BP 5141.4 — Child Abuse Prevention and Reporting

Section: 5000 - Students
Status: Active

Adopted: 2015-10-27

Revised: 2021-12-16

Policy text

CHILD ABUSE PREVENTION AND REPORTING

The Governing Board is committed to supporting the safety and well-being of district students and desires to facilitate the prevention of and response to child abuse and neglect. The Superintendent or designee shall develop and implement strategies for preventing, recognizing, and promptly reporting known or suspected child abuse and neglect.

The Superintendent or designee may provide a student who is a victim of abuse with school-based mental health services or other support services and/or may refer the student to resources available within the community as needed.

The Superintendent or designee shall, to the extent feasible, seek to incorporate community resources into the district’s child abuse prevention programs and may use these resources to provide parents/guardians with instruction in parenting skills and child abuse prevention.

In addition, student identification cards for students in grades 7-12 shall include the National Domestic Violence Hotline telephone number.

Child Abuse Reporting

The Superintendent or designee shall establish procedures for the identification and reporting of known and suspected child abuse and neglect in accordance with law.

Procedures for reporting child abuse shall be included in the district and/or school comprehensive safety plan.

District employees who are mandated reporters, as defined by law and administrative regulation, are obligated to report all known or suspected incidents of child abuse and neglect. Board Members are considered employees for the purpose of this policy.

The Superintendent or designee shall provide training regarding the duties of mandated reporters as required by law and as specified in the accompanying administrative regulation.