Mandated Reporting Requirement
Reporting Suspected Child Abuse and Neglect
Kingdom East School District
August 2019
Who is a mandated reporter?
You! All employees of Kingdom East!
An individual who is a) employed by a school district or an approved or recognized independent school or b) contracted and paid by a school district or an approved or recognized independent school to provide student services, including any school superintendent, school principal, headmaster of an approved or recognized independent school, school teacher, student teacher, school librarian, and school guidance counselor
Health care providers, camp administrators, childcare workers, clergy members, mental health professional, police officers, probation officers and social workers.
When to report
If you reasonably suspect child abuse or neglect you are required to make a report with Family Services Division (FSD) of Department of Children & Families (DCF).
You are required to report within 24 hours of the time you first received or observed information about the suspected abuse/neglect.
Even if you notify your supervisor or a principal, you are still required to file the report with FSD.
When you are not sure, REPORT!
If several people at Kingdom East need to report the same information/incident
Recommended you report as a group, by phone or in writing.
Must be reported within 24 hours.
How to report
Call DCF at 1-800-649-5285 (24 hours a day, 7 days a week) or complete a written report.
If a child is in immediate danger, call 911 or your local police first.
You must still notify Family Services Division of DCF within 24 hours, even if the police are notified.
Process when you report
Get as much information as you can before you call or complete a written report: Child’s name, date of birth, home address, school or child care provider, parents’ names
If you call:
Call 1-800-649-5285: Social worker will question you about the situation, record the information you provide and in some cases ask you to gather more information.
If you file a written report: You should use the FS-305 form. Print a copy of the form and complete it by hand or save the form on your computer and complete it as a fillable form. Fax the completed form to 802-241-3301.
Steps after you file a report
Step 1: FSD supervisor screens the report and decides whether the report can be accepted for the intervention according to Vermont law and departmental policy.
Several factors are considered: child’s age, alleged abuser’s relationship to the child and the nature of the allegation.
To learn more about how reports are screened, read FSD Policy 51 - Child Safety: Screening Reports of Child Maltreatment.
Steps after you file a report
Step 2: If a report is accepted, the supervisor determines the appropriate intervention Vermont law authorizes two types of intervention: Assessment and Investigation. Assessment is preferred.
Investigation required when:
A child is sexually abused by someone over 10. A child is at risk of harm or sexual abuse by an adult. Something a person responsible for a child’s welfare did or didn’t do resulted in a child’s death or serious injury.
A person responsible for a child’s welfare: Abandoned a child. Maliciously punished a child. Physically abused a child under age 3 or any age who does not talk or walk. Allowed a child to be exposed to methamphetamine production.
Steps after you file a report
Step 3: FSD opens an investigation or an assessment.
A social worker is assigned to the case and the selected intervention begins, usually within 72 hours but sooner if the child is in imminent danger.
Safety is the first priority:
Steps after you file a report
Step 4: Conclusion of intervention - the supervisor determines the outcome based on the information gathered.
Assessment outcome: A determination of the family’s need for ongoing services, based on the assessed risk of future maltreatment.
Investigation outcomes: A determination of the family’s need for ongoing services, based on the assessed risk of future maltreatment and a formal determination of whether the reported abuse or neglect occurred. If the evidence would lead a reasonable person to believe the child was abused or neglected, the report is substantiated and information about the person substantiated is entered into Vermont’s Child Protection Registry. If a report is unsubstantiated, a case could still be opened for services based on the assessed risk of future maltreatment.
Information that can be shared with you
Your liability
Vermont law provides you with immunity from civil or criminal liability if your report was made in good faith.
Failing to report as required by law can result in criminal prosecution with a fine of up to $500.
Failing to report as required by law with the intent to conceal the abuse or neglect can result in imprisonment for up to six months and a fine of up to $1000.
HIPAA
HIPAA privacy rule allows covered organizations to disclose protected health information to report suspected child abuse or neglect to government authorities authorized by law to receive such reports.
Confidentiality
Family Services Division will not divulge your personal information unless
The key point
If you reasonably suspect child abuse or neglect you are required to make a report with Family Services Division (FSD) of Department of Children & Families (DCF).
You are required to report within 24 hours!
When you are not sure, REPORT!
Call DCF at 1-800-649-5285 (24 hours a day, 7 days a week).
Additional resources