1. Office of Coordinated School Health
Child Abuse and Neglect
Reporting Protocol
Laws, Policy & Procedures Recognizing Symptoms
Authority Figures
& Human Trafficking
Annual Training for School Employees
Updated July 2019

2. Loudon County Schools is committed to the safety of its students; all certified and non-certified staff are required to receive child abuse training annually.
For your convenience and to provide a more effective program, child abuse training is now available electronically and on the school system’s website at . It can also be viewed at anytime on the CSH page, annual training tab.
All employees must complete the training by September 15th of each school year.
For more information, please contact Alison Millsaps, Food/Health Services Supervisor, ext. 1011,

3. Procedure for All School Employees to Report Child Abuse and Neglect
Step (1): Call Department of Children’s Services
or Child Abuse Hotline
On-line referral:
If an emergency, call 9-1-1
It is required by State Law and Loudon County School Board Policy that any school employee who is aware of possible child abuse or neglect report it directly to DCS.
 Step (2): Employee notifies school principal of the child abuse report to DCS.
 Step (3): School Principal notifies Central Office contact of the child abuse report to DCS.
Step (4): Notification to parents of abuse on school grounds or while under school supervision - Parents are to be notified within 24 hours of the reported abuse; unless the parents are the suspected abusers.
Central Office Contact:
Alison May, Food & Health Services Supervisor
, ext office
cell

4. Definition: What is Child Abuse?
Child abuse and neglect “any act or failure to act on the part of a parent or caretaker which results in death, serious physical or emotional harm, sexual abuse or exploitation; or an act or failure to act which presents an imminent risk of serious harm”
Source: The Federal Child Abuse Prevention and Treatment Act (CAPTA)

5. Forms of Child Abuse-Physical
Physical Abuse is non-accidental physical trauma or injury inflicted by a parent or caretaker on a child and can include striking, kicking, burning, or biting the child, or any action that results in a physical impairment of the child. It also includes the failure to protect a child from another person who perpetrated physical abuse.
Source: The Federal Child Abuse Prevention and Treatment Act (CAPTA)

6. Forms of Child Abuse-Emotional
Emotional Abuse includes verbal assaults, ignoring and indifference or constant family conflict. If a child is degraded enough, the child will begin to live up to the image communicated by the abusing parent or caretaker. “injury to the psychological capacity or emotional stability of the child as evidenced by an observable or substantial change in behavior, emotional response, or cognition”
Source: The Federal Child Abuse Prevention and Treatment Act (CAPTA)

7. Forms of Child Abuse-Sexual or Human Trafficking
Sexual Abuse includes penetration or external touching of a child's intimate parts, oral sex with a child, indecent exposure or any other sexual act performed in a child's presence for sexual gratification, human trafficking, including sex trafficking of children for commercial sexual purposes. Child sexual abuse is also the willful failure of the parent or the child's caretaker to make a reasonable effort to stop child sexual abuse by another person.
Source: The Federal Child Abuse Prevention and Treatment Act (CAPTA)

8. Child Neglect
Neglect is frequently defined as the failure of a parent or other person with responsibility for the child to provide needed food, clothing, shelter, medical care, or supervision to the degree that the child’s health, safety, and well-being are threatened with harm.
Source: The Federal Child Abuse Prevention and Treatment Act (CAPTA)

9. Possible Child Abuse Signs & Symptoms
Physical
Unexplained fractures or injures
Previous injuries in various healing stages Patterned injuries consistent with objects of abuse (cigarettes, belt, hands)
Burns on extremities, buttocks or genitals
Frightened of the approach of adult caregiver
Source: TN Dept of Children’s Services

10. Possible Child Abuse Signs & Symptoms
Physical (continued) Emotional turmoil (anxiety, depressed, suicidal); developmental delays Self-isolation or undue aggression Fear of going home; many school absences Abuses animals or pets
Source: TN Dept of Children’s Services

11. Possible Child Abuse Signs & Symptoms
Emotional
Sad, depressed, withdrawn, daydreaming
Aggressive behavior
Difficulty trusting adults and making friends
Low self-esteem, guilty, blaming oneself
Memory loss
Developmental delays
Source: TN Dept. of Children’s Services

12. Possible Child Abuse Signs & Symptoms
Behavioral
Overly aggressive behavior
Explosive, inappropriate behavior, running away
Unusual interest in sex
Sudden mood changes, unusually emotional, anxious, depressed or withdrawn
extreme fatigue or overly passive
Obsessed with cleanliness
Source: TN Dept. of Children’s Services

13. Possible Child Abuse Signs & Symptoms
Behavioral (continued)
Slowed development in toilet training, motor skills, socialization, and language
Regressive behaviors, thumb-sucking, baby talk, curling into fetal position
Sleeping disturbances, nightmares, insomnia
Source: TN Dept. of Children’s Services

14. Possible Child Abuse Signs & Symptoms
Behavioral (continued)
Eating problems, such as loss of appetite, anorexia, bulimia, or compulsive overeating
Self-mutilation, cutting or hurting oneself
Performing below grade level in school
Fighting or stealing
Source: TN Dept. of Children’s Services

15. Possible Child Abuse Signs & Symptoms
Sexual Exploitation/Sexual Abuse
Difficulty walking or sitting
Refusing to change for gym or to participate in physical activities
Reporting of nightmares or bedwetting
Sudden change in appetite
Bizarre, sophisticated, or unusual sexual knowledge or behavior
Source: TN Dept. of Children’s Services

16. Possible Child Abuse Signs & Symptoms
Sexual Exploitation/Sexual Abuse (continued)
Pregnant or afflicted by venereal disease, particularly if under the age of 14
Running away, suicide attempts, other destructive behaviors
Reporting of sexual abuse by a parent or another adult caregiver
Attaching very quickly to strangers or new adults in an environment
Source: TN Dept. of Children’s Services

17. Possible Child Neglect Signs & Symptoms
Begs for or steals food, money, or other items
Lacks medical or dental care, glasses, or immunizations
Is often dirty and/or has severe body odor
Lacks sufficient clothing for the weather
Abuses alcohol or drugs
States that there is no one at home to provide care
Source: TN Dept. of Children’s Services

18. Possible Child Abuse Signs & Symptoms
The presence of one or more of the symptoms, signs, or behaviors listed is not necessarily indicative of abuse or neglect but are only possible signs and symptoms of child abuse.
Source: TN Dept. of Children’s Services

19. TN Code Annotated & Board Policy
TCA The person who suspects or has knowledge of child abuse or neglect reports directly to DCS.
Failure to report is a Class A misdemeanor with a fine of up to $2,500.
TCA Post child abuse information
Board Policy Child abuse and neglect

20. TCA Reports of known or suspected child sexual abuse - Investigations - Notification to parents of abuse on school grounds or while under school supervision -
d) (1) if any school personnel has knowledge or reasonable cause to suspect that a child who attends such school may be a victim of child abuse or child sexual abuse sufficient to require reporting and that the abuse occurred on school grounds or while the child was under the supervision or care of the school, the principal or other person designated by the school shall verbally notify the parent or legal guardian of the child that a report has been made.
The verbal notice shall be made in coordination with the department of children's services to the parent or legal guardian within twenty-four (24) hours from the time the school official reports the abuse to the department of children's services.
The notice shall not be given to any parent or legal guardian if there is reasonable cause to believe that the parent or legal guardian may be the perpetrator or in any way responsible for the child abuse or child sexual abuse.

21. Loudon County Board of Education Policy 6.409 Child Abuse and Neglect
Staff members having knowledge or suspicion of any child who is suffering from abuse or neglect shall report such harm immediately.
Reports shall be made to the judge having juvenile jurisdiction, to the county office of the Department of Children's Services (DCS), to the sheriff of the county where the child resides, or to the office of the chief law-enforcement official where the child resides.2
The report shall include:
1. The name, address and age of the child;
2. The name and address of the parents or persons having custody of the child;
3. The nature and extent of the abuse or neglect;
4. Any evidence to the cause or any other information that may relate to the cause or extent of the abuse or neglect.

22. Loudon County Board of Education Policy 6.409 Child Abuse and Neglect
(Continued)
The identity of the person reporting shall remain confidential except when the juvenile court determines otherwise.
Notice that a report was filed, and any other information relevant to the wellbeing of the child, shall be verbally provided to the parent(s)/guardian(s) within twenty-four (24) hours of filing.

23. Loudon County Board of Education Policy 6.409 Child Abuse and Neglect
(Continued)
This notice shall be made in coordination with DCS. Notice shall not be provided if there is reasonable cause to believe that the parent or legal guardian may be the perpetrator or in any way responsible for abuse.
The Director of Schools/designee shall develop reporting procedures, including sample indicators of abuse and neglect, and shall disseminate the procedures to all school personnel.

24. Loudon County Board of Education Policy 6.409 Child Abuse and Neglect
(Continued)
Investigations:
School administrators and employees have a duty to cooperate, provide assistance and information in child abuse investigations, including permitting child abuse review teams to conduct interviews while the child is at school; the principal may control the time, place and circumstances of the interview, but may not insist that a school employee be present even if the suspected abuser is a school employee or another student. The principal is not in violation of any laws by failing to inform parents that the child is to be interviewed even if the suspected abuser is not a member of the child's household.

25. Student – Teacher Relationships

26. Title IX
Schools in the United States that receive federal funding are bound by Title IX laws that protect students from sexual harassment or assault by educators or anyone else employed by or attending the school. 
Source: U.S. Dept. of Education

27. Student-Teacher Relationships: Walking the Line

28. Student-Teacher Relationships: Walking the Line
Types:
Temporal Boundaries
Cultural Boundaries
Expertise Boundaries
Financial Boundaries
Communication
Examples:
Equitable student time
Awareness of norms
Recognizing professional limits
Gifts, lending money
Confidentiality, advice
(Aultman, et al 2009)

29. Managing Boundaries & Preventing Inappropriate Boundary Invasions
Due to the nature of the profession, a teacher is always under a microscope as to his/her
behavior.
Teachers are considered leaders and authority figures.
Awareness of those behaviors which increase an educator’s risk of exposure to claims of misconduct, including appropriate use of the internet, and text messaging may prevent Boundary Invasions.
Source: U.S. Dept. of Education

30. Inappropriate Relationships Do Not Happen All of A Sudden!
Develops over a period of time.
With some students it might be over a brief period of time; other students take more “grooming”.
Initial acts are somewhat less premeditated and often are:
Opportunistic,
a result of bad judgment, or
a misplaced sense of privilege.
Source: Shakeshaft, 2004

31. Successive Approximation
The student becomes used to increasingly more intrusive boundary invasions which eventually become sexual in nature. I.e., boundary invasions come to seem “normal” with the particular adult.
Source: U.S. Dept. of Education

32. Sexual Grooming in a nutshell:
Boundary invasions which become increasingly more invasive and then sexual.
They can not be called sexual grooming in the earlier stages, because there may not be anything verifiably sexual about them.
They are nonetheless identifiable as “boundary invasions.”
Source: U.S. Dept. of Education

33. Grooming Is Based Upon:
Having a “Special Relationship” with a student.
Socializing with the student
Away from school.
After school hours.
Electronically.
Often the student:
Has problems at home.
Is in need of adult attention.
Source: U.S. Dept. of Dept. of Health & Human Services

34. Is there a Problem in the Schools
9.6% of students are targets of educator sexual misconduct during their school career.
American Association of University Women

35. Examples of Boundary Invasions which could be potential Sexual Grooming:
Working with an individual student behind a closed door.
Touching children when there is no educational reason to do so.
Flirting with students.
Off-color remarks to students.
Giving a student rides alone.
Frequent socializing with a student at school.
Getting a student out of other classes to see the teacher.
Source: U.S. Dept. of Dept. of Health & Human Services

36. Boundary Invasions, cont’d:
Socializing with the student away from school.
Inviting students to the teacher’s home.
More than normal individual attention given to a particular student.
Frequent s or texting to a child for non-educational reasons.
Using to do any of the above.
Electronic social networking.
Any combination of the above.
Source: U.S. Dept. of Dept. of Health & Human Services

37. Educator sexual offenders often are:
Well-liked and considered excellent teachers
Trusted by parents and staff
Adults who have access to students before or after school or in private situations (e.g., coaches, music teachers.)
Work with vulnerable students.
Source: U.S. Dept. of Dept. of Health & Human Services

38. Watch for Red Flags Change in student’s behavior
Inappropriate sexual behavior,
late arrivals to class,
changes in personality,
increased time with one school employee
Rumors about a student and a teacher

39. Other Red Flags Behavior of the adult
Close personal relationships with students,
time alone with students,
time before and after school with students,
time in private spaces with students,
flirtatious behavior with students,
off-color remarks in class
Text-messaging with students,
participation in social media with students

40. Other Red Flags
Adult often engaging in “peer-like” behavior with students.
Teacher asking students to keep secrets

41. Respect Professional Boundaries
DO NOT
Date students
Develop “personal” friendships with students
Transport a student in a vehicle
Invite students to meet you off school property

42. TN Code Annotated & Board Policy
TCA &
Sexual Battery by an authority figure (felony) -
Teachers are authority figures
TCA
Statutory Rape by an authority figure (felony)
TCA
Sexual Contact by an authority figure (misdemeanor)
Board Policy 5.610
Employee-Student Relations

43. The sentence for statutory rape by an authority figure
Statutory Rape by an authority figure, which includes teachers, is an extremely serious sex offense, and is considered to be a violent sex offense under the law. This means that if you are convicted of this offense, you will have to register as a sex offender for life in Tennessee. Statutory rape by an authority figure is a Class C felony.
Class C felonies are punished between 3 and 15 years incarcerated and/or up to a $10,000 fine.
Additionally, no person who is found guilty of or pleads guilty to statutory rape by an authority figure:
Is eligible for probation
Can live or work within 1000 feet of any public or private school, licensed day care center, public park, playground, recreation center or public athletic field available for use by the general public.

44. Human Trafficking
Tennessee Public Chapter 0269 of the 111th General Assembly takes effect July 1, Requires instruction on the detection, intervention, prevention, and treatment of: Child Sexual Abuse, including such abuse that may occur in the home; Human trafficking in which the victim is a child must be accomplished through the viewing of a video recording approved by the LEA.

45. Human Trafficking is Modern Slavery
It can take as little as 24 hours to traffic a child.
Source: Dept. of Homeland Security

46. Total Human Sex Trafficking
Every two minutes a child is trafficked for the purpose of sexual exploitation in the United States.
—U.S. Department of Justice

47. Human Trafficking of Children
Almost 300,000 American children are at risk for trafficking into the sex industry.
There are girls as young as 5 and 6 years old in the U.S. that are forced to do sexual acts for economic gain by their pimp.
Source: United States Department of Justice

48. Warning Signs of Human Trafficking
Physical Appearance
Has injuries or other signs of abuse and is reluctant to explain them.
Appears malnourished.
Branded or marked with a tattoo, such as a man’s name, symbol of money, or a barcode.
Dressed in a provocative manner or in the same clothes, regardless of weather or circumstance.
Source: TN Bureau of Investigation

49. Warning Signs of Human Trafficking
Possessions
Has very few personal possessions.
Has a sudden increase in money, clothing, or things like jewelry. Has no explanation on how they got these things.
Doesn’t carry identification.
Has a number of hotel keys or key cards.
Has a prepaid cell phone.
Source: TN Bureau of Investigation

50. Warning Signs of Human Trafficking
Lack of Control
Is with someone who seems to control their every move.
Seems to follow a script in the way they speak.
Doesn’t have control over their own money.
Can’t come and go from place to place on their own.
Source: TN Bureau of Investigation

51. Warning Signs of Human Trafficking
Behavior
Fears authority figures.
Claims to be an adult, though they look like an adolescent.
Seems to move often from place to place.
Talks about an older boyfriend or sex with an older man.
Source: TN Bureau of Investigation

52. Warning Signs of Human Trafficking
Behavior (Continued)
Information in their story doesn’t add up.
Claims to be visiting. Can’t state what city they’re in or for how long.
Isn’t able to speak for herself or himself.
Is not enrolled in school or is often absent.
Seems to be depressed or “checked out.”
Source: TN Bureau of Investigation

54. Report Human Trafficking
TENNESSEE HOTLINE
NATIONAL HUMAN TRAFFICKING HOTLINE

55. Coordinated School Health It should not hurt to be a child.
Report Child Abuse
Loudon County Schools
Office of
Coordinated School Health
It should not hurt to be a child.

56. Sources Tennessee Department of Children’s Services
Tennessee DCS Child Abuse Reporting Training
Tennessee Sex Offender Registry
TN Bureau of Investigation
Loudon County Board of Education Policy
Tennessee School Board Association
Tennessee General Assembly
Dept. of Homeland Security
TN Dept. of Education
U.S. Dept. of Education
U.S. Dept of Health and Human Services
Loudon County Sheriff’s Department
Child Advocacy Center
U.S. Dept of Justice
American Association of University Women
National Center of Missing and Exploited Children
The Federal Child Abuse Prevention and Treatment Act