AUSTIN, MN - When children suffer from abuse it can be challenging to find where to turn for help.
Two young boys from southern Minnesota are now in protective custody. Their parents, 33-year-old Brian Miller and his wife 26-year-old Charity Miller, are facing multiple charges of false imprisonment, child neglect, and abuse. They're accused of chaining their children to bed and not feeding them enough.
One of the boys first told school officials about the mistreatment, which eventually got him and his brother removed from the home.
Districts in both Iowa and Minnesota are required by law to report signs of child abuse to county officials. Extensive training is given to teachers and school staff to look for signs of abuse, and even student curriculum is designed for kids to identify themselves when something is wrong.
“We're constantly making sure that this is the safest place our kids can be at,” said David Krenz, superintendent at Austin Public Schools.
Krenz says child abuse is something schools always have an eye on.
“All of our staff are constantly reminded of that, that's part of our procedures we go through the principals remind our staff,” said Krenz.
Krenz says at Austin Public, social workers and counselors inform students what constitutes inappropriate behavior.
“That's part of our health and wellness curriculum that the students all go through starting in kindergarten,” said Krenz.
Both Iowa and Minnesota also require teachers to attend regular training sessions to identify signs of abuse.
“When they first come out of school they're worried about getting their classrooms ready and curriculum ready and it's just one of those reminders,” said Krenz.
And reporting that abuse is the law.
“It's on everybody's radar now,” said Joel Yunek, attorney.
Yunek says mandatory reporting affects anyone coming in regular contact with children.
“Childcare workers obviously, nurses, hospital workers, teachers, anybody that has contact with children has an affirmative legal duty,” said Yunek.
If teachers suspect imminent danger law enforcement is notified.
“But if they're just suspicious they want an investigation they report it to DHS and it goes from there,” said Yunek.
Trying to keep as safe an environment as possible.
“What we can do and what we must do is as kids come to us basically as their in school we have to look out for their welfare and safety,” said Krenz.
For more information about reporting child abuse you can contact the Iowa or Minnesota Department of Human Services.
