Transcript Child Abuse Reporting PowerPoint - Greenville County School District

Protocol for
Reporting
Suspected Child
Abuse & Neglect
Greenville County
School District
Goals
1. Discuss importance of protecting children
2. Provide definition of Child Abuse and
Neglect
3. Identify types of abuse and neglect
4. Share who is responsible for reporting
child abuse and neglect
5. Explain how school employees report
child abuse and neglect
Why Protect Children?
• Parents have the primary responsibility for
children under the age of 18
• Parental responsibilities include:
Feeding
Clothing
Protecting children’s mind
Providing shelter
Supervising
Providing Health Care
Educating
What is Child Abuse and Neglect?
• Can be subjective with many variables and gray areas
• What was OK at one time may not be OK another time
Legal Definition:
Child abuse or neglect occurs when the
parent, guardian or other person
responsible for the child's welfare
inflicts or allows to be inflicted upon the
child physical or mental injury or engages
in acts of omissions which present a
substantial risk of physical or mental injury
to the child…
What Types of Child Abuse &
Neglect are There?
Major Types of Child Maltreatment:
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Physical Abuse
Physical Neglect
Sexual Abuse
Mental Injury
What Normally is Not
Abuse and Neglect?
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Sibling on sibling events
Faded, old, torn clothing
Junk food
Dirty face, hands and clothing
Lack of educational materials
Use of space heathers
Lice, scabies, insect bites
Responding to a Child
• Listen attentively
• Do not probe for details, especially concerning
sexual abuse
• Avoid leading questions and all inclusive
words
• Do not remove clothing
Responding to a Child
• Do not express doubt or disbelief; anger or shock
• Tell the child that you are going to contact DSS
• Do not give false assurances that you will keep
information confidential
• Report when essential information has been
obtained
• Document
Who is Responsible for Reporting
Child Abuse & Neglect?
Mandatory Reporters by Law
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Principals
Assistant principals
Teachers
Nurses
Guidance Counselors
Social Workers
Who is Responsible for Reporting Child
Abuse & Neglect?
Mandatory Reporters by District Policy
• All district employees must report
• All must report orally and in writing
• Any doubt about reporting is to be resolved in
favor of protecting the child
How Do School Personnel Report
Suspected Child Abuse and Neglect?
• Make verbal report to Child Protective
Services by calling (864) 467-7750 or to the
appropriate law enforcement agency.
• Do not report to any other agencies
• Call as early in the day as possible.
How Do School Personnel Report
Suspected Child Abuse and Neglect?
• Complete form 250/217 Rev. 7/2012 (available
on Downloadable Resources)
Fax it to:
• Child Protective Services (864) 467-4891
How Do School Personnel Report
Suspected Child Abuse and Neglect?
• Inform principal orally of report
– The principal or immediate supervisor
should be notified orally as soon as
possible.
• Give the original to your principal to be kept in
a file.
How Do School Personnel Report
Suspected Child Abuse and Neglect?
• Report shall not be distributed / shown to
anyone other than DSS, law enforcement and
principal.
• Do not place copies of report in the student’s
record. Report is not considered part of a
student’s educational record.
• Report is not subject to disclosure under Policy
JR.
How Do School Personnel Report
Suspected Child Abuse and Neglect?
• DSS will screen reports to determine if
appropriate for investigation.
• DSS is supposed to telephone mandated
reporters to inform of decision to investigate or
not.
• If accepted for investigation, DSS must begin an
investigation within 24 hours (Emergency
Protective Custody situations must be initiated in
2 hours).
How Do School Personnel Report
Suspected Child Abuse and Neglect?
• When making a report for abuse, contact law
enforcement as well as DSS if the nature of
the abuse is severe.
• After a case has been reported to DSS, if no
one from DSS has visited the school as the
school day is coming to an end, contact law
enforcement if there is concern regarding
sending the student back into a potentially
abusive environment.
DSS Will…
• Interview student alone
• Notify parent as soon as possible after
initiating the investigation
• Make a decision to indicate or unfound the
case within 45 days
Things To Remember
• Starting January 17, 2012, Greenville DSS
began using an automated screening tool that
will help intake workers make distinctions
between children that are at risk versus
children that are unsafe.
• The tool helps distinguish between low,
medium and high risk. If children are in an
unsafe or a high risk situation then DSS will
follow the normal procedure of investigation.
Things To Remember
• However, if children are deemed to be in a low
to moderate risk situation, then DSS will refer
those cases to a community partner,
Specialized Alternatives for Families and
Youth (SAFY). SAFY will then assess the
situation and help the family locate services to
reduce the risk. If at any time, SAFY identifies
a safety issue, the case will be referred back
to DSS to investigate.
How Do School Personnel Report
Suspected Child Abuse and Neglect?
• If the case is diverted to SAFY, a SAFY
worker will contact the family between 5
and 7 days depending on the risk level.
• SAFY may come to the school to see the
child but must have a signed parental
consent form.
Things To Remember
• DSS may not release the reporter’s name; the
identity of reporter is protected by law.
• District employees cannot reveal the identity of
the person making a report to the person
suspected of the abuse.
• When making a report, use specific terms in
describing the alleged abuse or neglect
• Ask DSS to have the caseworker bring camera
if needed.
Things To Remember
• It is best NOT to contact child’s parent /
guardian.
• DSS investigations may last up to 45 days.
• District personnel may contact DSS to inquire
if a case was indicated or unfounded.
• Indicated cases are transferred to the
treatment division of DSS for further services.
Things To Remember
• DSS has 24-hour coverage seven days a
week. If calling after 4:30, the answering
service will take your information and forward
it to a caseworker, who should contact you as
soon as possible.
• DSS has no rights to school records without a
signed release from a parent / guardian
• Refer to Policy JGI and Rule JGI for more
detailed information.
Penalty for Not Reporting
• Fined not more than $500
• Imprisoned not more than six months
• Or both of the above