Child Abuse Prevention Plan – Injuries and Suspected Abuse

It is important to complete reports such as Notice of Injury or Suspected Abuse as soon as possible after an incident. These forms will help preserve the facts about the situation while they are still fresh. Recording physical symptoms immediately after identifying an injury or illness may help medical personnel determine treatment. Recording observations or allegations immediately after suspected or alleged neglect or abuse may help authorities better investigate the circumstances. The information on these forms may also help you identify if your school should make any changes in activities, events, policies, or procedures.

Since these forms contain personal information protected by privacy laws, completed forms should always be kept in a secure place (e.g., a locked file cabinet, in a locked room used for confidential files, or a password-protected file).

Two sample policies are included on this page with links to sample forms.

Sample Policy Language
Injuries

1. Parents or guardians of injured students will be contacted to determine whether or not the student will remain at the school.

2. Designated staff members, coaches, or volunteers will be trained in basic first aid/CPR procedures, including procedures for safely responding to potential exposure to blood, saliva, and other bodily fluids. Volunteer staff will be trained in basic first aid and medical emergency procedures.

3. When a staff member becomes aware of an injury, they will initiate the necessary steps, which may include contacting emergency services, their supervisor, and parents/guardians, to ensure that the injured person receives proper medical attention and provide appropriate supervision for the remaining students.

4. When an injury is obviously minor (cuts, scrapes, etc.), first aid will be provided, as needed, at the time of the injury. The student’s parents or guardians will be notified of the injury and treatment when they pick up the student. If the student is released to the bus or to a properly authorized person, a written notification of the injury and treatment will be sent home with the student and a copy mailed to the student’s address of record.

5. In the event an injury is untreatable by simple first aid, staff members will seek appropriate medical attention immediately. The parents or guardians will be immediately notified.

Download: Sample Notice of Injury Report
 

Sample Policy Language
Suspected Abuse

The [school director, principal, head of school, dean] should immediately be notified of any injury, abuse, or molestation known or suspected by any staff member or student.

Thereafter, [school director, principal, head of school, dean] shall notify [another designated school leader] immediately to ensure accountability and transparency. If either designated school leader is the alleged abuser, the other designated leader and [a school board member] shall be notified immediately.

When informed of any known or suspected abuse or molestation the following procedures will take place:

Take immediate steps to protect the victim from further harm.

The school’s attorney will be contacted explaining the allegations and the facts available at that time. If the allegations involve known or suspected abuse or molestation by a parent or guardian, the [school director, principal, head of school, dean]  will not notify the student’s parents or guardians until after receiving a written legal opinion from the school’s attorney. Regardless of the nature of the allegations, an attorney should be contacted immediately if any staff member becomes aware of possible abuse or neglect of a student by a parent or guardian and is unsure whether to make a report to the authorities.

After receiving a written legal opinion from the school’s attorney, the principal will follow the advice of the school’s attorney regarding whether or not law enforcement or other government officials must be contacted.

In the event of a report to law enforcement or other government officials regarding an allegation, the [school director, principal, head of school, dean]will cooperate with any official investigation as advised by legal counsel.

The [school director, principal, head of school, dean] will conduct an internal investigation, or choose a credible third-party investigator, to look into the circumstances of the alleged abuse or molestation only after the authorities have concluded their investigation to avoid unintentionally tampering with an investigation or divulging critical details to the accused.  Staff members who are the subject of any investigation into alleged abuse or molestation will be removed from their position, with pay, pending completion of the investigation. Volunteers who are the subject of any investigation into alleged abuse or molestation will be removed from their position pending completion of the investigation.

The employment of staff members who admit to abuse or molestation will be terminated.

Consistent with the established employment practices of the school, any staff member found to have engaged in abuse or molestation will be permanently removed from their duties within the school. A written opinion from legal counsel will be obtained whenever an internal investigation results in the termination of a staff member’s employment.

The school’s insurance carriers (general and professional liability insurance) will also be informed of the alleged abuse or molestation.

The school will develop a list of trauma-informed providers that can provide care for victims and their families. The school will share these supportive resources with the alleged victim and their families once they have been made aware of an allegation of abuse.

Download: Sample Suspected Abuse or Neglect Report
 

Posted March 2023
These are sample policies only. Your organization is responsible for compliance with all applicable laws. Accordingly, these policies should not be used or adopted by your organization without first being reviewed and approved by a licensed attorney in your area. Brotherhood Mutual assumes no liability in preparation and distribution of these sample documents.