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Child Abuse/Neglect Reporting
POLICY:
All NOCAC Child Development Staff are required by law mandated reporters.
PROCEDURES:
- NOCAC Child Development Staff will respect the confidentiality of a child abuse/neglect report. All staff is on a need to know basis.
- NOCAC Child Development will follow the steps of child abuse/neglect reporting.
- NOCAC Child Development Staff can make a report on suspicion alone.
- Ask the child what happened using open ended questions.
- If a report is to be made the staff member asking the child the questions MUST be the one to make the report.
- If the child is uncomfortable talking DO NOT question the child any further.
- Another NOCAC Child Development Staff CANNOT tell another staff member whether or not to make the report.
- 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.
- Document ALL information on the NOCAC Child Abuse/Neglect Incident form. Every Center has these forms at the center.
- The following information must be on the NOCAC Child Abuse/Neglect Form:
- name and address of child,
- date of birth of child,
- age of child,
- name of parent/caregiver,
- address of parent/caregiver,
- reason for suspected child abuse/neglect,
- any important factual information pertaining to the situation,
- name of person reporting,
- work address of person reporting,
- written copy of report if CPS worker requested,
- and the name of the CPS worker the report was made to.
- Mandated reporters may not report anonymously.
- 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.
- If the NOCAC Social Services Manager is not available the one making the report MUST contact the NOCAC Child Development Director.
- DO NOT leave a voicemail, send an email, or leave a message with another NOCAC Staff member.
- Inform the NOCAC Child Development Family Advocate for the center the child attends.
- 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.
- The NOCAC Child Development Director will decide who will talk to the parent(s)/caregiver.
- An incident/injury report for parents to sign.
- All procedures must be followed as written in ODJFS 5101:2-12-16(g).
- Procedures for Incident/Injury Reporting of a Serious Risk must be followed.
- NOCAC Child Development Staff are required to receive Child Abuse and Neglect Training every two years.
- 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:
- ask the child if they are home alone.
- 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).
- Do NOT leave until the police arrive.
Forms and Additional Guidance:
This policy complies with the following |
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Head Start Program Performance Standard: | 1302.92(b)(2) | |
ODJFS Child Care Manual: | 5101:2-12-19(D) | |
CACFP Regulation: | ||
Caring for Our Children: | 3.4.4 | |
Other Sources: | Ohio Revised Code, Section 2151.421 |
Effective Date: | 8/7/17 | Reviewed Date: | 12/21/20, 6/8/22 | ||
Approved By Policy Council: | 8/7/17 | Revision Approved By Policy Council: |