Reporting Child Abuse: JLF

It is the policy of the Superintendent that this school district complies with the Child Protection Act.

To that end, any school official or employee who has reasonable cause to know or suspect that a child has been subject to abuse or neglect or who has observed the child being subjected to circumstances or conditions which would reasonably result in abuse or neglect, as defined by statute, shall immediately report or cause a report to be made to the county department of social services or local law enforcement agency.

Reports of child abuse or neglect, the name and address of the child, family or informant or any other identifying information in the report shall be confidential and shall not be public information.

The District shall provide information for all staff about the Child Protection Act and appropriate legislation, to assist them in recognizing and reporting instances of child abuse and neglect.

School employees and officials shall not contact the child's family or any other persons to determine the cause of the suspected abuse or neglect. It is not the responsibility of the school official or employee to prove that the child has been abused or neglected.

Staff participating in an investigation or the filing of a report pursuant to this policy or participating in a judicial proceeding resulting from such a report shall be immune from any liability, civil or criminal, that might otherwise be incurred or imposed, except for maliciously false statements.

 

Adopted October 14, 1975

Revised 1978

Revised April 14, 1987

Revised June 25, 1991

 

LEGAL REFS.: C.R.S. 19-1-120(1)(a)

C.R.S. 19-3-304

C.R.S. 19-3-307

C.R.S. 19-3-309

C.R.S. 22-32-109(1)(z)