Procedure # 1820
Minnesota State Academies
Faribault Minnesota
GENERAL ADMINISTRATION
Regulations on Child Abuse and Neglect Procedure
1. PURPOSE
The purpose of this procedure is to define child abuse/neglect laws and to
establish procedures for the reporting of information.
2. NEED
The State o Minnesota, by law, mandates that workers who have knowledge of
or reasonable cause to believe that a child is being abused or neglected must
immediately report such information to the appropriate authorities.
3. LEGAL BACKGROUND INFORMATION
A. Any person reporting in good faith is immune from criminal or civil liability
resulting from that report.
B. Failure to report constitutes a misdemeanor by Minnesota State Law.
C. All reports shall be treated as confidential while the report is under
investigation. After the investigation is complete, the name of the reporter
shall be accessible to the individual subject of the record upon court order.
4. DEFINITION OF TERMS
A. For definition of terms:
Appendix C, MDE Student Maltreatment
MN Department of Human Services website: www.mn.gov/dhs
MN Statute 626.556; www.revisor.mn.gov/pubs/
5. REPORTING PROCEDURES FOR SUSPECTED CASES OF ABUSE OR
NEGLECT
A. If questions arise as to the need to report a specific incident, the
mandated reporter may contact Rice County Child Protection Services or
the Minnesota Department of Education and discuss concerns without
making a report.
B. All staff of the Minnesota State Academies are mandated reporters.
Mandated reporters who know or have reason to believe that a child has
been subject to abuse shall immediately make an oral report to the
appropriate agency(ies).
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Procedure # 1820
Minnesota State Academies
Faribault Minnesota
1) If the suspected abuse/neglect occurred when not under the
Academies’ supervision, mandated reporters shall immediately
make an oral report to all of the following:
a) Rice County Social Services: (507) 332-6115
b) The resident county social services of the student or the
Rice County Social Services. Follow instructions given by
social services staff.
2) If the suspected abuse occurred when under the supervision of
the Academies’ program (including the mainstream
program/extracurricular trips), the mandated reporter must contact:
a) The Minnesota Department of Education: (651) 582-8546
b) Faribault Police Department:
(507) 332-6022 (Investigations)
(507) 334-4305 (Non-emergency)
C. If an emergency exists: 911
D. Immediately following the oral report to the appropriate authority, the
mandated reporter must notify their supervisor. If their supervisor is not
available, contact the on-call supervisor.
E. All reports shall be treated as confidential.
F. Documentation of reports:
1) Mandated reporters, supervisors and all persons with information
related to the incident shall document all incidents, actions taken,
and contacts made. All Accounts shall be objective in nature. This
information will be given to the respective Director and shall
become part of the supplementary record of the student but not
included in the cumulative file of the student. Copies of all
documents will be given to the respective Director and the
Superintendent.
2) If the suspected abuse/neglect occurred at home, the mandated
reporter is responsible for completing the Rice County Report of
Suspected Child Abuse form (Appendix B).
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Minnesota State Academies
Faribault Minnesota
If the suspected abuse occurred while under the Academies’
program, the mandated reporter is responsible for completing the
MDE Student Maltreatment Reporting Form (Appendix C).
3) All reports must be completed within 72 hours when they know or
have reason to believe that a child has been subject to abuse or
neglect. A written report must be submitted to all agencies to which
an oral report was made. The agency(ies) receiving the report may
require the written report prior to the 72 hour timeline. The
mandated reporter is responsible to respond as directed. Upon
completion, a copy of this form shall be given to the Director of the
respective Academy.
6.
ADMINISTRATIVE RESPONSIBILITIES
A. In cases where the child is in immediate danger, the Director, supervisor,
or on-call supervisor is responsible to insure the safety of the child.
B. Director/Supervisors will notify the superintendent of all reports.
C. The Director is responsible for ensuring the mandated reporter follows the
appropriate procedures.
1) The Director of the respective Academy will serve as coordinator
of all child abuse reports. Records of reported child abuse to
authorities will be maintained in the Director’s office. Questions
relating to the school’s procedures for implementation should be
directed to the Director. An oral or written report to the Director
does not relieve the mandated reporter of making a report to
the authorities.
2) The Director of the respective Academy is responsible for any
related follow up.
3) The Director of the respective Academy will provide for student
safety of children involved in child abuse/neglect incidents including
necessary investigations to determine employee or student
misconduct.
D. The Board of the Minnesota State Academies will be informed, by the
superintendent, of incidents of child abuse/neglect occurring while under
the supervision of the Academies.
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Procedure # 1820
Minnesota State Academies
Faribault Minnesota
E. The LEAs of students involved will be notified by the respective Academy
Director of student involved in a reported incident of child abuse/neglect.
F. Parent will be notified, by Academy Directors, of student involved in
reported incidents of child abuse/neglect. A full disclosure policy will be
maintained with parents, to the extent permitted by confidentiality laws.
7. STAFF TRAINING
Staff will be required to read and sign off that they understand the Academies
Child Abuse and Neglect procedure.
Linda Mitchell, Superintendent
Minnesota State Academies
Reviewer:
Date Originated:
Date Revised:
Date Revised:
Superintendent
11-15-1995
10-30-2000
08-12-2012
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