Abuse Hotline: 1-800-392-3738 1
Reporting
Child Abuse
&
Neglect
2011-2012
Parkway School District
Abuse Hotline: 1-800-392-3738 2
Parkway’s Mission
To ensure all students are capable,
curious and confident learners
who understand and respond to
the challenges of an ever-changing
Abuse Hotline: 1-800-392-3738 3
By the end of this presentation you will be able
to:
• Describe abuse and neglect and provide examples • Describe Mandated Reporter expectations
• Follow the procedures for reporting abuse
Missouri Child Abuse Law
Section 210.110 RSMo
Abuse
is defined as:
“any physical injury, sexual abuse, or emotional abuse inflicted on a child, other than by accidental means, by those responsible for the child’s care, custody and control”
Missouri Law, Chapter 210.110 RSMo
Missouri Child Abuse Law
Section 210.110 RSMo
…”except that discipline including
spanking, administered in a
reasonable manner, shall not be
construed to be abuse;”
210.110 RSMo
Those Responsible for the “Care, Custody
and Control of the Child”
“Includes but not limited to the parents or
guardian of a child, other members of the
child’s household, or those exercising
supervision over a child for any part of a
twenty-four hour day.”
210.110 RSMo
Examples of those who may have “Care, Custody
and Control”
• Administrator • Aunt/Uncle • Babysitter • Bus Driver • Coach • Paraprofessional• Counselor / Social Worker • Nurse • Foster parent • Grandparent • Parent • Sibling • Teacher • Teacher Assistant • Student Teacher • Substitute Teacher • Support Staff Abuse Hotline: 1-800-392-3738 7
Abuse Hotline: 1-800-392-3738 8
Possible Signs of Physical Abuse
including but not limited to:
Hitting
Unexplained bruises or marks
Choking Pinching Pulling hair Pushing Sexual misconduct Slapping
Missouri Child Abuse Law
Section 210.110 RSMo
Neglect
is defined as:
“failure to provide, by those responsible
for the care, custody, and control of the
child, the proper or necessary support,
education as required by law, nutrition or
medical, surgical, or any other care
necessary for the child’s well-being;”
210.110 RSMO Abuse Hotline: 1-800-392-3738 9
Possible Signs of Neglect,
including but not limited to:
• Appears constantly hungry
• Exhibits extreme and ongoing poor hygiene • Often dresses inappropriately for weather
conditions
• Living in conditions that could pose possible health or safety risks to a child
• Constant lack of supervision
Educational Neglect
Missouri has a compulsory attendance law that states:
• “Any parent, guardian or other person who enrolls a child between the ages of five and seven years in a
public school program of academic instruction shall cause such child to attend the academic program on a regular basis.”
• “all children between the ages of seven and sixteen that
are physically able must be in regular school attendance.”
167.031 RSMo
Failure to comply with this law may be
considered by Missouri Children’s Division as Educational Neglect.
Missouri Child Abuse Law
Section 210.166 RSMo
Medical Neglect is defined as:
“any child under eighteen years of age…is
suffering from the denial or deprivation, by those responsible for the care, custody and control of the child, of medical or surgical treatment or intervention which is
necessary to remedy or ameliorate a medical
condition which is life-threatening or causes injury.”
210.166 RSMo
Abuse Hotline: 1-800-392-3738 13
Emotional Abuse:
Children’s Division Definition
Emotional abuse is:
“an active, patterned, non-nurturing behavior by anyone responsible for the care, custody or
control of the child that negatively affects or disables a child emotionally, physically,
psychologically, intellectually, socially, and/or developmentally.”
Possible Signs of Emotional Abuse
Including, but not limited to:
•
Intimidating a student
•
Daring a child to cross them
•
Offensive comments related to the
child’s culture
•
Yelling
• Bullying
Abuse Hotline: 1-800-392-3738 15
Some behaviors…
• may not meet criteria for abuse or neglect
by Children’s Division yet are not
acceptable behaviors at Parkway and
should be documented and reported to the
building administrator or the staff
Abuse Hotline: 1-800-392-3738 16
Example of behaviors that should be reported to the Principal or Supervisor…
• Derogatory comments to or about a student • Forcing a child to remain sitting, standing or
motionless for long periods of time
• Humiliating and/or harassing comments • More force than necessary is used
What Should You Do If You’re Having
Problems With a Student?
Seek assistance from:
– Administrator – Counselor
– School Social Worker – School Nurse
– Special Education Staff
– District-level Support Staff
– School Resource Officer (SRO)
Abuse Hotline: 1-800-392-3738 18
How can you develop appropriate
interventions and supports?
• Participate in Non-Violent Crisis Intervention
• Develop a positive support and intervention plan • Learn strategies to de-escalate a student.
INAPPROPRIATE INTERVENTIONS
AND TREATMENT (DO NOT USE)
• Physical contact with students unless
necessary for their care or safety
• Isolation
• Extended time-out
• Time-out without supervision
• Withholding lunch, water, or bathroom break
• Relying solely on punishment or negative
reinforcement
As a Parkway Employee,
why is this important to me?
Abuse Hotline: 1-800-392-3738 21
Parkway Board of Education Policy JLF.BP and Guidelines JLF.G
“
all school personnel are mandated reporters
under the law”
Complete Parkway Policy is available on-line via “Inside Parkway”
Missouri Child Abuse Law
Section 210.110 RSMo
Who is a Mandated Reporter?
“Any…intern, nurse, …psychologist, mental health
professional, social worker...teacher, principal or other school official…or other person with
responsibility for the care of children has
reasonable cause to suspect that a child has been or may be subjected to abuse or neglect or
observes a child being subjected to conditions or circumstances which would reasonably result in abuse or neglect.”
210.110 RSMo
Abuse Hotline: 1-800-392-3738 23
Failure to report is a Class A
misdemeanor for a person who is
required under law to report. Filing a
false report is also a Class A
misdemeanor.
RSMo 210.165
Guidelines for Child Abuse & Neglect Reports
What should I do if I suspect
Abuse/Neglect?
1. Immediately notify the Building Principal
and/or Supervisor.
2. Principal/designee immediately contacts area School Social Worker.
Parkway School District Abuse/Neglect Guidelines
What should I do if I suspect
Abuse/Neglect?
3. In the case of suspected physical abuse, the student should be seen by the school nurse who can assess and document
injuries.
4. School Social Worker/designee gathers information from involved staff to
assess the situation.
Parkway School District Abuse/Neglect Guidelines
What should I do if I suspect
Abuse/Neglect?
Do Not Over-interview!
• Only one staff member should
interview
the student unless the
School Social
Worker/designee
indicates a need for more
information
Parkway School District Abuse/Neglect Guidelines
6. If information supports a suspicion of possible abuse/neglect, School Social
Worker/designee makes the hotline call.
Parkway School District Abuse/Neglect Guidelines
“The principal or designee shall contact
the area social worker, who, after conferring with necessary school
personnel, shall immediately make an oral report to the Missouri Children’s
Division.”
Parkway Board of Education Guidelines JLF.G
Abuse Hotline: 1-800-392-3738 27
What should I do if I suspect
Abuse/Neglect?
What should I do if I suspect
Abuse/Neglect?
7. If Children’s Division (CD) determines a
need for protective custody, the CD worker instructs the School Social
Worker/designee to involve the School
Resource Officer for his/her assistance.
Parkway School District Abuse/Neglect Guidelines
Abuse Hotline: 1-800-392-3738 29
After the phone call has been made to
Children’s Division:
8. Children’s Division may or may not
consult with the School Social
Worker/designee regarding concerns and
response plan
9. Children’s Division may or may not come
to the school depending on the
seriousness of concerns and/or the time
of day
After the phone call has been made to
Children’s Division:
During the investigation if Children’s
Division comes to the school, they have the right to see the child as well as
request any school record information.
What should I do if I suspect
Abuse/Neglect?
10. The School Social Worker will
complete a report and notify the Director of Pupil Personnel &
Diversity
Parkway School District Abuse/Neglect Guidelines
What should I do if I suspect
Abuse/Neglect?
11. When School Social Workers are not on duty;
Principals, Counselors, School Social Workers, Teachers, Nurses, Teacher’s Assistants, Student Teachers, Substitute Teachers, Paraprofessionals, Coaches, Bus Drivers, and Support Staff are all MANDATED reporters and MUST make a hotline call.
Parkway School District Abuse/Neglect Guidelines
Should we notify the parents?
“School personnel shall not notify the
child’s parents that a Hotline report has been made. ”
Parkway School District Abuse/Neglect Guidelines
Children’s Division reports that notifying
parents can jeopardize their investigation.
Missouri Children’s Division
Abuse Hotline: 1-800-392-3738 34
What if you see concerns in the school
setting by a
STAFF MEMBER?
• If you question the actions of any
staff member (including your supervisor or
coworkers) and think abuse, neglect, or
mistreatment has occurred, you must
immediately report your concerns and
observations to the school principal or
your supervisor.
Abuse Hotline: 1-800-392-3738 35
Administrative Procedures if the allegation
involves a STAFF MEMBER:
• The student’s parent/guardian should be
contacted directly and informed of the
allegation as soon as possible.
• The Assistant Superintendent for
elementary/early childhood or secondary
schools shall be notified as soon as
possible and take appropriate and
necessary administrative action.
Abuse Hotline: 1-800-392-3738 36
Administrative Procedures if the allegation
involves a PARKWAY EMPLOYEE:
• The Parkway Assistant Superintendent is
responsible for immediately notifying the
Parkway Director of Human Resources and,
when appropriate, other district-level
administrators and conducting any needed
investigations.
Administrative Procedures if the allegation
involves an
SSD EMPLOYEE:
• If the staff member suspected of
abuse or mistreatment is an SSD staff
member, the SSD area coordinator
assigned to the school and the
Parkway Director of Special Services
ALSO shall be notified.
Abuse Hotline: 1-800-392-3738 38
Administrative Procedures if the allegation
involves an
SSD EMPLOYEE:
• The SSD area coordinator is responsible for
notifying the SSD Director of Special Education. • The SSD Director is responsible for notifying the
SSD Assistant Superintendent of Human
Resources and, when appropriate, other district-level administrators and conducting any needed investigations.
Students With Disabilities
• If mistreatment/abuse of a student with a
disability by a staff member is suspected, the
Parkway Director of Special Services also shall
be notified.
• If the student receives special education
services, the SSD area coordinator assigned to
the school also shall be notified.
Parkway and SSD Staff Obligations
• The SSD policy, procedures, and training for
responding to suspected abuse/neglect are
different from Parkway’s.
Parkway and SSD Staff Obligations
• It is important that all Parkway and SSD
staff know there will be instances when SSD
staff are required to and will make a hotline
call when Parkway staff determines such a
call is not warranted.
SSD Staff Obligations
• When SSD staff suspect abuse/neglect or
mistreatment, they shall inform both the SSD
area coordinator and the Parkway school
principal and consult with other staff,
including the school nurse.
• Whenever an SSD staff member makes a
hotline call regarding a Parkway student, the
SSD staff member and/or the SSD area
coordinator shall notify the Parkway school
principal of this action immediately.
What if you aren
’
t sure it may be
possible abuse or neglect?
When in doubt …
Report to the Principal
or Supervisor
Abuse Hotline: 1-800-392-3738 44
Why is this especially
relevant to Parkway personnel?
Those working with students must
have a clear understanding of
appropriate instructional supports and
behavioral interventions which are not
abusive or neglectful.
Abuse Hotline: 1-800-392-3738 45
If you fail to follow Parkway’s
Abuse/Neglect Guidelines…
• You run the risk of losing:
– Your job
Abuse Hotline: 1-800-392-3738 46
Failure to report is a Class A
misdemeanor for a person who is
required under law to report. Filing a
false report is also a Class A
misdemeanor.
RSMo 210.165
Guidelines for Child Abuse & Neglect Reports
Mandated Reporter Protections
“
Any person, official, or institutionscomplying with the provisions of sections
210.110 to 210.165 in the making of a report, the taking of color photographs… shall have immunity from any liability, civil or criminal, that otherwise might result by reason of
such actions.”
210.135RSMo
Abuse Hotline: 1-800-392-3738 48
Be alert…
• Listen to children.
• Listen to parents.
• Listen to other staff suspicions
and/or concerns.
Abuse Hotline: 1-800-392-3738 49
Be alert…
• No matter who it is, as a Parkway
employee & mandated reporter --
If you are informed of possible abuse of a
student or observe something suspicious, you
must report it to your Principal or Supervisor.
Abuse Hotline: 1-800-392-3738 50
Missouri Children’s Division
Resources
• Hotline Number: 1-800-392-3738
– TDD 1-800-669-8689
• Missouri Department of Social Services
http://www.dss.mo.gov/cd/rptcan.htm
• Child Welfare Manual
http://www.dss.mo.gov/cd/info/cwmanual/index.
Abuse Hotline: 1-800-392-3738 51
Additional Resources
• Center for Disease Control
www.cdc.gov
• Children’s Advocacy Services of Greater St. Louis
www.stlouiscac.org
• Children’s Defense Fund
www.childrensdefense.org
• Missouri Kids First
www.missourikidsfirst.com
• National Resource Center on Child Abuse and Neglect
(NRCCAN)
Abuse Hotline: 1-800-392-3738 52
Concerns or Questions
about Reporting?
Contact the Director of
Pupil Personnel & Diversity,
Charlotte Ijei
314-415-5061
Abuse Hotline: 1-800-392-3738 53
Reporting Child Abuse JLF.BP
Parkway/SSD Employee Agreement Form
(
Provide signed copy to Parkway supervisor)• I understand that as a school district employee, I am a mandated reporter and understand procedures to
report abuse.
• I understand that violation of Parkway BOE Policy JLF.BP may result in disciplinary action against me,
including but not limited to suspension, termination of my employment and civil or criminal liability.
Print Name ________________________________ Signature ________________________________
