Child Protection Policy

WBAIS Child Protection Policy

(Adopted May 25, 2018)

WBAIS and the School Board recognizes that child protection and welfare considerations permeate all aspects of school life and must be reflected in all of the school's policies, practices and activities. Accordingly, in full compliance with the requirements of the Israeli Ministry of Education Child Protection Guidelines, Israeli Law, and Delaware (U.S.) State Law, the School Board has agreed upon the following child protection policy. The goal of this policy is to ensure that all parties partner together to ensure the safety and well-being of children. This policy also addresses the duties under the mandatory reporting laws and the timely and professional investigation of allegations of abuse and neglect. This policy will be supplemented with continued training of all school personnel to ensure the protection of our children.

In its policies, practices, and activities, the School will adhere to the following principles and guidelines:

● recognize that the protection and welfare of children are of paramount importance, regardless of all other considerations;

● fully cooperate with the relevant statutory authorities in relation to child protection and welfare matters;

● adopt safe practices to minimize the possibility of harm or accidents happening to children and adopt procedures to protect staff from conduct that may leave them open to accusations of abuse or neglect;

● increase awareness among parents and encourage parental involvement in ensuring the protection of their children; and

● fully respect confidentiality requirements in dealing with child protection matters, subject to applicable law and all reporting requirements. Adopted 25 May 2018

This policy will be reviewed by the Head of School regularly to ensure its compliance with Israeli Law and the Ministry of Education Child Protection Guidelines.

Reporting Obligations

All personnel directly employed by the school are obligated to immediately report to the School's Designated Liaison Person (DLP) and/or correspondingly to an Israeli Welfare Officer or the Police, when they have reasonable cause to suspect that an AIS student under the age of eighteen has been abused (physically, sexually, or emotionally) or neglected, or is at risk of being abused or neglected. The school shall ensure that all third-party vendors whose employees have regular interaction with AIS students shall be in compliance with Israeli law regarding Child Protection.

1. The personnel member must immediately report the information that he/she knows or suspects by contacting:

a. the School's Designated Liaison Person (DLP) relevant divisional counselor

b. AND/OR the Welfare Officer of the Municipality Social Services of the jurisdiction where student resides. AND/OR

c. Israeli National Police:

Sadot Station

Hertzl 14

Kadima Tsoran, Israel

Tel. 09-966-5741 or 09-966-5747

The Israeli Ministry of Education Regional Supervisor of Counselors of the Central Region and The Israel Association for Child Protection (ELI), recommend that schools use a pyramid structure when reporting abuse. As soon as the DLP receives a report involving abuse, the DLP will notify the principal and convene the WBAIS Child Protection Team (Head of School, Principal, DLP, and Counseling Coordinator). The DLP will then contact the welfare officer of the municipality social services of the jurisdiction where the student resides.

2. If an individual makes a report to a Welfare Officer or the Police, he/she should also inform the School's Designated Liaison Person and/or the Head of School. This should be done simultaneously with the report to the Welfare Officer or the Police.

Immediate action is essential to protect all children at the School and is required by applicable law.

All School personnel shall provide any and all information requested by the investigating authorities.

Neither the mandated reporter nor the School should notify the alleged perpetrator of the child abuse or neglect that a report has been made, nor that there is a pending investigation unless compelling reasons exist to do so, and then in coordination with the School's Designated Liaison Person.

Investigations

The School shall fully cooperate with the authorities in their investigation of all reports of abuse or neglect.

Training

Mandatory staff training will be conducted annually to ensure that all staff members are equipped with the appropriate knowledge of the mandatory reporting law and procedures, and recognition of harmful behavior and the signs of abuse.

Confidentiality

Subject to applicable law, the School will fully respect confidentiality requirements in dealing with child protection matters.

Adherence to Applicable Law

This policy is based on the following laws and regulations, which are considered appendices to this policy and are available for review in the School’s administrative office: the Delaware State Abused and Neglected Child Reporting Act (Title 10, §901, and Title 16, Sec. 903); the State of Israel's Penal Law 5737-1977 368d (Mandatory Reporting Law); and, the Israeli Ministry of Education's Child Protection Guidelines. Any disputes arising from this policy should be referred back to the Delaware and Israeli laws for interpretation. If conflict occurs between the two laws, Israeli law takes precedence. The responsibility of all School personnel to report child abuse and neglect is mandated by the above laws and regulations.

The School Board and the Head of School shall cooperate with the Israeli Ministry of Education, Israeli Social Services, and the Israeli National Police Department (the "Police") to develop all necessary education, training, policy planning and case management in order to prevent, identify and respond to child abuse and neglect.