Iowa City, Penn State cases put mandatory reporters in spotlight

Even before former Penn State coach Jerry Sandusky was arrested in November on allegations he sexually assaulted young boys, the number of assessed reports of child abuse and neglect in Iowa was rising.

After authorities arrested Sandusky and several of his colleagues - mandatory reporters accused of failing to report knowledge of the abuse - the number of abuse and neglect calls to the Iowa Department of Human Services rose to nearly 280 a week compared with 190 a week a few months earlier.

“I do think we are talking more and more about these issues and how we can work with the community to find the best way to protect children,” said Amy Polson, social work supervisor for the Department of Human Services' centralized intake unit.

The high-profile case out of Penn State University has brought attention to the issue of child abuse and the importance of mandatory reporters - professionals like doctors, teachers and counselors who are required to report suspected abuse or neglect to the state.

The case has prompted states to review mandatory reporting laws, motivated schools and health care systems to improve staff training, and pushed law enforcement officers to take action against mandatory reporters suspected of failing to fulfill their duties.

What is believed to be the state's first arrest of a mandatory reporter on suspicion of failing to report happened in Iowa City in February. The director of Iowa City's Broadway Neighborhood Center is accused of failing to contact the state after a parent reported suspicions that a teacher was sexually abusing a student.

Susan Freeman-Murdah's failure-to-report case is scheduled to go to trial Tuesday, and state officials said they'll be watching.

“I've heard of threats being made before by county attorneys,” Polson said. “But I haven't heard, until this incident, that something's been done about it.”

Another suspected child abuse case involving mandatory reporting popped up last week in Iowa City when a reporter called the state with allegations that Jorge Perez, 20, had left his 20-month-old stepson home alone for up to 20 minutes on April 25.

The toddler died Monday, and Perez was arrested early Tuesday in connection with the April 25 incident. Authorities say the death is suspicious, but they haven't reported a cause or manner of death or filed charges in the case.

Media attention around the Sandusky Freeman-Murdah and Perez cases has encouraged discussion and education regarding state laws and mandatory reporter requirements.

Education requirements

In Iowa, mandatory reporters must take two hours of training in the first six months on the job and two more hours every five years after that. Mandatory reporters accused of failing to report suspected abuse can be convicted of a simple misdemeanor and sentenced to up to 30 days in jail.

A law will go into effect July 1 that makes it a crime for an employer to retaliate against a staff member for reporting suspected abuse.

Polson said the state is focused on education because some employers still have policies requiring staff report suspected abuse to supervisors first.

“Sometimes, because of interoffice policies, they are not reporting it when they should be,” Polson said.

The push to educate mandatory reporters about their rights and responsibilities might be working, Polson said, as her department is fielding more reports of child abuse or neglect, and investigators are following up on more of those leads.

The Iowa Department of Human Services assessed 30,747 reports of child neglect and abuse last year compared with the 26,413 reports assessed in 2010 and 25,814 reports in 2009. The department, on average, receives about 50,000 calls a year, although some don't require follow up or warrant an investigation.

Reports can range from questionable accounts of neglect to serious allegations of abuse, Polson said.

“The biggest category is denial of critical care and failure to provide supervision.”

UI Hospitals reporting

The most common report made by staff at University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics in Iowa City is about denial of critical care, said Tara Clark, assistant director of the Department of Social Service Resources. That includes failing to provide food, shelter, medical care or proper supervision, Clark said.

In the 2011 budget year, University Hospitals made 342 reports of possible child abuse or neglect to the state, up from 314 in 2010 and 237 in 2009, according to Clark.

Resmiye Oral, clinical director of the Child Protection Program with the UI Children's Hospital, said she thinks the hospital is making more reports both because of education and staff training and because parents have been more stressed.

“I believe, with the 2008 economic downturn, there has been an increase of child abuse and neglect,” Oral said.

She praised Iowa's mandatory reporting law, calling it “one of the most detailed laws in the country.” But, she said, the system isn't perfect, and there are plenty of mandatory reporters in Iowa who don't want to get involved.

“They don't want to lose clients, and they don't want to get into a hostile relationship with families,” Oral said.

Linda Fisk, vice president of Waterloo-based CE Solutions, which provides training for mandatory reporters, said she's noticed a recent push from employers to make sure their staff is getting the appropriate amount of training and is aware of the law.

“That has been a change,” Fisk said. “You can thank Jerry Sandusky for that.”

Who are mandatory reporters?

• Iowa law defines “mandatory reporters” as professionals who have frequent contact with children including
• Physicians, surgeons and physician assistants
• Dentists and licensed dental hygienists
• Optometrists
• Podiatrists
• Chiropractors
• Registered and licensed practical nurses
• Basic and advanced emergency medical care providers
• Social workers
• Licensed school employees
• Certified psychologists
•  Employees and operators of child-care centers; substance abuse programs; juvenile detention facilities; health care centers; including mental health facilities; and foster care facilities
•  Peace officers

Source: Iowa Department of Human Services