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<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";color:#1F497D">We are required by law to report any type of abuse: physical or mental. It's not our job to investigate or interview. (If too many people interview the child, it can interfere
with legal action later on.) You have to report it! Don't apologize for it! (1. You're following the law. 2. Reports are supposed to be confidential. You don't have to admit to them that you made the report. 3. Don't apologize -What kind of liability could
that bring on you?) This happened to me. A girl reported sexual abuse from a step-father. Much later, after DHS intervention, I found out that she had lied about it. The girl never came back to report anything to me, so I didn't have to deal with that occurring
again. When I would see her, I just tried to treat her like "normal". I didn't apologize. I did my job. I followed the law.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Yes. I did apologize to the parents, but informed them that it was my duty to report what the student had shared. I cannot determine at that point if it is a lie or truth. That any student that came to me with a plan to harm to self, or
others I would be obligated to report. After that incident, I visited with the student about the importance of truthfulness in my office. That if she wanted help, that I needed full truths only.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif""><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";color:#1F497D"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";color:#1F497D">I have had that happen more than once. I still see the students that made the false reports, if they request to see me. I do my best to listen to what they have to say without
judgement, but I always emphasize the fact that.,* "You are not going to be in trouble for telling me if someone has hurt you or someone else, as long as you tell the whole truth."*<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";color:#1F497D"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";color:#1F497D">As for the parents, they may or may not understand, but I do my best to explain that I am REQUIRED BY LAW to report when a child discloses abuse or neglect of any kind to me.
It is not up to me to determine whether or not<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";color:#1F497D">the statements are true. I am not the investigator...merely the MANDATED REPORTER.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";color:#1F497D"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">It is not our responsibility to judge or investigate the claim. Once the referral has been made I let DHS do their work. I make no contact with the parent. You don't need to apologize because
you were doing your job.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";color:#1F497D"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";color:#1F497D"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";color:#1F497D">Yes I did. I discovered later (after the call) that the student was flat out lying. However, we always have to err on the side of the student, so I felt no remorse on making
the call. I did NOT apologize to the parents. I<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";color:#1F497D">let the matter rest.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";color:#1F497D"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";color:#1F497D">Cindy Bryant, NBCT, M.Ed.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";color:#1F497D">Director, Idabel Alternative Academy<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";color:#1F497D">Counselor, Idabel Middle School<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";color:#1F497D">100 NE Avenue D<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";color:#1F497D">Idabel, OK 74745<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";color:#1F497D">(580) 286-6558 Phone<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";color:#1F497D">(580) 286-8272 FAX<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";color:#1F497D"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";color:#1F497D">*Some days there won't be a song in your heart. Sing anyway!*<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";color:#1F497D"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">Sometimes students lie, sometimes they stretch the truth. You are obligated to report what is reported to you. You should not feel obligated to apologize to the student and you definitely
should not contact the<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">parent. DHS referrals are confidential and what may be untrue today may be true tomorrow,<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif""><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">Bob Ehrle, BA, M.Ed<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">8th Grade Counselor<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">Sapulpa Junior High School<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">918-224-6710<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif""><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";color:#1F497D">I am not sure I have had that exact situation. However, the student needs just as much help if the story is false. What would make them tell that story? What were they trying
to gain? I would probably approach the<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";color:#1F497D">parent as the student needs some counseling, and the family probably benefit also. I would not apologize to the parent at all, as you were doing your job!<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";color:#1F497D"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";color:#1F497D">*Leslie Sexson*<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";color:#1F497D">*Bartlesville High School*<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";color:#1F497D">*College and Career Counselor*<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";color:#1F497D">*918-336-3311 ext. 1001*<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";color:#1F497D"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Tahoma","sans-serif"">From:</span></b><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Tahoma","sans-serif""> Counselors [mailto:counselors-bounces@lists.onenet.net]
<b>On Behalf Of </b>OSRHEStudent Prep PK-12 Counselor Discussion Board<br>
<b>Sent:</b> Monday, September 17, 2018 8:32 AM<br>
<b>To:</b> counselors@lists.onenet.net<br>
<b>Subject:</b> [Counselors] DHS call<o:p></o:p></span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">Have any of you ever called DHS with a story a student told you only to find out that the story was false? How did you handle the student after that? Did you apologize to the parents?
<o:p></o:p></span></p>
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