Adopted:         09/15/2008

Revised:          04/16/2012                                                                              454 - Rule

School District of Prairie Farm

CHILD ABUSE AND NEGLECT REPORTING PROCEDURES

Because of their sustained contact with school age children, school employees are in an excellent position to identify abused or neglected children. Therefore, the following procedures are to be used in referring suspected abused and neglected children to appropriate human services departments.

1.  Any school employee having reasonable cause to suspect that a child seen in the course of professional duties has been abused or neglected or having reason to believe that a child has been threatened with abuse or neglect and that it will occur, shall consult immediately with the school principal or counselor.

a. The reporter shall immediately initiate a report to the county human services agency or the Sheriff’s Department.

 b. For purposes of these procedures, “immediately” means as soon as possible, and always before the child leaves school for the day.

2. In all cases, the building administrator shall be informed that a report of abuse or neglect has been or shall be filed. The building administrator shall support the staff member in their action(s) and shall not attempt to delay, modify or prevent any report of suspected child abuse or neglect. Reporting suspected abuse or neglect to the building administrator does not eliminate the staff member’s responsibility to make a report to county social services or the appropriate law enforcement agency.

3. Contact with the family will not be made regarding the circumstances of the report to the department of human services.

4. It is inappropriate for staff persons of the School District to independently conduct an investigation under the child abuse and neglect law. It is appropriate for properly trained staff members (counselor, social worker, psychologist, district school nurse or principal) to provide assistance to county departmental staff as they conduct the investigation.

5. It is appropriate for school personnel to maintain contact with the human services worker assigned to the investigation.

6. No District employee shall be discharged or disciplined for, in good faith, making a child abuse or neglect report. State laws guarantee immunity from civil or criminal liability that may result from making a child abuse report in good faith. State law also provides for the protection of the identity of any individual who makes such a report.

CROSS REF.:               454, Reporting Child Abuse / Neglect