Child Abuse Coordinator Duties and Responsibilities
Coordinators at schools play a crucial role in identifying and reporting child abuse. They provide a private space for reporting suspicions, assist in sharing information with DCS and law enforcement, maintain confidential records, and ensure adherence to reporting protocols. School personnel are trained to handle disclosures sensitively and promptly involve the designated coordinators to take necessary actions.
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Presentation Transcript
Each school is now required to identify two individuals within the school to be the child abuse coordinator and the alternate child abuse coordinator. All school employees are required to participate in annual child abuse training at the beginning of each year. All school employees who suspect child abuse or child sexual abuse will report this information to the school s child abuse coordinator. Together, they will report to DCS and SRO. Coordinators will know the signs, symptoms, or suspicions of child abuse. What is a Child Abuse Coordinator?
The coordinator and the alternate coordinator are the school contacts for reporting suspected child abuse or child sexual abuse. The coordinator provides a private location with access to a phone for reporting suspected child abuse or child sexual abuse. The child abuse coordinator is the contact in the school and is a liaison between the school, DCS, and law enforcement The coordinator provides a private location with a phone for DCS and/or law enforcement interviews with child and reporting school personnel. Child Abuse Coordinator s Duties
Coordinators are available for school personnel to share information about suspected child abuse or child sexual abuse. Coordinators will assist law enforcement and DCS by sharing available information regarding abuse. Coordinators assist school personnel in reporting suspected child abuse or child sexual abuse to law enforcement and DCS. Coordinators will not conduct any type of investigation. Coordinators will know mandatory reporting rules. Child Abuse Coordinator s Duties
Coordinators will know the protocols to report to DCS and law enforcement. Coordinators will be familiar with Child Advocacy Center and services it provides. Coordinators will maintain confidential files regarding all reported suspicions of child abuse or child sexual abuse. These are not part of school records. Coordinators or other school personnel shall not provide any information relevant to the abuse to the child s parent or guardian. Refer any questions to law enforcement and DCS. Child Abuse Coordinator s Duties
School personnel: Provide a private place to talk; Listen openly; Be positive and non-judgmental; Talk on the child s level; Allow child to use own words; Don t ask questions, unless you do not understand words used by child; Don t make any statements to child; Write down child s exact words, if possible; Immediately notify child abuse coordinator and report information to DCS and law enforcement; Child voluntarily discloses possible abuse to school personnel
Observe any bruising, injury, markings, or other unusual behavior. Do not take pictures of any markings. Do not provide any information to parents. Do keep all information confidential. Both reporting school personnel and coordinator contact DCS and law enforcement. Report information to Alison May at Central Office. School coordinator maintains confidential file of suspected abuse. School Personnel and Coordinator
Third party information to Encourage third party to report suspected abuse. Notify child abuse coordinator Report information to DCS and law enforcement. school personnel
New child abuse hotline for school personnel to report child abuse or child sexual abuse 1-855-209-4226 Procedure for All School Employees to Report Child Abuse and Neglect
School personnel reports suspected abuse to child abuse coordinator. School personnel and coordinator report suspected abuse to department of children s services and law enforcement Schools Child Abuse Hotline 1-855-209-4226 Child Abuse Hotline 1-877-237-0004 On-line referral for non-emergency reporting: https://apps.tn.gov/carat/ If an emergency, call 9-1-1 law enforcement Loudon County Sheriff s Dept 865-986-4823 Procedure for All School Employees to Report Child Abuse and Neglect Coordinator notifies Central Office contact of the child abuse report Central Office Contact: Alison May, Food & Health Services Supervisor 865-458-5411, ext. 1011 office 865-740-7696 cell maya@loudoncounty.org
Kids First- Child Advocacy Center of the 9thJudicial District PO Box: 928 887 Highway 70 W Lenoir City, TN 37771 Executive Director: Chris Evans-Longmire Telephone: 865-986-1505 Email: cevans@cac9jd.org Kids First Child Advocacy Center Ninth Judicial District
TN Dept. of Children s Services Training for Child Abuse Coordinator https://www.tn.gov/dcs/program-areas/child- safety/reporting/child-abuse-coordinator- training-resources.html https://youtu.be/Vuj80R8X8GA
