Protocol for Case Management

of Child Victims of Abuse,

Neglect and Exploitation
Purpose:
 Sets the standards and guidelines when assisting a
child victim
Define roles and responsibilities of different agencies
Improves coordination and strengthen the referral
system of the Information and Service Delivery
Network for Adolescents.
 RA 7610:
An Act Providing Strong
Deterrence and Special Protection
against Child Abuse, Exploitation
and Discrimination
FRAMEWORK
Barangay
Holistic care

LEA Right-based

Protocol
Family & community- Healing, recovery,
based interventions
LSWDO / DSWD reintegration or
Gender-sensitive
independent living
Mandatory Multi-disciplinary

Reporters
Other Duty
Bearers
 Department of Health
Administrative Order No. 2013-0011
All government hospitals should establish a Woman and Child
Protection Unit
Funded by GAD Budget and Philhealth to come up with a
health package for abused women and abused children.
WCPUs will become part of hospital accreditation
Requirements for all hospitals:
WCPU should have a WCPC/ coordinator
Training of WCPU personnel
WHO MAY REPORT A
CASE OF ABUSE?
ANYBODY MAY REPORT!
 REPORTING INCIDENCE OF ABUSE OR
NEGLECT
Reporter’s protection and anonymity shall be assured
Reporter need not to be the complainant but has
knowledge of the incident
 Who are the Mandatory Reporters?
Physician
Nurse
Head or Administrator of Healthcare Unit/Institution

• Reporter is granted immunity from any liability arising from

reporting
• Report to DSWD/LSWDO within 48 hours either orally or in
writing
 WHAT TO REPORT?
Basic Information on the child victim (name, age, address or
whereabouts of the child)
Reasons that child may be at risk or in an abusive or
exploitative situation
The alleged perpetrator

• Any relevant information to suspect that a child is being abused

or exploited shall suffice to investigation
WHERE TO REPORT?
DSWD
LSWDO (municipality, city or province)
Commission on Human Rights
PNP
NBI
Barangay (punong barangay, kagawad, member of BCPC-
Barangay Council for the Protection of Children,
barangay/VAW help desk officer)
 THE
ALGORITHM
 BARANGAY INQUEST
FILING OF COURT WARRANT OF
INFO TO ARREST
JOINT FILING
INTERVIEW SS/ OTHER OF COURT

LEA SW &
POLICE
EVIDENCE COMPL
AINT
Who can report?

TRIAL
ANYBODY

PI DISMISSED MR

NOT
GUILTY
LSWDO / INTAKE
INTERVIEW
GUILTY

DSWD HOME VISIT SAFE

PSYCHOSOCIAL
AND OTHER
SUPPORT SERVICES
HEALING, RECOVERY,
NOT SAFE
AND REINTEGRATION /
MANDATORY MEDICO-
INDEPENDENT LIVING
LEGAL PROTECTIVE CUSTODY / INVOLUNTARY
REPORTERS EXAM COMMITMENT
HIGHLIGHTS
 Barangay
 Enter report in the barangay blotter
• If the reporter is not a victim interview
• If the report is made by the victim do not interview
(except get name, address and DOB) – only the designated
barangay help desk person shall talk to the child
 Within 24 hours, contact LSWDO and refer to SW for validation of
complaint and assessment
 If incest, notification of child’s family is left to LSWDO/Law
Enforcement Officer
 Safety monitoring of child and family
Law Enforcement Agency
 LEA – generic term
 May act as complainant in some cases (e.g. death of a child under
suspicious and abuse related circumstances)
Joint interview of the child victim shall be conducted by the
LSWDO and LEA as much as possible
NO LEA shall conduct any proceedings similar to preliminary
investigation to avoid multiple interviews of the child
If a report is made within 72 hours after the commission of the act
complained of, immediately refer the child victim to the nearest
WCPU or public hospital for medico-legal examination as well as
other medical interventions
Confidentiality
From barangay to court level
Use of alias (e.g., Minor AAA vs. Juan
dela Cruz)
No media
Color-coded case folders
 Roles of LSWDO & DSWD
LSWDO DSWD
• Case Management • Technical support
• Rescue • Resource augmentation
• Protective custody / • Social worker accreditation
Involuntary commitment
RESCUE
Role delineation:
• Police – leads rescue operation
• SW – receives the child
• Barangay – assists in securing child, family, community
Immediate rescue without SW’s presence:
• Time constraints, compromise child’s safety
• Immediate endorsement to SW & entry in blotter
Immediately bring the rescued child to a WCPU or a hospital
to be examined by a doctor
Protective Custody
Primarily by LSWDO
By DSWD - thru SWAD team or SWO II if:
• No functional LSWDO
• No licensed LSWDO
• Due to local political climate
Issue a written document evidencing the taking of
protective custody and authorizing the placement of the
child in a temporary facility
Reviewed every 3 mos. in a multi-disciplinary case
conference – shorten or extend
 Petition for Involuntary Commitment
Primarily filed by LSWDO with the assistance of SWAD team and
SWO II
If no licensed LSWDO social worker; the DSWD Field Office Director
shall temporarily assume responsibility
Supported by social case study, police investigation report, medico-legal
report, initial psychological assessment and other relevant documents
SW’s assessment report: Basis of discussion in a case conference so that
a comprehensive action may be taken, if a case will be pursues in court.
Where to file: Family Court or RTC
Period for filing: Within one (1) week after the receipt of the assessment
report
Medical Evaluation/
Medico-Legal Examination
WCPU or medico-legal officer or C/MHO
LSWDO SW will sign consent form in the absence of child’s
family
In case of a child’s suspicious / abuse-related death –
immediately inform LEA & LSWDO for mandatory autopsy
upon verbal request of the child’s parents, written request of
LEA or court order
 Joint Interview
(Police and Social Worker)
Avoid multiple interviews
Necessary if:
• Unaccompanied
• Accompanied by non-supportive family members
• There is a concern for the safety of the child
Conducted through audio/videotape interview
 Multidisciplinary Case Conference
All the members of the team involved in
the case to analyze issues pertinent to
the child victim and come up with an
inter-agency plan and recommendation
for the child and family
Medical evaluation Safety assessment Home visit by S.W.

Mental Health Child Development Multidisciplinary

Screening & assessment video-taped
therapy interview
Multidisciplinary Services of a
WCPU
 INQUEST / Preliminary Investigation
The investigating prosecutor shall require the presence of a
SW in all stages of the preliminary investigation
Protection of child’s identity
• Calendar, resolution, criminal information – child’s name is
not indicated; only “alias”
• Real name shall be typewritten at the back page of
resolution/criminal information
Simple, developmentally-appropriate language
No face-to-face confrontation between the child and the
alleged perpetrator
 HEALING, RECOVERY & REINTEGRATION
 Case plan based on comprehensive assessment
 Child’s right to participate vis-à-vis involvement of other
duty bearers
 Interventions for family members
 After-care services
 Close coordination between SW & barangay re: child’s
safety monitoring
 Example of after care services for the child & his/her family

Educational Parenting Class Livelihood

assistance assistance
References:

1. Protocol for Case Management of Child Victims of Abuse,Neglect, and Exploitation.

Committee for the Special Protection of Childre

1.