POLICY #454

MOUNT HOREB AREA SCHOOL DISTRICT

REPORTING CHILD ABUSE/NEGLECT

POLICY #454

Wisconsin state law requires that all school district employees, who in the performance of their duties encounter a child they suspect has been physically or sexually abused, is experiencing neglect or emotional damage, or is threatened with injury, to immediately report same to the appropriate authorities. The person who observes the child is ultimately responsible for making the referral to Human Services or law enforcement officials and is liable if referral is not made. Anyone who in good faith is participating in the making of a report or is participating in an investigation pursuant to this section shall be immune from both criminal and civil liability.

No administrator or other district employee may prevent or attempt to prevent another district employee from making a report of alleged child abuse or neglect. Further, no administrator or other district employee may require, or attempt to require, that another district employee desiring to make a report of suspected child abuse or neglect be required to change any aspect of that report.

The district shall not take any disciplinary action against an employee who makes a report in good faith of suspected child abuse or neglect. Disciplinary action may result from the failure of a district employee to report suspected child abuse or neglect of which he/she has knowledge.

All information pertaining to a suspected child abuse or neglect report shall be confidential and only shared with those individuals provided for under state law.

  1. Definitions
  1. "Abuse" includes physical injury, sexual abuse and emotional damage.

a)"Physical abuse" means injury inflicted on a child by other than accidental means. Physical injury includes, but is not limited to, lacerations; fractured bones; burns; internal injuries; severe or frequent bruising.

b)"Sexual abuse" includes inappropriate sexual behavior with a child, including fondling genitals (maltreater’s or child’s); intercourse; incest; rape; sodomy; exhibitionism; sexual exploitation; exposure to pornography; causing the child to view or listen to sexual activity for the purpose of sexual arousal or gratification of the actor or humiliating the child; and allowing or encouraging the child to engage in prostitution. It does not include sexual curiosity and behaviors that are developmentally normal for pre-adolescent children. Wis. Stat. Sec. 48.02(1)(b-f).

c)"Emotional damage" means harm to a child's psychological or intellectual functioning for which the child’s parents, guardian or legal custodian has neglected, refused or been unable to for reasons other than poverty obtain necessary treatment or take steps to change the symptoms. Emotional damage is evidenced by one or more of the following exhibited to a severe degree: anxiety; depression; withdrawal; outward aggressive behavior; or substantial or observable changes in the child’s behavior, emotional response or cognition that is not within the normal range for the child’s age and stage of development. Wis. Stats. Sec. 48.02(1)(gm) and 48.02(5j).

  1. "Neglect" is the failure, refusal or inability by the child's parent, legal guardian or other person exercising temporary or permanent control over a child, for reasons other than poverty, to provide necessary care; food; clothing; medical or dental care; or shelter so as to seriously endanger the physical health of the child.
  2. “Mandated Reporter" includes, for school purposes, any person that receives a paycheck from the school district including, nurse; medical or mental health professional; social worker; school teacher; administrator; counselor; alcohol or other drug abuse counselor; physical therapist; occupational therapist; speech-language pathologist; audiologist; custodial and food service staff; para-professionals; school board members; substitute staff and police officer.Wis. Stat. sec. 48.981(2)(a)16m.
  1. Procedures for Reporting Child Abuse or Neglect

Any mandated reporter 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 child has been threatened with abuse and that abuse will occur, shall make a report as follows:

  1. He/she shall immediately report all such actual or suspected child abuse or neglect situations to the Dane County Human Services Department. If a report to that department is not possible, then district staff shall report child abuse or neglect to the Dane County Sheriff's Department or the municipal police department. If the child's abuse or neglect is life threatening, the staff member is first to make a report to the law enforcement agency and request an immediate investigation. Upon making the report, the district staff member shall also immediately report the law enforcement referral to the Human Services Department.
  2. When making a report, a staff member shall provide as much of the following information as possible:

a)The staff member's name, position, relationship to the child and school phone number.

b)The name, home address and age of the child suspected of being abused or neglected.

c)The name, home address, work place, home phone number of the alleged victim's parent(s)/guardian.

d)The names and ages of the alleged victim's siblings (if appropriate)

e)A brief description of why the staff member believes the child has been abused or neglected or has been threatened with abuse or neglect; statements that the child made to the reporter or others; and, any surrounding circumstances or conditions of which the reporter is aware.

f)Complete written Child Protective Services Referral form within 24 hours of telephone report and send copies to district social worker and building principal.

  1. Mandated reporters may consult with other district staff prior to making a report but may not delay the report on the day that the suspicion of abuse or neglect or threatened abuse or neglect occurs. At all times, it shall be the aim of the district staff member to make the report of his/her concerns to the appropriate child protection agency as quickly as possible. Any delay would not be in the best interests of the child and is not the policy of the district.

a)District staff who wish may request consultation from other district staff members, such as student services staff (guidance counselors, school psychologists, district nurse and district social worker), on the reporting process and necessary follow-up.

  1. District staff making a child abuse or neglect report shall inform their building principal or appropriate administrator. The building principal or such other administrator that the staff member making the report contacts, shall support the staff member in his/her actionand shall not attempt to delay, modify or prevent any report of suspected child abuse or neglect.
  1. The fact that a report of suspected child abuse or neglect has been made; including the name of the reporter, the name of the alleged victim, and the content of the report, shall be kept confidential from all staff and other persons not authorized under state law to have that information. Staff members who divulge such information to an unauthorized person or persons are liable for disciplinary action from the district as well as the penalties provided by law.

Dane County Department of Human Services, Child Protective Services Helpline (Kidsline): (608)261-5437

Hours: Monday-Friday, 7:45 a.m. - 4:30 p.m: (608)261-5437; After Hours and Weekends: (608)255-6067.

Mount Horeb Police Department, Day Phone: (608)437-5522

Blue Mounds Police Department, Day Phone: (608)437-5197

Dane County Sheriff Department (for rural residents), Day Phone: (608)266-4948

Emergency: 911

  1. Inservice
  1. Every school in the Mount Horeb Area School District will be provided with annual inservice regarding:

a)The Mount Horeb Area School District Reporting Child Abuse/Neglect policy.

b)Child abuse/neglect reporting procedures.

c)Identification of child abuse/neglect.

d)The educator's role in child abuse/neglect issues.

  1. Every five years all employees shall view the Department of Public Instruction’s video presentation, “Mandatory Reporting of Child Abuse and Neglect” on-line at , then sign and submit the Completion Certificate found at under the “Resources” tab to the district office.This certificate will be placed in the employees personnel file. Training records will be maintained by the district office. WIS Stat. sec. 118.07(5)

LEGAL REFERENCE: Wis. Stats. §§48.981 (7)(a)1., 3m and 4, 48.981(4), 48.981(2)(e), 48.981(7)

CROSS REFERENCE:

ADOPTED: January 23, 1984

REVISED: March 11, 1991; July 19, 1999; July 2, 2012

REVIEWED: February 18, 1991; July 6, 1999

For further information refer to the DPI Publication, “The School’s Role in Preventing Child Abuse and Neglect”, found on the Department of Public Instruction’s website

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POLICY #454

MOUNTHOREBAREASCHOOL DISTRICT

CHILD PROTECTIVE SERVICES REFERRALPOLICY #454

Referrals to DaneCounty Human Services IntakeEXHIBIT 1

(Call; then send completed original referral form to District Social Worker)

Cross Plains Office - 1837 Bourbon Road, Cross Plains, WI 53528

Identifying Information

Name of Child Date of Birth Age

Sex Grade Special Education (designate category)

Child's Address

Household Composition

ADULTS (Name)Relationship to ChildHome PhoneWork Phone

CHILDREN (Name)AgeRelationshipSchool

If parents are not married, who has legal custody?

Mother only Father only Joint Other

Reason(s) for Referral

Statement of time, place and condition of child which prompted this referral:

Observed physical condition of child:

Child's statement, if obtained:

If known, information concerning previous injury or conditions of neglect to this or other children in this family situation, including previous action:

Type of report: Sexual Abuse Physical Abuse Neglect Emotional Damage

Name of current D.C.H.S. worker, if any:

Reported To

NamePosition

AgencyDate/Hour

From

NamePosition

SchoolPhone

Copies to:DaneCounty Human Services District Social Worker Principal Guidance Counselor