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Stay informed about Loudon County Schools' child abuse reporting protocol. Learn to recognize symptoms and signs of child abuse, and understand the procedures for reporting. Annual training for school employees is available electronically and on the school system's website.
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Office of Coordinated School Health Child Abuse and Neglect Reporting Protocol Laws, Policy & Procedures Recognizing Symptoms Authority Figures & Human Trafficking Annual Training for School Employees Updated July 2019
Loudon County Schools is committed to the safety of its students; all certified and non-certified staff are required to receive child abuse training annually. • For your convenience and to provide a more effective program, child abuse training is now available electronically and on the school system’s website at www.loudoncounty.org . It can also be viewed at anytime on the CSH page, annual training tab. • All employees must complete the training by September 15thof each school year. • For more information, please contact Alison Millsaps, Food/Health Services Supervisor, 458-5411 ext. 1011, millsapsa@loudoncounty.org
Procedure for All School Employees to Report Child Abuse and Neglect Step (1): Call Department of Children’s Services 1-877-237-0004 orChild Abuse Hotline 1-877-542-2873 On-line referral: https://apps.tn.gov/carat/ If an emergency, call 9-1-1 It is required by State Law and Loudon County School Board Policy that any school employee who is aware of possible child abuse or neglect report it directly to DCS. Step (2): Employee notifies school principal of the child abuse report to DCS. Step (3): School Principal notifies Central Office contact of the child abuse report to DCS. Step (4): Notification to parents of abuse on school grounds or while under school supervision - Parents are to be notified within 24 hours of the reported abuse; unless the parents are the suspected abusers. Central Office Contact: Alison May, Food & Health Services Supervisor 865-458-5411, ext. 1011 office 865-740-7696 cell
Definition: What is Child Abuse? Child abuse and neglect “any act or failure to act on the part of a parent or caretaker which results in death, serious physical or emotional harm, sexual abuse or exploitation; or an act or failure to act which presents an imminent risk of serious harm” Source: The Federal Child Abuse Prevention and Treatment Act (CAPTA)
Forms of Child Abuse-Physical Physical Abuse is non-accidental physical trauma or injury inflicted by a parent or caretaker on a child and can include striking, kicking, burning, or biting the child, or any action that results in a physical impairment of the child. It also includes the failure to protect a child from another person who perpetrated physical abuse. Source: The Federal Child Abuse Prevention and Treatment Act (CAPTA)
Forms of Child Abuse-Emotional Emotional Abuse includes verbal assaults, ignoring and indifference or constant family conflict. If a child is degraded enough, the child will begin to live up to the image communicated by the abusing parent or caretaker. “injury to the psychological capacity or emotional stability of the child as evidenced by an observable or substantial change in behavior, emotional response, or cognition” Source: The Federal Child Abuse Prevention and Treatment Act (CAPTA)
Forms of Child Abuse-Sexualor Human Trafficking Sexual Abuse includes penetration or external touching of a child's intimate parts, oral sex with a child, indecent exposure or any other sexual act performed in a child's presence for sexual gratification, human trafficking, including sex trafficking of children for commercial sexual purposes. Child sexual abuse is also the willful failure of the parent or the child's caretaker to make a reasonable effort to stop child sexual abuse by another person. Source: The Federal Child Abuse Prevention and Treatment Act (CAPTA)
Child Neglect Neglect is frequently defined as the failure of a parent or other person with responsibility for the child to provide needed food, clothing, shelter, medical care, or supervision to the degree that the child’s health, safety, and well-being are threatened with harm. Source: The Federal Child Abuse Prevention and Treatment Act (CAPTA)
Possible Child AbuseSigns & Symptoms Physical • Unexplained fractures or injures • Previous injuries in various healing stages Patterned injuries consistent with objects of abuse (cigarettes, belt, hands) • Burns on extremities, buttocks or genitals • Frightened of the approach of adult caregiver Source: TN Dept of Children’s Services
Possible Child AbuseSigns & Symptoms Physical (continued) Emotional turmoil (anxiety, depressed, suicidal); developmental delays Self-isolation or undue aggression Fear of going home; many school absences Abuses animals or pets Source: TN Dept of Children’s Services
Possible Child AbuseSigns & Symptoms Emotional • Sad, depressed, withdrawn, daydreaming • Aggressive behavior • Difficulty trusting adults and making friends • Low self-esteem, guilty, blaming oneself • Memory loss • Developmental delays Source: TN Dept. of Children’s Services
Possible Child AbuseSigns & Symptoms Behavioral • Overly aggressive behavior • Explosive, inappropriate behavior, running away • Unusual interest in sex • Sudden mood changes, unusually emotional, anxious, depressed or withdrawn extreme fatigue or overly passive • Obsessed with cleanliness Source: TN Dept. of Children’s Services
Possible Child AbuseSigns & Symptoms Behavioral (continued) • Slowed development in toilet training, motor skills, socialization, and language • Regressive behaviors, thumb-sucking, baby talk, curling into fetal position • Sleeping disturbances, nightmares, insomnia Source: TN Dept. of Children’s Services
Possible Child AbuseSigns & Symptoms Behavioral (continued) • Eating problems, such as loss of appetite, anorexia, bulimia, or compulsive overeating • Self-mutilation, cutting or hurting oneself • Performing below grade level in school • Fighting or stealing Source: TN Dept. of Children’s Services
Possible Child AbuseSigns & Symptoms Sexual Exploitation/Sexual Abuse • Difficulty walking or sitting • Refusing to change for gym or to participate in physical activities • Reporting of nightmares or bedwetting • Sudden change in appetite • Bizarre, sophisticated, or unusual sexual knowledge or behavior Source: TN Dept. of Children’s Services
Possible Child AbuseSigns & Symptoms Sexual Exploitation/Sexual Abuse (continued) • Pregnant or afflicted by venereal disease, particularly if under the age of 14 • Running away, suicide attempts, other destructive behaviors • Reporting of sexual abuse by a parent or another adult caregiver • Attaching very quickly to strangers or new adults in an environment Source: TN Dept. of Children’s Services
Possible Child NeglectSigns & Symptoms • Begs for or steals food, money, or other items • Lacks medical or dental care, glasses, or immunizations • Is often dirty and/or has severe body odor • Lacks sufficient clothing for the weather • Abuses alcohol or drugs • States that there is no one at home to provide care Source: TN Dept. of Children’s Services
Possible Child AbuseSigns & Symptoms The presence of one or more of the symptoms, signs, or behaviors listed is not necessarily indicative of abuse or neglect but are only possible signs and symptoms of child abuse. Source: TN Dept. of Children’s Services
TN Code Annotated & Board Policy • TCA 37-1-403The person who suspects or has knowledge of child abuse or neglect reports directly to DCS. • Failure to report is a Class A misdemeanor with a fine of up to $2,500. • TCA 49-6-304 Post child abuse information • Board Policy 6.409 Child abuse and neglect
TCA37-1-605. Reports of known or suspected child sexual abuse - Investigations - Notification to parents of abuse on school grounds or while under school supervision - • d) (1) if any school personnel has knowledge or reasonable cause to suspect that a child who attends such school may be a victim of child abuse or child sexual abuse sufficient to require reporting and that the abuse occurred on school grounds or while the child was under the supervision or care of the school,the principal or other person designated by the school shall verbally notify the parent or legal guardian of the child that a report has been made. • The verbal notice shall be made in coordination with the department of children's services to the parent or legal guardian within twenty-four (24) hours from the time the school official reports the abuse to the department of children's services. • The notice shall not be given to any parentor legal guardian if there is reasonable cause to believe that the parent or legal guardianmay be the perpetrator or in any way responsible for the child abuse or child sexual abuse.
LoudonCounty Board of Education Policy 6.409 Child Abuse and Neglect • Staff members having knowledge or suspicion of any child who is suffering from abuse or neglect shall report such harm immediately. • Reports shall be made to the judge having juvenile jurisdiction, to the county office of the Department of Children's Services (DCS), to the sheriff of the county where the child resides, or to the office of the chief law-enforcement official where the child resides.2 • The report shall include: 1. The name, address and age of the child; 2. The name and address of the parents or persons having custody of the child; 3. The nature and extent of the abuse or neglect; 4. Any evidence to the cause or any other information that may relate to the cause or extent of the abuse or neglect.
LoudonCounty Board of Education Policy 6.409 Child Abuse and Neglect (Continued) • The identity of the person reporting shall remain confidential except when the juvenile court determines otherwise. • Notice that a report was filed, and any other information relevant to the wellbeing of the child, shall be verbally provided to the parent(s)/guardian(s) within twenty-four (24) hours of filing.
LoudonCounty Board of Education Policy 6.409 Child Abuse and Neglect (Continued) • This notice shall be made in coordination with DCS. Notice shall not be provided if there is reasonable cause to believe that the parent or legal guardian may be the perpetrator or in any way responsible for abuse. • The Director of Schools/designee shall develop reporting procedures, including sample indicators of abuse and neglect, and shall disseminate the procedures to all school personnel.
Loudon County Board of Education Policy 6.409 Child Abuse and Neglect (Continued) • Investigations: School administrators and employees have a duty to cooperate, provide assistance and information in child abuse investigations, including permitting child abuse review teams to conduct interviews while the child is at school; the principal may control the time, place and circumstances of the interview, but may not insist that a school employee be present even if the suspected abuser is a school employee or another student. The principal is not in violation of any laws by failing to inform parents that the child is to be interviewed even if the suspected abuser is not a member of the child's household.
Title IX Schools in the United States that receive federal funding are bound by Title IX laws that protect students from sexual harassment or assault by educators or anyone else employed by or attending the school. Source: U.S. Dept. of Education
Student-Teacher Relationships:Walking the Line Examples: • Equitable student time • Awareness of norms • Recognizing professional limits • Gifts, lending money • Confidentiality, advice Types: • Temporal Boundaries • Cultural Boundaries • Expertise Boundaries • Financial Boundaries • Communication (Aultman, et al 2009)
Managing Boundaries & Preventing Inappropriate Boundary Invasions • Due to the nature of the profession, a teacher is always under a microscope as to his/her behavior. • Teachers are considered leaders and authority figures. • Awareness of those behaviors which increase an educator’s risk of exposure to claims of misconduct, including appropriate use of the internet, email and text messaging may prevent Boundary Invasions. Source: U.S. Dept. of Education
Inappropriate Relationships Do Not Happen All of A Sudden! • Develops over a period of time. • With some students it might be over a brief period of time; other students take more “grooming”. • Initial acts are somewhat less premeditated and often are: • Opportunistic, • a result of bad judgment, or • a misplaced sense of privilege. Source: Shakeshaft, 2004
Successive Approximation • The student becomes used to increasingly more intrusive boundary invasions which eventually become sexual in nature. I.e., boundary invasions come to seem “normal” with the particular adult. Source: U.S. Dept. of Education
Sexual Grooming in a nutshell: • Boundary invasions which become increasingly more invasive and then sexual. • They can not be called sexual grooming in the earlier stages, because there may not be anything verifiably sexual about them. • They are nonetheless identifiable as “boundary invasions.” Source: U.S. Dept. of Education
Grooming Is Based Upon: • Having a “Special Relationship” with a student. • Socializing with the student • Away from school. • After school hours. • Electronically. • Often the student: • Has problems at home. • Is in need of adult attention. Source: U.S. Dept. of Dept. of Health & Human Services
Is there a Problem in the Schools 9.6% of students are targets of educator sexual misconduct during their school career. American Association of University Women
Examples of Boundary Invasions which could be potential Sexual Grooming: • Working with an individual student behind a closed door. • Touching children when there is no educational reason to do so. • Flirting with students. • Off-color remarks to students. • Giving a student rides alone. • Frequent socializing with a student at school. • Getting a student out of other classes to see the teacher. Source: U.S. Dept. of Dept. of Health & Human Services
Boundary Invasions, cont’d: • Socializing with the student away from school. • Inviting students to the teacher’s home. • More than normal individual attention given to a particular student. • Frequent e-mails or texting to a child for non-educational reasons. • Using e-mail to do any of the above. • Electronic social networking. • Any combination of the above. Source: U.S. Dept. of Dept. of Health & Human Services
Educator sexual offenders often are: • Well-liked and considered excellent teachers • Trusted by parents and staff • Adults who have access to students before or after school or in private situations (e.g., coaches, music teachers.) • Work with vulnerable students. Source: U.S. Dept. of Dept. of Health & Human Services
Watch for Red Flags • Change in student’s behavior • Inappropriate sexual behavior, • late arrivals to class, • changes in personality, • increased time with one school employee • Rumors about a student and a teacher
Other Red Flags • Behavior of the adult • Close personal relationships with students, • time alone with students, • time before and after school with students, • time in private spaces with students, • flirtatious behavior with students, • off-color remarks in class • Text-messaging with students, • participation in social media with students
Other Red Flags • Adult often engaging in “peer-like” behavior with students. • Teacher asking students to keep secrets
Respect Professional Boundaries DO NOT • Date students • Develop “personal” friendships with students • Transport a student in a vehicle • Invite students to meet you off school property
TN Code Annotated & Board Policy TCA 39-13-518 & 39-13-527 Sexual Battery by an authority figure (felony) - Teachers are authority figures TCA 39-13-532 Statutory Rape by an authority figure (felony) TCA 3913-509 Sexual Contact by an authority figure (misdemeanor) Board Policy 5.610 Employee-Student Relations
The sentence for statutory rape by an authority figure Statutory Rape by an authority figure, which includes teachers, is an extremely serious sex offense, and is considered to be a violent sex offense under the law. This means that if you are convicted of this offense, you will have to register as a sex offender for life in Tennessee. Statutory rape by an authority figure is a Class C felony. Class C felonies are punished between 3 and 15 years incarcerated and/or up to a $10,000 fine. Additionally, no person who is found guilty of or pleads guilty to statutory rape by an authority figure: • Is eligible for probation • Can live or work within 1000 feet of any public or private school, licensed day care center, public park, playground, recreation center or public athletic field available for use by the general public.
Human Trafficking Tennessee Public Chapter 0269 of the 111th General Assembly takes effect July 1, 2019. Requires instruction on the detection, intervention, prevention, and treatment of: Child Sexual Abuse, including such abuse that may occur in the home; Human trafficking in which the victim is a child must be accomplished through the viewing of a video recording approved by the LEA.
Human Trafficking is Modern Slavery It can take as little as 24 hours to traffic a child. Source: Dept. of Homeland Security
Total Human Sex Trafficking Every two minutes a child is trafficked for the purpose of sexual exploitation in the United States. —U.S. Department of Justice
Human Trafficking of Children • Almost 300,000 American children are at risk for trafficking into the sex industry. • There are girls as young as 5 and 6 years old in the U.S. that are forced to do sexual acts for economic gain by their pimp. Source: United States Department of Justice
Warning Signs of Human Trafficking Physical Appearance • Has injuries or other signs of abuse and is reluctant to explain them. • Appears malnourished. • Branded or marked with a tattoo, such as a man’s name, symbol of money, or a barcode. • Dressed in a provocative manner or in the same clothes, regardless of weather or circumstance. Source: TN Bureau of Investigation
Warning Signs of Human Trafficking Possessions • Has very few personal possessions. • Has a sudden increase in money, clothing, or things like jewelry. Has no explanation on how they got these things. • Doesn’t carry identification. • Has a number of hotel keys or key cards. • Has a prepaid cell phone. Source: TN Bureau of Investigation
Warning Signs of Human Trafficking Lack of Control • Is with someone who seems to control their every move. • Seems to follow a script in the way they speak. • Doesn’t have control over their own money. • Can’t come and go from place to place on their own. Source: TN Bureau of Investigation