BEAR RIVER HEAD START
CHILD ABUSE AND NEGLECT POLICY
(Revised August 2004)
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Section I. Statement of Policy

Head Start agencies must report child abuse and neglect in accordance with the state law, each Head Start agency shall develop a policy and procedure for the reporting of abuse and neglect.

We do this with the following purposes in mind:

• To protect the child
• To initiate prompt investigation by the Division of Child & Family Services (Utah) or Department of Health and Welfare (Idaho).
• To establish and maintain relationships with community agencies which are also involved with abuse and neglect cases.
• To inform parents and staff of the laws and legal requirements regarding the reporting and identification of suspected abuse and neglect.
• To ensure that staff is informed about the agency’s procedures for identifying and reporting suspected child abuse and neglect within the Head Start program.

This policy is consistent with the overall goal of Head Start, which is to provide comprehensive developmental services to meet the basic needs of each child and to involve parents in this process as much as possible.

Section II. Methods to Meet Policy

• The Head Start program will cooperate fully with the Division of Child The Head Start program will cooperate fully with the Division of Child & Family Services or Department of Health &
• The Head Start program will make every effort to retain allegedly abused or neglected children or enroll such children who are referred by child protective service agencies if the families are eligible for Head Start.
• The Family Development Coordinator shall be the staff member to coordinate child abuse and neglect procedures. The Coordinator will perform (or assure the performance) of the following responsibilities.

     a.     Establish and maintain relationship with community agencies, which are also involved with abuse and neglect.
     b.     Inform parents and staff of legal requirements regarding the reporting of abuse and neglect.
     c.     Know what medical and social services are available within the community for abuse and neglected children and their parents.
     d.     Ensure that all suspected abuse and neglect is reported to the appropriate agency according to State

Training of Parents
Bear River Preschool Head Start will take the Child Abuse & Neglect information to each family, on a home visit. In addition, Head Start will offer a parent training(s) on child abuse and neglect. At which time parents will be made aware of (1) Utah and/or Idaho State Law and also (2) the identification and reporting of suspected child abuse and neglect.

Training of Staff
All staff members will be trained in the Utah and/or Idaho State Laws (mandatory reporting) regarding child abuse and neglect.

All staff will be required to attend child abuse training offered by the program and will be required to attend follow-up training as offered.

All staff will be required to know the agency’s procedure for reporting suspected abuse and neglect.

All reports will be documented including:

1. Date and Time
2. Persons involved in the suspected abuse
3. Name of: Division of Child & Family Services (DCFS) or Department of Health & Welfare (DHW) employee
4. Detailed information regarding suspected abuse situation
5. Head Start employee who suspects abuse
6. What was seen and heard
7. Any directions given by DCFS or DHW
8. Follow up information from DCHS or DHW

If any staff member suspects abuse or neglect, they must immediately notify a staff member from below. If the first person on the list is unavailable, proceed down the list until a staff member has been notified of your suspicion. In addition, each staff member must report their suspicion to their immediate Supervisor.This allows the Supervisor to provide support to their staff member.

PRESCHOOL HEAD START

1. Famly Development Coordination
   If unavailable,
2. Family Development Specialist
   If unavailable,
3. Health & Welfare Coordinator
   If unavailable,
4. Child Development Coordinator
   If unavailable,
5. Director
   

EARLY HEAD START

1. Famly Development Coordination
   If unavailable,
2. Home-Base Specialist
   If unavailable,
3. Family Development Specialist
   If unavailable,
4. Health & Welfare Coordinator
   If unavailable,
5. Child Development Coordinator
   If unavailable,
6. Director

CHILD CARE CONNECTION

1. CCC Coordinator
   If unavailable,
2. PHS Family Development Coordinator
   If unavailable,
3. PHS Development Specialist
   If unavailable,
4. Director

ALL REPORTS WILL BE COMMUNICATED TO THE FAMILY DEVELOPMENT COORDINATOR (UPON AVAILABILITY). THE SITE COORDINATOR AND DIRECTOR WILL BE INFORMED THAT A CALL WAS MADE.

The above staff person will review the information with the staff person who suspects the abuse. Once a decision is made to contact DCFS or DHW, a call will be made with the staff person who suspects the abuse. (If the staff person [who suspects abuse] is in an outer-lying area, there may be a conference call to DCFS or DHW with the above staff person or the staff member will be directed to call DCFS/DHW and report the outcome)

Reports to the Division of Child & Family Services (DCFS) or Department of Health & Welfare (DHW) will include the following:

(NOTE: If we are not sure whether it is a reportable case, we will call and ask the DCFS or DHW staff person’s opinion and follow their advice.)

If BRHS feels that to return the child to his/her home situation would place the child in immediate danger, we will contact the Police Department in that area and state our reasons for concern.

REMEMBER: WE ARE A MANDATORY REPORTING AGENCY. AS THE PERSON WHO SUSPECTS ABUSE, YOU ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR SEEING THAT A REPORT IS MADE! FAILURE TO DO SO MAY RESULT IN DICIPLINARY ACTION AND OR TERMINATION.

Date reviewed and approved by Policy Council:___________________________

Policy Council Chairperson's Signature:_________________________________