcement . In our experience , ministry leaders are more likely to report child abuse and neglect when they better understand what happens ‘ behind the curtain ’ once a report is made .
EXPLAINING THE PROCESS Reporting laws and processes vary from state to state , but there are common denominators in how reports are received and processed .
Suspicion of abuse or neglect When a ministry leader reasonably suspects or receives an allegation of child abuse or neglect , a report to the authorities is the immediate next step . Some states require that the report occur within 24 hours ; others require the report ‘ in a timely manner ’. In any event , assume that the clock is ticking .
70 CHURCH EXECUTIVE • STOP CHILD SEXUAL ABUSE churchexecutive . com