Reporting Child Abuse and Neglect Administrative Procedure
NEPN/NSBA Code: JLF-R
This procedure implements Yarmouth School Committee policy JLF – Reporting Suspected Child Abuse and Neglect. It summarizes the steps to be taken when a school employee suspects that a child has been or is likely to be abused or neglected.
The “notifying person” refers to the person who has the information that gives rise to the suspicion that a child has been is likely to be abused or neglected and is required by law to report it, such as a teacher, principal, guidance counselor or bus driver.
A. The notifying person should immediately notify the building administrator/designee of the suspected abuse or neglect. The person may notify the Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) directly, or if appropriate, the District Attorney (DA).
B. The building administrator/designee should immediately directly report it to DHHS and, if appropriate, to the DA.
C. The building administrator/designee should send a written confirmation containing the name of the person reporting, the date and time of the report and a summary of the information to the notifying person.
D. The notifying person should acknowledge in writing that he/she has received the confirmation that the report has been made by the building administrator/ designee.
E. The confirmation and acknowledgement should be retained in the school’s records.
F. If the notifying person has not received written confirmation within 24 hours of making his/her report to the building administrator/designee has caused a report to be made to DHHS and, if appropriate, the DA, the notifying person shall immediately make a report to DHHS and, if appropriate, the DA.
Cross Reference: JLF – Reporting Suspected Child Abuse and Neglect
JLF-E – Suspected Child Abuse Neglect Report Form
Adopted: November 12, 2015
Revised: March 12, 2020
