Child Abuse

1. Child Abuse Child Abuse Reporting & Programs TEC 38.004 Sexual Abuse Prevention Training TEC 38.0041 Clara Cáceres Contreras, B.S., M.Ed., ACPS, IPS Advanced Certified Prevention Specialist International Prevention Specialist School Health/Safe Schools Region OneEducationService Center 956-984-6125 ccontreras@esc1.net www.esc1.net/schoolhealth

2. Child AbuseThe Role of the School TEC - 38.004 CHILD ABUSE REPORTING AND PROGRAMS (a) The agency shall develop a policy governing the child abuse reports REQUIREDby Chapter 261, Family Code, of school districts and their employees. The policy must provide for cooperation with law enforcement child abuse investigations without the consent of the child's parents if necessary, including investigations by the Department of Protective and Regulatory Services. Each school district shall adopt the policy. (b) Each school district SHALL provide child abuse ANTI-VICTIMIZTION programs in elementary and secondary schools.

3. Policies Addressing Sexual Abuse & Other Maltreatment of Children - TEC 38.0041 (a) Each school district shall adopt and implement a policy addressing sexual abuse and other maltreatment of children, to be included in the district improvement plan under Section 11.252 and any informational handbook provided to students and parents. (b) A policy required by this section must address: (1) methods for increasing staff, student, and parent awareness of issues regarding sexual abuse and other maltreatment of children, including prevention techniques and knowledge of likely warning signs indicating that a child may be a victim of sexual abuse or other maltreatment, using resources developed by the agency under Section 38.004;

4. Policies Addressing Sexual Abuse & Other Maltreatment of Children - TEC 38.0041 (2) actions that a child who is a victim of sexual abuse or other maltreatment should take to obtain assistance and intervention; (3) available counseling options for students affected by sexual abuse or other maltreatment. (c) The methods under Subsection (b)(1) for increasing awareness of issues regarding sexual abuse and other maltreatment of children must include training, as provided by this subsection, concerning prevention techniques for and recognition of sexual abuse and all other maltreatment of children. The training: (1) must be provided, as part of a new employee orientation, to all new school district employees on a schedule adopted by the agency by rule until all district employees have taken the training; and

5. Policies Addressing Sexual Abuse & Other Maltreatment of Children - TEC 38.0041 (2) must include training concerning: (A) factors indicating a child is at risk for sexual abuse or other maltreatment; (B) likely warning signs indicating a child may be a victim of sexual abuse or other maltreatment; (C) internal procedures for seeking assistance for a child who is at risk for sexual abuse or other maltreatment, including referral to a school counselor, a social worker, or another mental health professional; (D) techniques for reducing a child's risk of sexual abuse or other maltreatment; and (E) community organizations that have relevant existing research-based programs that are able to provide training or other education for school district or open-enrollment charter school staff members, students, and parents.

6. Policies Addressing Sexual Abuse & Other Maltreatment of Children - TEC 38.0041 (d) For any training under Subsection (c), each school district shall maintain records that include the name of each district staff member who participated in the training. (e) If a school district determines that the district does not have sufficient resources to provide the training required under Subsection (c), the district shall work in conjunction with a community organization to provide the training at no cost to the district or charter school. (f) The training under Subsection (c) may be included in staff development under Section 21.451. (g) A school district employee may NOT be subject to any disciplinary proceeding, as defined by Section 22.0512(b), resulting from an action taken in compliance with this section. The requirements of this section are considered to involve an employee's judgment and discretion and are not considered ministerial acts for purposes of immunity from liability under Section 22.0511. Nothing in this section may be considered to limit the immunity from liability provided under Section 22.0511.

7. Sec. 38.0042 - POSTING CHILD ABUSE HOTLINE TELEPHONE NUMBER (a) Each public school shall post in a clearly visible location in a public area of the school that is readily accessible to students a sign in English and in Spanish that contains the toll-free telephone number operated by the Department of Family and Protective Services to receive reports of child abuse or neglect. (b) The commissioner may adopt rules relating to the size and location of the sign required by Subsection (a).

8. Child Abuse Trainings Sexual Abuse Prevention Training: Darkness to Light www.D2L.org/TXEd Texas Department of Family and Protective Services (DFPS) provides online training and printed certificates http://www.dfps.state.tx.us/Training/Reporting/recognizing.asp

9. TEA Letter - Mandatory 2014-2015 Child Sexual Abuse Prevention Training & Posting of Child Abuse Hotline Number http://www.tea.state.tx.us/index4.aspx?id=25769814844 Poster • All campuses are required to post, at student eye-level, in at least one high-traffic area, and in both English and Spanish, a poster (11 x 17 inches or larger) with information that includes the Texas DFPS Abuse Hotline telephone number, instructions to call 911 and directions to www.txabusehotline.org. • To download a poster that was developed to meet the requirements of TEC, §38.0042, and TAC, §61.1051, visit: http://www.onewithcourage.org/take-action/for-educators/ • Additional information about child abuse and neglect reporting and prevention resources visit TEA’s Child Abuse Prevention website: http://www.tea.state.tx.us/index.aspx?id=2820