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.
