In the last session you learned about how to provide a safe and secure home situation for at-risk children and about the importance of working to prevent and manage abuse allegations.

	If you still have any questions or thoughts about the case examples, please enter them here:

Print out your questions/thoughts to share with the trainers.

Your reading assignment from last session expanded on the effects of trauma and maltreatment by specifically looking at:

• Substance abuse (50-80% of substantiated cases of child abuse and neglect involve substance abuse)
  
  
• Mental illness
  
  
• Domestic violence (75% of children whose mothers have been battered witnessed the violence).

Many times, all three of these elements are present in a family when a child comes into Department custody.

You were asked to think about which of the above issues would pose the greatest challenge for you. This session will continue to explore and examine the differences and similarities in your values and attitudes from the children and families you will be working with.