Sunlight Children’s Services

Resources

Engaged and concerned community members are critical to preventing, recognizing, and reporting child abuse.

Though Sunlight’s work typically begins in conjunction with an open DCF or law enforcement investigation, here are some resources on child abuse awareness, prevention, recognition, and reporting in our communities.

Print & online resources.

Our staff is aware of many worthwhile resources—free or inexpensive—including webinars, books, websites, pamphlets, flyers, curricula, guidebooks, and other reading material. Please contact us for more information, and check our Facebook page for training opportunities.

Signs of possible child abuse

  • Unexplained injuries
  • Changes in behavior 
  • Returning to earlier behaviors 
  • Fear of going home 
  • Changes in eating 
  • Changes in sleeping 
  • Changes in school performance and attendance 
  • Lack of personal care or hygiene 
  • Risk-taking behaviors 
  • Inappropriate sexual behaviors 

(Source: www.onewithcourage.org)

How we help in the community.

Sunlight staff can meet with superintendents, principals, counselors, nurses, faculty, and support staff to give large group presentations and small group conversations. Typical topics include mandated reporting, methods of reporting, recognizing abuse, definitions of abuse, and a “minimal facts interview” with suspected victims. We will also help identify and/or deliver curriculum to students on topics such as telling about abuse, saying, “No,” making wise decisions, identifying inappropriate touch, and online safety. Similar programming is available for parents as well, since we know that children cannot be solely responsible for their own abuse prevention.
Information for schools will be appropriate for daycare providers as well. We also talk about creating policies that protect children and minimize “false reporting” concerns. We can help staff understand normal vs. worrisome sexual development and play.
Those engaged in their community through groups such as Kiwanis or Lions Clubs will be interested in learning about child abuse dynamics and community supports for victims, as well as in knowing about the Child Advocacy Center model and how we operate. Engaged citizens can be key in child abuse prevention, recognition, and reporting.
Program directors need information on recognizing abusers’ common tactics and on creating personnel policies to lessen potential for abuse. Spiritual directors will be concerned about the effects of trauma and abuse and the dynamics of victimization. Staff can offer resources on churches’ response to abuse.
We can make available free or inexpensive webinars and other training to medical professionals on recognizing abuse, typical locations of injury from abuse vs. normal play, neurological trauma, and other physical and sexual abuse issues. Reporting issues are also a concern for medical professionals.

More resources.

Bullying and Child Mandate Resources

(According to KSA 38-2223)

  • Persons licensed to practice the healing arts
  • Dentistry and optometry
  • Persons engaged in post graduate training programs approved by the state board of healing arts
  • Licensed professional or practical nurses
  • Chief administrative officers of medical care facilities
  • Licensed psychologists
  • Licensed masters level psychologists
  • Licensed clinical psychotherapists
  • Licensed social workers
  • Licensed marriage and family therapists
  • Licensed clinical marriage and family therapists
  • Licensed professional counselors
  • Licensed clinical professional counselors
  • Registered alcohol and drug abuse counselors
  • Teachers
  • School administrators
  • Other employees of an educational institution which the child is attending
  • Persons licensed by the secretary of health and environment to provide child care services
  • The employees of persons so licensed at the place where the child care services are being provided to the child
  • Firefighters
  • Emergency medical services personnel
  • Law enforcement officers
  • Juvenile intake and assessment workers
  • Court services officers and community corrections officers
  • Case managers appointed under K.S.A. 23-1001 et seq., and amendments thereto
  • Mediators appointed under K.S.A. 23-602, and amendments thereto

Hotline

To make a report online, visit www.dcf.ks.gov. To make a report by phone, please call 1-800-922-5330.

Sunlight is here to provide resources and facilities that support and protect abused and neglected children & their families.

About Our Mission