1. Mandatory Child Abuse Reporting
12/5/2018
Mandatory Child Abuse Reporting
Each Employee’s Responsibility

2. Your Responsibility: State Law
12/5/2018
A.R.S. § imposes on each school district employee an individual duty to protect children:
Any school employee who, in the course of his/her employment, “reasonably believes that a minor is or has been the victim of physical injury, abuse, child abuse, a reportable offense or neglect” must immediately report this to the local law enforcement agency or child protective services.
The penalty for failure to report any form of sexual abuse is a class 6 felony. Failure to report other forms of abuse is a class 1 misdemeanor. In either case, you may be jailed or imprisoned, and fined for failure to report.
“Individual responsibility” means that you cannot meet this requirement by only reporting to school authorities. You must ensure that the report is made, whether you report it yourself or you sit with a supervisor and witness the report being made to police or CPS.

3. Your Responsibility: make a report
12/5/2018
Your Responsibility: make a report
Report immediately by phone or in person to police, or by phone or online to the DCS:
Report to Arizona Department of Child Safety (DCS) if suspected abuse/neglect is committed by a family member or legal guardian of the child. Call the Arizona Child Abuse Hotline at to report non-emergency concerns, or access the Online Reporting Service for Mandated Reporters at:
All other reports of suspected abuse/neglect should be made to local law enforcement.
If you need assistance in reporting, you should be present while the report is being made by another individual to ensure the report is accurate and fulfills the legal requirements
Document and retain your report with date, time, who you contacted and details you provided.
You do not have to observe yourself nor have concrete evidence that abuse or injury has occurred.
When in doubt, report, even though it may be difficult because you really like the person about whom the allegation is made, or you personally do not believe the allegation. You do not have the discretion to make that judgment call.
Arizona Statues grant immunity from any civil or criminal liability for a person:
who makes a report in good faith, or
who participates in a judicial proceeding or investigation resulting from a report

4. 12/5/2018
Your Responsibility
Notify the school designated coordinator or the school/site Administrator for direction and support
Notify Human Resource Services if the allegation involves a Kyrene employee
Do not inform the alleged perpetrator or involve him/her in the reporting process
Do not attempt to investigate the allegations yourself
Do not discuss allegations with anyone who is not directly involved in the reporting or investigation
Cooperate fully with the police or investigating agency
Ensure the safety of children at all times
Maintaining confidentiality “to the extent possible” means you can discuss the allegations with the investigating agency or with the appropriate school authorities. But cannot discuss this information with other staff members, students or parents. Such conversation is usually done with good intentions, but it can seriously hamper the investigation and it can violate confidentiality policies.

5. Sources of Information
12/5/2018
Sources of Information
School and District employees generally receive information about possible abuse, injury that is not accidental, or neglect in one of three ways:
1. A child’s self-disclosure The child volunteers information about abuse, injury or neglect
2. Personal observations
You observe physical or emotional signs of abuse, injury or neglect
3. Third party report
You hear from someone else about suspected abuse, injury or neglect

6. 12/5/2018
CHILD’S SELF-DISCLOSURE The child volunteers information about abuse, injury, or neglect
Do not ask leading questions: listen and promptly document what you were told so that you can make an accurate report
Do not re-question the child
Do not make promises to the child (e.g. "I won’t tell anyone”)
Do not investigate the child’s allegations, just report them

7. 12/5/2018
Personal Observations You observe physical or emotional signs of abuse, injury or neglect
Be observant of bruising, injury, or a child’s unusual behavior, such as withdrawing from activities, disengagement, or frequent crying
If the child does not volunteer information, only the following four questions may be asked:
WHAT happened?
WHO did it?
WHEN did it happen?
WHERE were you when it happened?
Maintain confidentiality; only discuss your observations with individuals directly involved in the reporting and investigating

8. 12/5/2018
Third Party Reports You hear from someone else about suspected abuse, injury or neglect
Do not question the child about the allegations
Make a report to police or DCS even if the person who reported the allegations to you says he/she will make a report, or already has reported. (Remember, you have an individual duty to report if you reasonably believe the child is a victim of abuse, neglect, or injury that is not accidental.)
Do not promise that you won’t reveal the third party’s name or that you will not tell anyone
Maintain confidentiality; only discuss information you receive with individuals directly involved in reporting and investigating

9. WHEN ALLEGATIONS ARE MADE AGAINST A Kyrene EMPLOYEE
12/5/2018
WHEN ALLEGATIONS ARE MADE AGAINST A Kyrene EMPLOYEE
The Superintendent may reassign the employee to home with pay pending an investigation of the allegations
After release from law enforcement or DCS, the District may conduct an internal investigation
Due process procedures will be initiated as outlined in Governing Board Policy
Disciplinary action may be imposed if evidence substantiates the allegations
Responsibility to Report pursuant to A.R.S. §15-514: Human Resource Services will cause a written report to be made to the AZ State Board of Education Investigative Unit within three business when a reasonable allegation or suspicion exists that a person certified by the AZ State Board of Education has engaged in immoral or unprofessional conduct involving minors that would be subject to § reporting requirements.

10. Resources Available to Employees
12/5/2018
Resources Available to Employees
Professional Associations: KEA, KESPA Human Resource Services: ext Employee Assistance Program: Care24 ( )
Resources Available To STUDENTS AND PARENTS
School Administrators
School Psychologists
School Prevention Specialists