ECE 188: Preventing Child Abuse

Class Rules

• Attendance is required and will be taken. Class begins on time - be on time.
• Once class begins, please don't talk among yourselves. This is distracting for me as well as your classmates. During class discussions and activities, please give everyone in the class a chance to participate.
• There may be guest speakers attending the class. Please make every effort to treat them with courtesy and respect (that is to say: don't talk, read newspapers, or clip your fingernails during their lecture!)
• It is my responsibility for presenting the information and you are responsible for getting your needs met and asking the questions you want answered.
• It is okay to disagree
• What is said here, stays here.

Course Activities

• Proposal: This is a statement of your plan for completing the rest of the course assignments. Due April 6th. Ý
  In this paper you will state:
  • Who you will be writing and what in regard to for you letter
  • Where you will be doing your community service
  • Who you will be interviewing for your Child Abuse Plan
• Letter to local representative: You will be writing a letter to one of our elected officials urging them to support children's issues and to promote family well-being through their legislative efforts. A list of addresses will be provided. As an alternative you may also write a letter to the editor. Due April 20th.
• Child Abuse Plan: The law in our state outlines the responsibilities of parties mandated to report child abuse and neglect. Many schools, offices and professionals have written policies to help them when a report needs to be made. Some don't. You will need to interview a mandated reporter and ask them what their procedure is for making a report. Due May 4th
• Community Service: You are required to do a community service/volunteer project for this class. This is to give you an opportunity to gain some first hand experience in the community addressing issues like child abuse and neglect, family violence, and other family and children's issues. You will need to participate in 10 hours of community service to complete this assignment. Due May 25th.

Note: All assignments must be typed (1" margins, 12 pt font, Arial or Times Roman) and stapled. Please don't waste your money on folders or covers - they just weigh extra and take up space.

Course Objectives

By the time you finish this course you should be able to:

• Define child abuse and neglect in a social, cultural, and historical context.
• Identify major signs and symptoms of neglect, and physical, emotional, verbal, and sexual abuse per Washington State statues.
• Describe information necessary to report suspected child abuse/neglect to proper authorities, including appropriate timeline, per mandatory reporting law.
• Describe factors that put children and families at risk for abuse and neglect.
• Identify primary, secondary, and tertiary prevention programs (with emphasis on programs available in Kitsap and Mason counties).

Course Schedule

Grading & Evaluation

Your grade will be based on the following:

Grades will be assigned as follows:

Instructor Information

Instructor: Diane Fish
Phone: 830-2825
Email: andfish@tscnet.com

Hours: Tuesday/Thursday 9-10am

Textbooks

• Kemp, Alan (1998) Abuse in the Family: An Introduction, Brooks/ Cole: Pacific Grove, CA
• Schneider, Andrew and Barber, Mike (1998) The Power to Harm , The Seattle Post-Intelligencer
  (This is on reserve at the Library and is also available on the web at: http://seattlep-i.nwsource.com/powertoharm/wensetting.html * )

* Denotes an external link