Child Abuse/Neglect Reporting

POLICY:

All NOCAC Child Development Staff are required by law mandated reporters.

PROCEDURES:

1. NOCAC Child Development Staff will respect the confidentiality of a child abuse/neglect report.  All staff is on a need to know basis.
2. NOCAC Child Development will follow the steps of child abuse/neglect reporting.
   1. NOCAC Child Development Staff can make a report on suspicion alone.
   2. Ask the child what happened using open ended questions.
      1. If a report is to be made the staff member asking the child the questions MUST be the one to make the report.
      2. If the child is uncomfortable talking DO NOT question the child any further.
      3. Another NOCAC Child Development Staff CANNOT tell another staff member whether or not to make the report.
      4. If making a report to Child Protective Services (CPS) ask the CPS worker how they would like the information over the phone, emailed or faxed.
   3. Document ALL information on the NOCAC Child Abuse/Neglect Incident form.  Every Center has these forms at the center.
   4. The following information must be on the NOCAC Child Abuse/Neglect Form:
      1. name and address of child,
      2. date of birth of child,
      3. age of child,
      4. name of parent/caregiver,
      5. address of parent/caregiver,
      6. reason for suspected child abuse/neglect,
      7. any important factual information pertaining to the situation,
      8. name of person reporting,
      9. work address of person reporting,
      10. written copy of report if CPS worker requested,
      11. and the name of the CPS worker the report was made to.
   5. Mandated reporters may not report anonymously.
   6. Contact the NOCAC Child Development Social Services Manager informing them of the report.  Ask the Social Services Manager if he/she would like the report hand delivered by the person making the report or if he/she would like the report put in a sealed envelope and put in the center’s mail for the Central Office with the Social Services Manager’s name on it and marked CONFIDENTIAL.
   7. If the NOCAC Social Services Manager is not available the one making the report MUST contact the NOCAC Child Development Director.
   8. DO NOT leave a voicemail, send an email, or leave a message with another NOCAC Staff member.
   9. Inform the NOCAC Child Development Family Advocate for the center the child attends.
3. If a NOCAC Child Development Staff member suspects or witnesses another NOCAC Child Staff member of child abuse/neglect, it is required to report the incident immediately to the NOCAC Child Development Director and CPS.
   1. The NOCAC Child Development Director will decide who will talk to the parent(s)/caregiver.
   2. An incident/injury report for parents to sign.
   3. All procedures must be followed as written in ODJFS 5101:2-12-16(g).
   4. Procedures for Incident/Injury Reporting of a Serious Risk must be followed.
4. NOCAC Child Development Staff are required to receive Child Abuse and Neglect Training every two years.
5. If at any time a Child Development Staff person arrives at a home and suspects that a child is home alone or without appropriate supervision:
   1. ask the child if they are home alone.
   2. If they say yes, loudly state that because no adult is present you are calling the police (in case someone else is in the house).
   3. Do NOT leave until the police arrive.

Forms and Additional Guidance:

• NOCAC Child Abuse/Neglect Incident form