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You may encounter child abuse and neglect in your child care program, and all staff members, regardless of their roles, need to be aware of the definitions for and signs of abuse and neglect. In this lesson, you will learn about types of child abuse and neglect, risk factors, and how protective factors minimize risk and promote healthy relationships.

Knowledge of child development is a protective factor against child abuse and neglect. In this lesson, you will learn about typical development and examples of behaviors you may observe in your program. As a support staff member, you will not need the depth of knowledge that direct care staff need on child and youth development. However, knowing what to expect from children at different developmental stages aids you in recognizing when there is a mismatch between what a child can do and what a staff member or family member expects.

Caregivers who understand the importance of social and emotional competence in children demonstrate a protective factor that can prevent child abuse and neglect. In this lesson, you will learn strategies that direct care staff in your program use to promote children’s social skills and emotional competence. You will also learn about times when you can use these strategies in your role as a support staff member.

All staff and families will experience challenging behavior from children at one time or another. When such challenges occur, positive and appropriate responses help children learn more desirable behaviors. This lesson will introduce you to positive guidance techniques that staff in your program use, and there may be times when it is appropriate for you to utilize these techniques, too. You will also learn to recognize discipline or punishment practices that are never acceptable and warrant a discussion with your program administrator.

Your program is committed to protecting children from harm, and all staff members regardless of their role should contribute to this commitment. In this lesson, you will learn about the features of your facility that promote safety. You will also learn how you can help maintain a safe program environment and prevent child abuse and neglect in the center.