JHG - Child Abuse and Neglect Reporting

File:  JHG

 

CHILD ABUSE AND NEGLECT REPORTING

 

Reporting Requirement

 

            Every employee of Buena Vista City Schools who, in his professional or official capacity, has reason to suspect that a child is an abused or neglected child, in compliance with the Code of Virginia § 63.2-1509 et seq. shall immediately report the matter to

 

·        the local department of social services where the child resides or where the abuse or neglect is believed to have occurred;

·        to the Virginia Department of Social Services’ toll-free child abuse and neglect hotline; or

·        to the person in charge of the school or department, or his designee, who shall make the report forthwith.

 

Notice of Reporting Requirement

 

The school board shall post in each school a notice that

 

(i)                  any teacher or other person employed there  who has reason to suspect that a child is an abused or neglected child, including any child who may be abandoned, is required to report such suspected cases of child abuse or neglect to local or state social services agencies or the person in charge of the relevant school or his designee; and

(ii)                 all persons required to report cases of suspected child abuse or neglect are immune from civil or criminal liability or administrative penalty or sanction on account of such reports unless such person has acted in bad faith or with malicious purpose. The notice shall also include the Virginia Department of Social Services' toll-free child abuse and neglect hotline.

 

Complaints of Abuse and Neglect Against School Personnel

 

            The school board and the local department of social services shall adopt a written interagency agreement as a protocol for investigating child abuse and neglect reports, including reports of sexual abuse of a student, against school personnel.  The interagency agreement shall be based on recommended procedures for conducting investigations developed by the Departments of Education and Social Services.

 

Adopted:        04/26/04; 06/26/08

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Legal Ref.:            Code of Virginia, 1950, as amended, §§ 22.1-291.3, 63.2-1509 et seq.

 

 

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