Procedure # 1820 Minnesota State Academies Faribault Minnesota

Procedure # 1820
Minnesota State Academies
Faribault Minnesota

GENERAL ADMINISTRATION
Regulations on Child Abuse and Neglect Procedure

1. PURPOSE
   The purpose of this procedure is to define child abuse/neglect laws and to establish procedures for the reporting of information.
2. NEED
   The State o Minnesota, by law, mandates that workers who have knowledge of or reasonable cause to believe that a child is being abused or neglected must immediately report such information to the appropriate authorities.
3. LEGAL BACKGROUND INFORMATION
4. Any person reporting in good faith is immune from criminal or civil liability resulting from that report.
5. Failure to report constitutes a misdemeanor by Minnesota State Law.
6. All reports shall be treated as confidential while the report is under investigation. After the investigation is complete, the name of the reporter shall be accessible to the individual subject of the record upon court order.
7. DEFINITION OF TERMS
8. For definition of terms:
   Appendix C, MDE Student Maltreatment
   MN Department of Human Services website:
   MN Statute 626.556;
9. REPORTING PROCEDURES FOR SUSPECTED CASES OF ABUSE OR NEGLECT
10. If questions arise as to the need to report a specific incident, the mandated reporter may contact Rice County Child Protection Services or the Minnesota Department of Education and discuss concerns without making a report.
11. All staff of the Minnesota State Academies are mandated reporters. Mandated reporters who know or have reason to believe that a child has been subject to abuse shall immediately make an oral report to the appropriate agency(ies).

1)If the suspected abuse/neglect occurred when not under the Academies’ supervision, mandated reporters shall immediately make an oral report to all of the following:

a)Rice County Social Services: (507) 332-6115

b)The resident county social services of the student or the Rice County Social Services. Follow instructions given by social services staff.

2)If the suspected abuse occurred when under the supervision of the Academies’ program (including the mainstream program/extracurricular trips), the mandated reporter must contact:

a)The Minnesota Department of Education: (651) 582-8546

b)Faribault Police Department:
(507) 332-6022 (Investigations)
(507) 334-4305 (Non-emergency)

1. If an emergency exists: 911
2. Immediately following the oral report to the appropriate authority, the mandated reporter must notify their supervisor. If their supervisor is not available, contact the on-call supervisor.
3. All reports shall be treated as confidential.
4. Documentation of reports:

1)Mandated reporters, supervisors and all persons with information related to the incident shall document all incidents, actions taken, and contacts made. All Accounts shall be objective in nature. This information will be given to the respective Director and shall become part of the supplementary record of the student but not included in the cumulative file of the student. Copies of all documents will be given to the respective Director and the Superintendent.

2)If the suspected abuse/neglect occurred at home, the mandated reporter is responsible for completing the Rice County Report of Suspected Child Abuse form (Appendix B).
If the suspected abuse occurred while under the Academies’ program, the mandated reporter is responsible for completing the MDE Student Maltreatment Reporting Form (Appendix C).

3)All reports must be completed within 72 hours when they know or have reason to believe that a child has been subject to abuse or neglect. A written report must be submitted to all agencies to which an oral report was made. The agency(ies) receiving the report may require the written report prior to the 72 hour timeline. The mandated reporter is responsible to respond as directed. Upon completion, a copy of this form shall be given to the Director of the respective Academy.

1. ADMINISTRATIVE RESPONSIBILITIES
2. In cases where the child is in immediate danger, the Director, supervisor, or on-call supervisor is responsible to insure the safety of the child.
3. Director/Supervisors will notify the superintendent of all reports.
4. The Director is responsible for ensuring the mandated reporter follows the appropriate procedures.

1)The Director of the respective Academy will serve as coordinator of all child abuse reports. Records of reported child abuse to authorities will be maintained in the Director’s office. Questions relating to the school’s procedures for implementation should be directed to the Director.An oral or written report to the Director does not relieve the mandated reporter of making a report to the authorities.

2)The Director of the respective Academy is responsible for any related follow up.

3)The Director of the respective Academy will provide for student safety of children involved in child abuse/neglect incidents including necessary investigations to determine employee or student misconduct.

1. The Board of the Minnesota State Academies will be informed, by the superintendent, of incidents of child abuse/neglect occurring while under the supervision of the Academies.
2. The LEAs of students involved will be notified by the respective Academy Director of student involved in a reported incident of child abuse/neglect.
3. Parent will be notified, by Academy Directors, of student involved in reported incidents of child abuse/neglect. A full disclosure policy will be maintained with parents, to the extent permitted by confidentiality laws.

1. STAFF TRAINING
   Staff will be required to read and sign off that they understand the Academies Child Abuse and Neglect procedure.

Linda Mitchell, Superintendent
Minnesota State Academies
Reviewer: / Superintendent
Date Originated: / 11-15-1995
Date Revised: / 10-30-2000
Date Revised: / 08-12-2012

1-1820 Child Abuse and Neglect