Child Abuse Reporting and Investigation Sample Clauses

Child Abuse Reporting and Investigation. 1. LEA/Charter School's duty to report: Per 16 DE Code §903, a school employee who “knows or in good faith suspects child abuse or neglect shall make a report” to DFS. School personnel shall immediately report known or suspected child abuse or neglect to the 24 hour Child Abuse Report Line (0-000-000-0000). A report must be made each time abuse or neglect is suspected regardless of current DFS activity with the family. Anyone participating in good faith in the making of a report shall be immune from civil or criminal liability per 16 DE Code §908. Failure to comply with §903 may result in a fine or imprisonment or both. The responsibility of determining whether or not abuse or neglect has occurred rests with DFS. A school employee should not interview or probe a child to obtain details about the abuse or neglect. A school employee should ask questions of the child to only obtain basic information needed to make a report: (1) how the child was abused or neglected (type such as physical or sexual) or why the child is afraid he or she will be abused or neglected, (2) who is the alleged abuser, and (3) when the alleged abuse occurred. Also, the child should not be questioned more than once. Questioning the child beyond obtaining basic reporting information or questioning a child more than once could prevent DFS, law enforcement, and the Department of Justice from conducting an effective investigation and hinder potential prosecution. An oral report should be made by the school staff person who initially had reason to suspect abuse or neglect. DFS requests that a written report be mailed to the Report Line address on the form within 72 hours for documentation purposes. (See Appendix A – Mandatory Reporting Form). If necessary, a school designee may be assigned by the principal to make the oral report and complete the written report. DFS may contact this person, as well as other school personnel with knowledge of the situation, to provide additional first-hand information. An oral report will require approximately twenty minutes of reporting time. DFS will request demographic information on the child and family and the risk of or the extent of the alleged abuse or neglect. Other information routinely requested includes the following: when and where the alleged abuse/neglect or dependency occurred; the reporting person’s assessment of the danger/risk of the situation; the names and ages of other children in the home and/or family; information known about previous...