Procedures for Reporting Suspected Cases of Child Abuse, Neglect and Peer-on-Peer

When a child reports abuse or peer-on-peer abuse, or there is reasonable cause to believe that abuse is occurring, the employee will seek advice from the principal and, if appropriate, the grade level counselor immediately. A Child Protection Incident Report must be submitted within 24 hours after there is reasonable cause to believe that a child has suffered maltreatment. The principal and counselor (if appropriate) will take initial steps to gather information regarding the reported incident. Any report or other action must be kept confidential. In all cases, follow-up will be conducted in a manner that ensures that information is documented factually and that strict confidentiality is maintained. The following procedure will be used:

• 1. Interviews of related employees to record all pertinent information in a factual manner. Notification of other employees will be made on a need-to-know basis, with an emphasis on the need to support the child and the maintenance of confidentiality.

  2. Consultation with school employees to review the child’s history in the school, including a consultation with the school counselor to determine the nature of the suspected maltreatment.

  3. Report to the Superintendent regarding the status of the case.

  4. Development of follow-up actions.

Based on acquired information, a plan of action will be developed to assist the child and family.

Actions that may take place are:

• • Interviews between the child and counselor to attempt to gain more information. Depending upon the age of the child, these interviews may include drawing pictures, playing with dolls, and conversing with the child in an attempt to elicit more information as to what may or may not have occurred.

  • Ongoing in-class observations of the child by the teacher, counselor or administrator.

  • Meetings with the family to present school concerns.

  • Development of strategies for referral to outside agencies.

  • Referral for further investigation by a neutral third-party for serious physical maltreatment and neglect, and all incidents of sexual maltreatment.

  • Referral to third-party in incidences when there is a repeated pattern of behavior or there is little evidence of support for the family.

  • Referral to family services organization for counseling/therapy.

  • Notification of the management of the sponsoring company of the concern with the child/family.

  • Consultation with the embassy or consulate of the country of the involved family.

  • Consultation with the school or private attorney.

  • Informal consultation with local authorities.

  • Family or peer mediation.

  • Re-entry plan for child(ren).

Most cases of suspected abuse or neglect will be handled by school counselors, such as those involving:

• • Student relationships with peers;

  • Parenting skills related to disciplining children at home;

  • Student-parent relationships;

  • Mental health issues such as depression, low self-esteem, grieving, eating disorders, etc.

Some cases will be referred to outside resources, for example:

• • Mental health issues such as severe depression, psychosis, dissociation, suicide ideation, self harm, addiction, etc.

  • Severe and ongoing physical abuse or neglect;

  • Sexual abuse and incest.

In extreme cases when families do not stop the abuse or concerns remain about the safety of the child, reports could be made to:

• • The embassy or consulate;

  • The employer;

  • Authorities;

  • The home-of-record child welfare office.

Subsequent to a reported and/or substantiated case of child abuse or neglect:

• • The counselor will maintain contact with the child and family to provide support and guidance as appropriate.

  • The counselor will meet with the child’s teachers and the principal to provide in-service training regarding the needs of abused or neglected children and the important role teachers play in assisting the child’s recovery and future development.

  • The counselor will provide resource materials and strategies for teacher use.

  • The counselor will maintain contact with outside therapists and investigators to update the situation of the child in school.

All documentation of the investigation will be kept in the AIS-R K-12 confidential incident report files. Records sent to schools to which the student may transfer will be flagged to let the receiving school know there is a confidential file for the child. AIS-R will make every attempt to share this information to protect the child.

In the event that the abuse or neglect allegation involves an employee of AIS-R, the divisional principal, in collaboration with the Director of Human Resources and Superintendent will follow Board policy (7.406) pursuant to ethical professional behavior and complete an Incident Report Form and take additional action as necessary to address the concern. Additional actions may include investigation, suspension, termination, and/or referral to outside agencies.