PROCEDURES FOR REPORTING SUSPECTED CHILD ABUSE/ NEGLECT CASES As a childcare facility licensed by the state of Texas, your Head Start center is required to abide by the Minimum Standard Rules from the Texas Health and Human Services. All Head Start staff is trained on a yearly basis in Procedures for Reporting Suspected Child Abuse / Neglect. A copy of the most recent Child Care Regulation Report is available for your review and is posted on the Administrative Bulletin Board in the center’s office. Questions and/or concerns regarding the program’s adherence to licensing guidelines may be directed to the Texas Health and Human Services at (915) 834-5739 or www.hhs.texas.gov Concerns regarding the suspicion of child abuse and/or neglect should be reported by calling the Child Abuse Hotline at 1 (800) 252-5400. All staff members and volunteers receive mandatory annual training on Reporting Suspected Child Abuse/Neglect. Parents and families are provided with Reporting Suspected Child Abuse/Neglect presentations during the school year to raise awareness, prevention and provide the steps on how to report it. CHILD ABUSE/ NEGLECT AT HEAD START CENTER OR AT HOME Anyone suspecting abuse or neglect of a Head Start child at Head Start Center or at Home Personnel must immediately report to 1-800-252-5400 or www.dfps.state.tx.us. The person may remain anonymous when reporting. Thereafter, the person will sign and document all information in the Suspected Child Abuse/Neglect Report Form and submit it to the Center Manager. Within the next 24 hours, the Center Manager will contact the local Texas Department of Family and Protective Services (TDFPS) Child Care Regulation office and the Administrative Operations Services Area to report the date, name of the child, and suspected abuse or neglect that was reported.
The Operations Program Manager will follow up with local Texas Department of Family and Protective Services on the status of the case. REPORTING SUSPECTED CHILD ABUSE /NEGLECT Anyone suspecting child abuse/ neglect must report to 1-800- 252-5400 www.dfps.state.tx.us Any person reporting must sign and document all information in the Suspected Child Abuse/Neglect Report and submit it to the Center Manager. IF INCIDENT OCCURS AT HEAD START CENTER OR AT HOME Center Manager notifies local Child Care Regulation office and Operations Program Manager within 24 hours. POSSIBLE BEHAVIORS THAT MAY SIGNAL THE PRESENCE OF CHILD ABUSE OR NEGLECT CHILDREN’S BEHAVIOR • Shows sudden changes in behavior or school performance. • Has not received help for physical or medical problems brought to the parents’ attention. • Has learning problems (or difficulty concentrating) that cannot be attributed to specific physical or psychological causes. • Is always watchful, as though preparing for something bad to happen. • Lacks adult supervision. • Is overly compliant, passive, or withdrawn. • Comes to school or other activities early, stays late, and does not want to go home. • Is reluctant to be around a particular person. • Disclosure of maltreatment.
29
Made with FlippingBook Digital Publishing Software