School-Age Case Study: Part 3

Reflection

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This is a fictionalized account of actual events that occurred on a U.S. military installation. The names, exact dates, locations, and service-specific terminology have been changed or neutralized. To create the activities in this and subsequent lessons, we started with the facts of a real criminal investigation and lawsuit. What you will read here goes beyond the facts recorded in the criminal case by imagining details of individual’s thoughts, feelings, and actions. Although much of what you will read here is fiction, the sequence of events and the tragic consequences are very real. While the content in this case study is important in order to bring awareness to the topic of child abuse and neglect, we recognize that it may be difficult to read. After you complete this lesson, we encourage you to take some time to reflect on your own well-being and engage in self-care strategies as needed.

Reread these scenarios in which individuals suspected children were being abused. Be sure to notice the additional information about what the adults in each situation did. Then answer the reflection questions and share your coach, trainer, or administrator.

In the School-Age Program:

Max, a school-age staff member, ran his fingers through his hair and tried to think of what to do next. Braden’s behavior just seemed to get worse every day. Braden seemed to completely disconnect from the people around him. He would get very angry and begin destroying things. This afternoon he had caught Braden trying to pull the wings off of a dying fly. Bethany was just as bad. She seemed to have a vendetta against every adult in the building. If you tried to give her a direction, she snapped back with comments like, “Shut up” or “Go away.” Sasha was the only staff member Bethany seemed to like, and today was her day off. Max was exhausted. He looked over and saw Caleb, the siblings’ older foster brother, twisting Braden’s arm behind his back. At first, he just thought it was roughhousing but something didn’t seem right. Braden looked scared. As he got closer he heard Caleb say, “If you lie again, Dad is going to burn your mouth so bad you won’t talk for a week.”

Max stepped in and separated the boys. “What’s the problem here?” he asked. Caleb replied, “There’s not a problem. He’s just a little liar.” Braden slumped down onto the chair. “I am not,” he said under his breath. Max thought quickly. This didn’t seem like a conflict or a time for mediation. Caleb definitely seemed to be exerting power over Braden, and Braden seemed afraid. He calmed both boys down and sat with Braden in a spot where they could talk quietly. “You seemed pretty upset back there. Is everything OK?” Max asked. Braden just shrugged his shoulders. He didn’t say a word. Max stayed with him for a few minutes and then went to talk to Caleb. Caleb was playing on the computer, but he stopped when Max approached. “Whatever that little punk told you isn’t true,” he instantly began. “I hope he gets sent back wherever he came from. My mom says he is evil and that we have to train him before he ruins our family.”

Max was concerned enough about what he saw to talk to his manager. Together they decided they had seen a pattern of behavior that raised a reasonable suspicion and followed the Service's reporting procedures to report his suspicions to the installation's Family Advocacy Program (FAP), Child Protective Services (CPS), and law enforcement.

Bethany only had one friend in the school-age program. A girl named Felicity rode the bus with Bethany, and they went to the same church. Felicity would often sit by Bethany when she was having a bad day or had gotten into an argument with another child. After a particularly bad night of “obedience tests” from Jonah, Bethany confided in her friend as they huddled together on a picnic table outside. Bethany told Felicity that she was so tired. She showed Felicity the marks on her back from the whippings she got when she failed the “tests.” She wouldn’t tell Felicity what the tests were, but Felicity could tell from her friend’s face that she was scared.

That night Felicity told her mom what Bethany had told her. Felicity’s mom called the Millers. She thought they should know what Jonah was doing. Melinda Miller thanked Felicity’s mom for calling and for caring about her family. She assured Felicity’s mom that they would take care of everything. She and Felicity’s mom talked for several more minutes about the challenges of raising pre-teens. Bethany wasn’t in school the next day or for several days after. She stopped talking to Felicity and avoided her at the school-age program.

Several weeks later, Bethany made a similar confession about the “obedience tests” to Sasha (the school-age staff member). The obedience tests had become more and more sexual. Bethany was scared of Jonah and told Sasha she did not want to go home.

Bethany begged Sasha not to tell anyone. She said she had been beaten really badly the last time she told someone, and she couldn’t go to school for a week while she healed. “I don’t know what’ll happen if you tell,” she cried to Sasha. Sasha hugged the girl and felt like crying herself. She knew she had to tell, though. “Bethany, I’m worried about you and it’s my job to help,” she said. “I’ve got to call people who know what to do.” Bethany continued to cry, but Sasha contacted her manager and immediately called FAP, CPS and law enforcement.

In the Community:

Neighbors always said the Millers were a great family. They were active in the community and attended all of the neighborhood events with their five children. They had a reputation for being strict, though. A school friend of Caleb’s refused to go play at the Miller house. He told his parents that he was scared of Mr. Miller and didn’t want to get yelled at. He mentioned the rubber tubing that was placed in different places around the house. He told his parents that the children got hit with the tubing for not cleaning up fast enough. It happened one time while he was there. His parents asked a few more questions and made sure he wasn’t hit. Then they explained that some people use spankings to discipline their children. From that point on, they always made sure their son invited Caleb over to their house to play. They always looked for any signs that the children were mistreated, but they never felt that anyone was in danger.

As the months passed after Bethany and Braden’s arrival, neighbors began to hear more shouting from the house. Sometimes it was Bethany screaming curses at the adults. Sometimes it was Mr. Miller raising his voice to the children. They all wanted to respect the Miller’s privacy. They said things like, “It’s got to be so hard to bring kids that age into the house” and “They’re stronger than I am.”

One night felt different, though. It began with screaming, but for the past hour, neighbors had heard a child crying loudly. They weren’t sure which child it was, but the child sounded distressed. Finally, the woman across the street couldn’t take it anymore. She knew the Millers well enough to wave when they passed each other in the car, but she didn’t feel comfortable knocking on the door under the circumstances. She made a call to the military police about the noise. The police arrived several minutes later. They found Bethany still crying in her room. All else seemed well at the house. The parents explained their situation: a pre-teen foster child had a hard day at school. They were friendly and apologetic. The police let the family know there had been a complaint about the noise and that they would check back later. The police left and no report was made.

Reflection Questions:

Think about each of the scenarios above. Did the adults in each scenario do the right thing? What would you do?

	Did the adults do the right thing?	If you were involved, what would you do?
In the School-Age Program: If this happened in your program, what would you do?	The staff members did the right thing. As staff members at a School-Age Program, they are mandated reporters. They reported their concerns to the appropriate authorities. They did everything they could to keep the children safe.	Follow specific reporting procedures for your State or Service. Call the appropriate authorities (e.g. Child Protective Services) Be prepared to provide the child’s name, address, phone number, and signs of abuse or neglect. Make sure your administrator is aware of the report. Work with your program to identify ways to communicate with the family and help them access resources.
In the Community: If you were the neighbor, what would you do?	The neighbor did the right thing by calling the military police. Police are mandated reporters and can help protect the child and family.	Call the police. Be prepared to provide the address, phone number, child's name, and as much information as you can about the family.
Max:	Max did the right thing by intervening. He recognized that the situation was tense and unusual. He talked to each boy separately. When something seemed wrong to him, he followed his instincts. He talked to his manager when he needed advice. They both decided they had a reasonable suspicion and made a report to FAP, CSP, and law enforcement.	Follow reporting procedures for your State or Service. List the exact steps you should take to make a report in your workplace.
Sasha:	Sasha did the right thing. She did not promise not to tell anyone. She kept her commitment as a mandated reporter. She reported her concerns to the appropriate authorities (FAP, CSP and law enforcement) and to her manager. They did everything they could to keep the children safe.	Follow reporting procedures for your State or Service. List the exact steps you should take to make a report in your workplace.
Felicity's Mom:	Felicity’s mom should have made a report to FAP or CPS. There are many potential reasons why she did not make a report. Perhaps she thought her daughter was exaggerating. Perhaps she did not want to accuse the family without seeing evidence herself. Perhaps she knew Jonah and did not think he was capable of hurting a person. Perhaps she thought it was best to let the Miller family deal with the issue themselves. We do not know. If a report had been made, though, the time the children spent suffering in the house could have been shortened.	Make a report to FAP, CPS, or local law enforcement.
The parents of Caleb's school friend:	If this family thought the children were experiencing harm or at risk of harm, they should have made a report. It is likely, though, that they assumed the Millers were within their rights as parents to use corporal punishment.	Monitor the situation Make a report if you suspect children are being harmed or are at risk of harm.
Neighbors:	The neighbor did the right thing by calling the military police. Police are mandated reporters and can help protect the child and family.	Call the police. Be prepared to provide the address and as much information as you can about the family.