STUDENT ABUSE AND NEGLECT

STUDENT ABUSE AND NEGLECT

po8462Adopted April 23, 2018Revised August 24, 2020

8462 - STUDENT ABUSE AND NEGLECT

The Board of Education is concerned with the physical and mental well-being of the students of this District and will cooperate in the identification and reporting of cases of child abuse or neglect in accordance with law.

Each professional staff member employed by this District and all other persons employed by this District who are mandatory reporters under the law who has reasonable cause to suspect child abuse or neglect shall be responsible for reporting immediately every case, whether ascertained or suspected, of abuse or neglect resulting in physical or mental injury to a student by other than accidental means.

The professional staff member or other mandatory reporter or appropriate administrator in the presence of the staff member shall immediately notify the local office of the Central Registry of the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS) Family Independence Agency, by telephone, or, if available, through the online reporting system, of the suspected child abuse or child neglect. If an oral report is made by telephone, the reporting person shall file a written report within seventy-two (72) hours of making the oral report as required by the Child Protection Law and shall secure prompt medical attention for any such injuries reported.

S/He shall also notify the appropriate administrator according to the District's Reporting Procedure for Student Abuse or Neglect.

Any support staff member who has reasonable cause to suspect child abuse or neglect shall immediately report any such case to the principal or his/her supervisor who shall, in turn, immediately notify the Central Registry of the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS) by telephone, or, if available, through the online reporting system, of the suspected child abuse or child neglect. If an oral report is made by telephone, the reporting person shall file a written report within seventy-two (72) hours of making the oral report as required by the Child Protection Law.

S/He shall also notify the appropriate administrator according to the District's Reporting Procedure for Student Abuse or Neglect.

The identity of the reporting person shall be confidential, subject only to disclosure by consent or court order. A reporting staff member shall not be dismissed or otherwise penalized for making a report of child abuse or neglect.

Information concerning alleged child abuse is confidential. Any unauthorized disclosure by an official or employee of the District is a violation of the law and subjects the disseminator to civil liability for resulting damages.

Each principal should be mindful of the possibility of physical or mental abuse being inflicted on a student by a staff member. Any such instances, whether real or alleged, should be dealt with in accordance with the administrative guidelines established by the Superintendent.

The Board authorizes the Superintendent to develop a protocol that addresses the prevention of sexual abuse of children. The protocol shall include at least the:

  1. age-appropriate, evidence-based curriculum, and instruction for students in grades pre-K to 5 concerning child sexual abuse awareness and prevention;
  2. training for school personnel on child sexual abuse, including, but not limited to, training on supportive, appropriate response to disclosure of abuse;
  3. providing educational information to parents or guardians on the warning signs of a child being sexually abused and information on needed assistance, referral, or resources:

    This information may be provided in the student handbook that is distributed to students, parents, and guardians.
  4. available counseling and resources for students affected by sexual abuse;
  5. emotional and educational support for a student affected by sexual abuse to allow the student to continue to be successful in school;
  6. a review of the system that is in place in the District to education and support personnel who are required to report child abuse or neglect under Section 3 of the Child Protection Law, 1975 PA 238, M.C.L. 722.6223, and the process in place for making those mandatory reports.

    This review should include an analysis of the level of compliance with the mandatory reporting requirements and suggestions to improve compliance.

Revised 11/25/19

© Neola 2020