Reporting Child Abuses: JLF-R

1. Reporting Requirements

Any school employee who has reasonable cause to know or suspect that any child is subjected to abuse or to conditions that might result in abuse or neglect must report such fact to the Adams County Department of Social Services or the appropriate law enforcement agency as required by law. The school employee shall immediately inform the building principal or designee of the report and may ask for assistance in filing such report.

In cases where the suspected or known perpetrator is a school employee or a person outside the child’s family, the report should be made to the law enforcement agency. (Reports made to Social Services will be referred to law enforcement.)

2. Contents of the Report

The following information should be included to the extent possible in the initial report:

• a. Name, age, address, sex and race of the child.
• b. Name and address of the child’s parents, guardians and/or persons with who he/she is living.
• c. Name and address of the person, if known, believed responsible for the suspected abuse or neglect.
• d. The nature and extent of the child’s injury or condition as well as any evidence of previous instances of known or suspected abuse or neglect of the child or the child’s siblings-all with date as appropriate.
• e. The family composition, if known.
• f. Any action taken by the person making the report.
• g. Any other information that might be helpful in establishing the cause of the injuries or the condition observed.

3. After filing reports

After the report is made to the agency, District and school staff members will cooperate with Social Services and law enforcement in the investigation of alleged abuse or neglect. The school will report any further incidents of abuse to the agency’s representative.

As the case is being investigated, the school will provide supportive aid and counseling services for the child.

Authorized school and District personnel may make available to agency personnel assigned to investigate instances of child abuse the health or other records of a student for such investigative purposes.

 

Approved October 14, 1975

Revised 1978

Revised April 14, 1987

Revised June 25, 1991

Revised June 27, 1995