Protecting Children, the Elderly, and Dependent Adults from Harm

Protecting Children, the Elderly, and Dependent Adults from Harm

Protecting Children, the Elderly, and Dependent Adults from Harm

As a therapist, whether you are working with children or adults you are expected to know how to assess potential abuse and to report it in a timely fashion. Privileged communication does not apply in cases of child abuse and neglect, nor does it apply in cases of elder and dependent adult abuse. If any of these clients disclose that they are being abused or neglected a professional is required to report the situation under penalty of fines and imprisonment. Adults who reveal in therapy that they are abusing or have abused their children, the matter must be reported. This constitutes reportable abuse.
In 1974 Congress enacted the National Child Abuse Prevention and Treatment Act. Which defines child abuse and neglect under PL 93-247.
Some states require that professionals complete continuing education workshops on assessment of abuse and proper reporting as a condition of license renewal.
In 2003 more that 550,000 elderly people were reported abused or neglected in the United States, but the actual number may be 4 or 5 times higher than this. Abusers of elderly people can be anyone they depend on or come in contact with. Types of elderly abuse are physical, sexual, psychological, neglect, abandonment and financial or material exploitation.
Therapists must develop a clear position regarding the assessment and reporting of child, elder and dependent adult abuse. Mandatory reporting laws differ from state to state but many professionals do not adhere to these laws. In a study to assess psychologists decisions to report abuse Kalichman and Craig (1991) found that the age of the child, the child’s behavior during sessions and the type of abuse influenced their decisions to report. Clinics may decide not to report due to negative affects it might have on therapy.
It may be difficult as a therapist determining how far to go in making a report. It is difficult to reconcile ethical...