New county guidelines say reasonable discipline is ok, but you canít abuse

Posted 5/2/01

New county guidelines say reasonable discipline is ok, but you canít abuse

By MaryHelen Swanson

Contrary to what most kids would like to believe, parents can spank their children.
But today, children are quick to point out that if they are ìabusedî in that manner, they will call authorities.

If you live in Chisago County, those authorities will say ìabuse does not include reasonable and moderate physical discipline of a child administered by a parent or legal guardian,î the kicker is that it cannot and must not ìresult in an injury.î

In discussion at the April 25 county board meeting, in a month when child abuse awareness is heightened, different views on spanking were brought forward. Having raised eight children, Commissioner Bob Gustafson said he believed in it to a degree, having administered discipline to his own children in the Biblical sense.

But he was quick to point out that there is a fine line between spanking and abuse.

The board went on that day, to approve the newly developed Chisago County Screening Criteria for Alleged Maltreatment. This screening criteria has been in the development stage for several years.
It came about, in part, due to the 1998 Minnesota Legislative Auditorís program evaluation report on the Minnesota Child Protection System.

That report indicated that counties that have written screening criteria which supplements the broad maltreatment definition in state law tend to investigate 51 percent of allegations of maltreatment while counties with different screening criteria reported investigations of only 28 percent of allegations.

In 1998, also, an evaluation was performed within the Chisago County Child Protection System and it was learned that more than half of the cases investigated in Child Protection did not result in any finding of maltreatment.

It was believed that this was the result partly of an aggressive pursuit of possible harmful situations to children and partly to an overly intrusive process in privacy of families.
Both these issues identified the need to apply clear and consistent screening criteria to allegations of maltreatment.

The policy adopted by the commissioners last week will do just that. It clearly outlines areas of concern which might lead to a child protection investigation.

The countyís Citizen Review Panel, law enforcement officers and county attorneyís office have all reviewed the document.

It is meant to be a working policy and thus is expected to be revised at least every two years.
Elizabeth Dodge Hanson, Social Services Director, told the commissioners the county is not trying to take the role of the parents. She said they want parents to raise their kids as they wish, unless it crosses that ìvery fine line.î

Rene Martini, child protection intake supervisor, added that the county is trying to empower families, to teach them and train them rather than come in as the ìbig, bad child protector.î

And that takes a lot of work, she said. The goal, she went on, is not to blame and shame families but to empower them to raise their children in a safe and healthy manner.

Commissioner Mike Robinson said raising kids is really guesswork. ìThereís not a right way or wrong way,î he said, adding, whatís good for one is not always good for another.

Commissioner Bob Vande Kamp agreed with him.
In the physical abuse section of the document, where spanking comes in, some of the actions deemed not reasonable, those actions done in anger or without regard to the safety of the child include:

Reports of non-accidental injuries such as

ï injuries requiring medical attention;

ï injuries observable, but not requiring medical attention;

ï no observable injury, but child reports pain that may indicate internal injury;

Reports of physical discipline which pose a risk of injury, including, but not limited to the young age of a child, use of a weapon, choking, hitting with a closed fist, smothering, kicking, throwing, shaking, burning, biting or poisoning.

Reports of confinement or restrain including, but not limited to, tying, locking, caging or chaining.
Other actions which are deemed not reasonable include the child being threatened with a weapon, verbal threats of further physical abuse, verbal threats of death or serious injury, reports of physical punishment to a child 18-months-old or younger involving shaking, throwing, biting or hitting the childís head or trunk.

The 11-page document covers child maltreatment from neglect (inadequate food, clothing, hygiene, shelter, medical attention) to infant neglect and prenatal exposure to controlled substances.
It covers failure to thrive, educational neglect, supervision, care, guidance and protection of children, abandonment, desertion or illegal placements, including illegal adoptions, and child endangerment.

It also covers runaways, actual and threatened sexual abuse, and emotional maltreatment.
ìItís a good tool,î Commissioner Vande Kamp said.
Commissioner Tom Delaney said it was true that the government wants to see kids taken care of, but he said itís time itís back on the parents and the communities.

Chisago County is also working to adopt a risk assessment tool which will further clarify strategies for intervention in families with alleged maltreatment.

In other action last week, the commissioners:
ï Reviewed the annual report of the Citizen Review Panel, learning that four new members are needed on that panel.

ï Heard a report on welfare fraud investigations from Gene Patrin who noted that fraud is down statewide, probably due to the availability of jobs and families nearing the end of their five-year limit for assistance.

ï Received and reviewed final copies of the Chisago County Energy Management Plan with Bill Neuman. Chisago County is a leader in this field, being looked at as a role model across the state and nation. The plan was prepared using grants and a $12,000 contribution from the county.

ï Received the first quarter revenue report from Treasurer Lee Olson who noted that 25 percent of the budget has been spent with 25 percent of the year gone. He expressed some concern over long distance charges from phones used for telecommuting employees. He also acknowledged higher utility bills in the highway department due to high cost of fuel, but he said he sees no red flags. Still, increased costs in the highway department are a concern and he said it is something that needs to be looked at in the 2002 budget process.
ï Authorized a temporary $500,000 transfer from revenue to road and bridge.

ïLearned that eight parcels applied for purchase of development rights in the countyís new program. Two passed criteria and are on top of the list for consideration. An issue in purchasing one or both of the parcels is a timeline which states all transactions must be complete by June 30 or the state money will be gone. The commissioners appeared eager to move forward to try and complete a purchase before the money ($300,000) is lost.