4205    Child Abuse Reporting

Support Services/Community Services

It shall be the responsibility of the South Kingstown School Department personnel to report all known or suspected cases of child abuse to their immediate supervisor. It shall be the responsibility of the immediate supervisor to report such information to the "Director of Social and Rehabilitative Services” or his agent who shall cause the report to be investigated immediately. *

Further, South Kingstown Professional personnel shall familiarize themselves with the legislation as enacted by the General Assembly at their January session, A. D. 1976.  Copies of this legislation may be obtained at any school office.

A record of the above communication should be filed with the central administration office.

*40-11-3 - Legal Reference; Chapter 11 of Title 40 of the General Laws titled "Battered and Abused Children."

Adopted: 12/14/76

Revised: 12/17/76

Child Abuse Reporting Guidelines

The Committee hereby adopts in its entirety the "Reporting Guidelines for Rhode Island School Personnel Regarding Suspected Child Abuse and Neglect”; revised February, 1980, a copy of which is attached, as the guidelines to be followed by all school department personnel in all known or suspected cases of Child Abuse and/or Neglect.

A copy of the reporting guidelines shall be provided to each employee and at least one copy shall be kept on file in all school department buildings.

Principals and other personnel in charge of school department buildings in which school personnel are employed shall be responsible to see that all personnel employed in his/her building receive a copy of the reporting guidelines and of this policy, and that each employee becomes familiar with the provisions of each. Particular emphasis shall be placed by supervisory personnel on what constitutes an abused child or a neglected child, the requirement that such abuse or neglect must  be reported if it is known or even suspected by an employee; that a report of the knowledge or suspicion must be made to the Rhode Island Department for Children and Their Families by the person having such knowledge or suspicion no later than 24 hours after such knowledge is learned or such suspicion is raised; that the failure by an employee to report such knowledge or suspicion can result in criminal and civil liability against such employee.

Employees should request the assistance of the building principal or other supervisory personnel, if available, in making such reports but employees shall be instructed that delays in seeking such assistance will not excuse the timely making of such reports and that it is the employee's responsibility to make certain that such a report is made to the Rhode Island Department of Children and their Families.

Principals and other supervisory personnel shall provide whatever assistance is requested by employees in making such reports.

Whenever an employee makes such a report, he/she shall notify his/her principal or supervisor that such a report has been made and the principal or supervisor shall, in turn, notify the Superintendent via the social worker, that such a report has been made.

Principals and other supervisory personnel shall make certain that all new employees in their buildings become thoroughly familiar with the reporting guidelines and the provisions of this policy at the time they commence their employment.

The parents of all children shall be suitably informed of the requirements of reporting knowledge or suspicion of child abuse or neglect by school department personnel.

Department for Children and Their Families

610 Mt. Pleasant Avenue

Providence, RI 02908 Building #10

401-277-6565

Policy adopted 6/23/80