Recognizing and Reporting Child Abuse A Handbook for Employees
Recognizing and Reporting Child Abuse Introduction Due to the nature of their work, school employees are in a unique position to notice signs of suspected child abuse and neglect. It is important that every employee understand that failure to report identified or suspected child abuse or neglect is punishable by law and that responsibility for making such a report rests with the person who first suspects the abuse or neglect. [See Board Policy - FFG (Legal) and FFG Local)] The Dallas Independent School District Child Abuse/Domestic Violence Office exists to provide employees with information, support, and assistance in reporting suspected child abuse to the proper authorities. This handbook provides employees with information about: signs of possible child abuse and neglect taking caution how to report suspected abuse during work hours how to report suspected abuse after work hours making an anonymous report local and state policies and regulations about reporting suspected child abuse and neglect One call to the district s Child Abuse Office at 1-888-57-ABUSE (1-888-572-2873) puts you in touch with people who are trained to help you meet your legal and moral obligation to report suspected child abuse and neglect. Reporting child abuse to a local school administrator does not relieve you of the Board Policy requirement to report the matter to the District Child Abuse/Domestic Violence Office. The District Child Abuse/Domestic Violence Office was established to assist school employees to meet the legal requirements for reporting child abuse and neglect under the Family Code. 1
Caution DO NOT: Verify or investigate an allegation. Confront or notify parents. Making A Report During School Hours (7:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.) 1. Ask the school nurse to examine the child if physical injury is involved. 2. Gather the following information: child s name and date of birth child s ethnicity child s address child s student ID number mother s or responsible adult s name, address, and phone number description of the signs or incidents on which the suspicion of abuse or neglect is based 3. Call the district s Child Abuse/Domestic Violence Office at 1-888-57-ABUSE (1-888-572-2873) The specialist in the Child Abuse/Domestic Violence Office will take information over the phone and, as appropriate, route your call to 911, to Child Protective Services, or to the Dallas Police Department s Child Abuse Unit. You may also report directly to CPS at www.reportabuse.ws. User code is educator and password is report1. 4. If the suspected abuser is a district employee, school personnel are required to report the suspected abuse or neglect to a school administrator. However, reporting the matter to a school administrator does not relieve you of the duty to report to Child Protective Services, or to the Dallas Police Department. 2
5. Within 48 hours, follow up your initial telephone report(s) with a written report to: Dallas ISD Health Services Office Box 96 Fax: 972-925-3387 and Dallas ISD Child Abuse/Domestic Violence Office Box 80 Fax: 972-794-3528 and School principal (unless the call is anonymous) and either Child Protective Services 8700 North Stemmons, Suite 104 Dallas, Texas 75247 www.reportabuse.ws. or Dallas Police Department 3611 Swiss Avenue Dallas, TX 75204 Fax: 214-818-2611 Making a Report After School Hours (5:00 p.m. to 7:00 a.m.) 1. Call the district s Child Abuse/Domestic Violence Office at 1-888-57-ABUSE (1-888-572-2873) 2. Leave a message for the child abuse specialist if you would like a return call during school hours. 3. After hanging up, follow the recorded message from the child abuse specialist. Dial 911 if child is in immediate danger or if incident occurs after 5 p.m. Dial 214-670-4915 for the Dallas Police Department if an incident occurs before 5 p.m. Dial 1-800-252-5400 to reach Child Protective Services. 3
4. Within 48 hours, follow up your telephone report with a written report to: Dallas ISD Health Services Office Box 96 Fax: 972-925-3387 and Dallas ISD Child Abuse/ Domestic Violence Office Box 80 Fax: 972-794-3528 and School principal (unless the call is anonymous) and either Child Protective Services 8700 North Stemmons, Suite 104 Dallas, Texas 75247 or Dallas Police Department 3611 Swiss Avenue Dallas, TX 75204 Fax: 214-818-2611 Remember: Call the district s Child Abuse/Domestic Violence Office first! 1-888-57-ABUSE (1-888-572-2873) 4
Recognizing Child Abuse and Neglect Signs that a child could be abused and/or neglected are: Physical Abuse Unexplained or unusual burns Unexplained bruises or black eyes Unexplained bite marks Unexplained fractures or dislocations Multiple or frequent injuries after being absent from school Emotional Abuse Failure to thrive in infancy Seeking constant attention and affection from other adults (teachers, neighbors) Exaggerated fears and clinging behavior Sexual Abuse Pregnancy or venereal disease when under 13 years of age Difficulty sitting or walking or experiencing pain when toileting Acting out or playing in a highly sexual manner Abandonment Parent leaves child without intending to return Parent leaves child in a high-risk situation without making arrangements for the care of the child Neglectful Supervision Child is left unsupervised in cars, buildings, or near dangerous areas Preschool-age child is left in the care of another child who is 10 years old or under Child is made accessible to a known abuser 5
Medical Neglect Untreated, severe medical conditions Refusal of parents/guardian to follow through with recommended medical care Physical Neglect Inadequate food, clothing, shelter Underweight, undernourished; serious height/weight abnormalities Steals food or eats out of garbage cans Refusal to Accept Parental Responsibility Parent/guardian refuses to let child return home after child has been absent from the home for any reason and does not make arrangements for the child s care Dating Violence Dating Violence is the intentional use of physical, verbal, or emotional abuse by a person to harm, threaten, intimidate, or control another person in a dating relationship. Texas Family Code 71.0021 Examples of Dating Violence Physical or sexual assaults Name-calling and/or put-downs Threats to hurt the student or the student s family members or members of the student s household Destroying property belonging to the student Threats to commit suicide or homicide if the student ends the relationship Attempts to isolate the student from friends and family Stalking Cyberbullying Encouraging others to engage in above behaviors 6
Local and State Policies and Regulations on Reporting Suspected Child Abuse and Neglect Texas Education Commissioner s Rules on Reporting Child Abuse and Neglect Refers to enforcement of the Educator s Code of Ethics for failure to report child abuse or neglect Dallas Independent School District FFG (Local) Failure to report identified or suspected child abuse or neglect by any person with such knowledge is punishable by law as a Class B misdemeanor offense under the Penal Code. Texas Education Commissioner s Rules on Reporting Child Abuse and Neglect Information must be kept confidential. Procedures may not require that school personnel report suspicions of child abuse or neglect to a school administrator prior to making a report to one of the agencies. If the suspected abuser is a District employee, Board Policy requires school personnel to report these allegations to the District Child Abuse/Domestic Violence Office. The Child Abuse/Domestic Violence Office will connect you to Child Protective Services or the Dallas Police Department to complete the legal requirements. These reports may be made anonymously. The specialist in the Child Abuse/Domestic Violence Office will instruct you on how to maintain documentation related to anonymous reports. Reporting child abuse to a local school administrator does not relieve you of the Board Policy requirement to report the matter to the District Child Abuse/Domestic Violence Office. The District Child Abuse/Domestic Violence Office was established to assist school employees to meet the legal requirements for reporting child abuse and neglect under the Family Code. Dallas Independent School District FFG (Legal) Immunity from liability: A person who reports or assists in the investigation of a report of child abuse or neglect, other than a person reporting his or her own conduct or reporting in bad faith with malice, is immune from any 7
civil or criminal liability that might otherwise be incurred or imposed. Dallas Independent School District FFG (Regulation) No person, other than local law enforcement or Child Protective Services personnel, shall interview the person alleged to have abused the child or the alleged victim, other children or staff. Any conversation regarding or pertaining to the alleged abuse is prohibited. Dallas Independent School District FFG (Legal) Authorized officials conducting a child abuse investigation shall be permitted to conduct the required interview with the child at any reasonable time at the child s school. Employees may also be interviewed, and the employee must release to the investigator records that directly relate to the suspected abuse or neglect without requiring parental consent or court order. If you are unsure, contact the Child Abuse/Domestic Violence Office or the Office of Legal Services. Texas Education Commissioner s Rules on Reporting Child Abuse and Neglect School officials are prohibited from requiring the presence of a parent or school administrator during an interview by an investigator. (Note: School personnel should not contact the parents prior to or after the interview. Officials from Child Protective Services or the Police Department will contact the parents.) Dallas Independent School District FFG (Regulations) When a student is released to a Child Protective Services worker or police officer, the parents are to be notified by the investigator. (Note: School personnel should not notify parents that Child Protective Services or the Police Department has removed a student from school. At this point, all school reporting responsibilities are complete.) Dallas Independent School District FFH (Local) Dating Violence is considered prohibited harassment if the conduct is so severe, persistent, or pervasive that the conduct: affects the student s ability to participate in or benefit from an educational program or activity, or creates an intimidating, threatening, 8
hostile, or offensive educational environment; has the purpose of substantially or unreasonably interfering with the student s academic performance; or otherwise adversely affects the student s educational opportunities.
One call to the district s Child Abuse Office 1-888-57-ABUSE (1-888-572-2873) puts you in touch with people who are trained to help you meet your obligation to report suspected child abuse and neglect. Dallas ISD Child Abuse/Domestic Violence Office 2909 North Buckner Dallas, TX 75228 Fax: 972-794-3528 National Domestic Violence Hotline 1-800-799-SAFE or 1-800-787-3224 National Teen Dating Abuse Hotline 1-866-331-9474 1-866-331-8453 (TTY for deaf/hearing impaired) 3700 Ross Avenue Dallas, TX 75204 (972) 925-3700 www.dallasisd.org