This course will provide information on abuse and neglect to make it easier for child welfare staff to communicate with medical professionals and determine accuracy of the explanation of the injury and/or neglect. 

Learning Objectives: 

• Acquire a basic understanding of medical terminology and human anatomy

• Be familiar with the various soft tissue injuries and signs of abuse or neglect

• Be familiar with the bones and fractures and their possible mechanisms of injury

• Demonstrate an understanding of patterns of neglect

• Be familiar withe the patterns of sexual abuse: signs of sexual abuse, grooming of the victim, and the dynamics of disclosure

• Be familiar with the allegations of abuse and neglect

• Demonstrate the proper technique in which to document abuse, neglect, and other childhood maladies 

• Acquire skills of documentation of the abuse/neglect that will be sufficient to support decision