What does it mean to be
a mandated reporter?
Mandated reporters are required to make a report
of suspected abuse when they have reasonable cause to suspect that a child or
teenager is a victim of abuse.
How does it feel to be a
child or teen experiencing abuse or neglect?
The Overcoming
Hurdles in Ohio Youth Advisory Board (OHIO YAB) is a statewide organization of young
people (aged 14-24) who have experienced foster care. Our mission is to be the
knowledgeable statewide voice that influences policies and practices that
effect all youth who have or will experience out of home care.
Alumni of
Care Together Improving Outcomes Now (ACTION Ohio)
is dedicated to improving outcomes for current and former foster youth. Our
mission is to bring together the voices of foster care youth, alumni and
allies, in order to create lasting change and generate hope for current and
former foster youth, based on access to resources, ally support and alumni
expertise.
Speaking as current and former foster youth, who
serve as statewide leaders and community volunteers, we strongly support this
bill.
We can testify from personal experience that
physical abuse comes with a feeling of powerless. To experience abuse without
intervention gives children and teens a scary message about their personal
worth and what to expect from other people.
How
would empowering police as mandated reporters help?
From a child welfare and emotional health
standpoint, it is essential that police officers in our state become mandated
reporters. This will make a life-changing - and even life-saving - difference
for children and teens.
Sadly, throughout the state of Ohio, in every
legislative district, there are children and teenagers who - right now at
this very moment - are being physically abused.
As the PCSAO Factbook illustrates, the #1 reason
for children and teens coming into foster care in Ohio is physical abuse.
Now, let's think about the kids and teens who
aren't being counted or included in that number. What about them? How long will they continue to
experience abuse without intervention?
How can we work together to solve this problem?
We care about and deeply appreciate Ohio police
officers - and that's why we need them on our team to help push this forward. Our
goal is to work together with them to develop a better safety net for
vulnerable youth in Ohio.
We value our police, and recognize that some officers are taking the time to
report abuse already. This next step forward is about “level setting” – getting
everyone on the same page, in order to provide consistency in response to
abused teens and children throughout our state.
The National Fraternal Order of Police and
law enforcement officials support this bill. Their support demonstrates that they view the responsibility
of reporting abuse and neglect as central to their jobs, and the statistics
bear out that this is true. HB 137
will enhance the relationship between law enforcement and children’s services
and further develop the safety net for vulnerable children.
How
can we move forward together?
The first step is passing this bill.
The next steps will include trauma-informed training, mentorship and support.
This can include a focus on Best Practices; officers who do a good job at
reporting abuse can serve as mentors and role models. Training can include
reminding police officers to view teenagers not as perpetrators, but as victims
of abuse.
Let’s stay in touch,
and continue working together
www.fosteractionohio.org
info@fosteractionohio.org
