| 1. | Objectivesa. | The major commitment to reduce or prevent child abuse and neglect can be achieved by reaching the following goals:
i. | The education of all students in preventative measures to decrease the possibility of child abuse and neglect;
| | ii. | The training of District employees in recognizing signs of child abuse and neglect;
| | iii. | The training of District employees in the correct reporting procedures of child abuse and neglect;
| | iv. | Increase the understanding of child abuse and neglect issues with parents and other members of the community;
| | v. | The effective coordination of all agencies regarding child abuse and neglect reporting, prevention training, investigation and treatment programs;
| | vi. | The reporting of all suspected cases of child abuse and neglect to the Ministry for Children and Family Development according to the agreed Trilateral Protocol and accompanying regulations;
| | vii. | The assistance to victims of child abuse and neglect by appropriate counselling, and any necessary referrals to outside agencies; and
| | viii. | The maintenance of the protection of children without the violation of the rights of any other individual.
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| 2. | Cooperation of Agencies
a. | The District understands that the issue of child abuse and neglect must involve other agencies such as the Ministry for Children and Family Development, SPS and R.C.M.P., and that the interests of all children are best served by the efficient cooperation of all such agencies concerned.
| | b. | The District supports effective communication and coordination of response and intervention between the District, Surrey R.C.M.P., SPS, and the Surrey office of the Ministry of Children and Family Development. The District recognizes the collaboratively developed Trilateral Protocol Agreement responding to child abuse and neglect, as well as referenced documents and resources identified in this administrative procedure. These documents should be consulted for more comprehensive information.
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| 3. | Understanding and Respecting the Laws
a. | The District realizes that the laws governing the area of child abuse are designed for the protection of children and those laws must be understood and respected by all District officials and employees. (N.B. Child, Family and Community Service Act, School Act, Criminal Code of Canada.)
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| 4. | Legal Responsibility to Report
a. | The District recognizes that it is the legal responsibility of every person who has reason to believe that a child has been or is likely to be physically harmed, sexually abused or sexually exploited, or needs protection due to specific circumstances outlined in the Child, Family and Community Service Act, to report the matter to a Child Protection Social Worker.
| | b. | “Reason to believe” above simply means that, based on what you have seen or information you have received, you believe a child has been or is likely to be at risk. You do not have to be certain. It is the child welfare worker’s job to determine whether abuse or neglect has occurred or is likely to occur.
| | c. | The B.C. Handbook for Action on Child Abuse and Neglect (2007), pg. 40.
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| 5. | Protecting the Rights of Individuals
a. | The District recognizes that the rights of any individual under investigation must be protected, not only for the sake of the alleged abuser, but also for the maintenance of the integrity of the investigation. It must be remembered that total confidentiality is the only safeguard for the right of the victim and the individual under investigation.
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| 6. | Community
a. | The issue of child abuse has emotional, social, and political complexities. It directly involves the family and indirectly the larger community. It is essential, therefore, that the community should be actively involved in the development and implementation of programs designed to prevent child abuse and neglect. It is also essential that the community in general, and families in particular, recognize that the prevention of child abuse and neglect is a responsibility of every community member, not just those within the school system.
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| 7. | Areas of Responsibility
a. | The overall responsibility to coordinate and communicate the child abuse and neglect policy for the District lies with the Superintendent or designate.
| | b. | The responsibility for the planning of an investigation of alleged child abuse involving District employees lies with the SPS, R.C.M.P., M.C.F.D. and the Superintendent or designate. Please refer to the local Interagency Protocol for Dealing with Child Abuse in Surrey (signed 2007-01-10).
| | c. | The principal of each school within the District is responsible for carrying out this administrative procedure within that school. This includes:
i. | Ensuring at the beginning of each school year that the school staff is aware of the importance of following District procedures concerning child abuse and neglect reporting. Please refer to the video resource entitled Child Abuse Reporting Protocols (SD#36).
| | ii. | Ensuring that each staff member receives information about child abuse and neglect and is familiar with the B.C. Handbook for Action on Child Abuse and Neglect.
| | iii. | Ensuring that the teachers responsible for teaching the Health and Career Education Curriculum in child abuse prevention have received the appropriate in-service.
| | iv. | Ensuring that students receive instruction on child abuse prevention as part of the Health and Career Education Curriculum.
| | v. | Ensuring that all employees are aware that under the terms of the Child, Family and Community Service Act, they are immune from civil action in reporting suspected abuse cases based upon reasonable grounds.
| | vi. | Ensuring that employees are aware that in the event of being subpoenaed to court as a result of reporting suspected child abuse or neglect, the employee must notify the principal immediately. Assistance in preparation for court appearances is available through the District. Employees may wish to contact B.C.P.V.P.A. legal services, B.C.T.F. legal services or C.U.P.E. legal services as applicable.
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| | d. | Principals are responsible for providing in-service training programs for all school employees. Managers are responsible for providing the training for other employees and for reviewing procedures annually.
| | e. | The Director of Instruction, Student Support Services, is responsible for the development and revision of a “Resource Package on Child Abuse and Neglect” for distribution to all schools.
| | f. | The Director of Instruction, Student Support Services, shall ensure that all counsellors employed in the District receive training in understanding the dynamics of child abuse and neglect, and in strategies to help teachers provide appropriate support in the classroom for the victim of abuse or neglect.
| | g. | The Director of Instruction, Student Support Services, is responsible to act on behalf of the District in working with M.C.F.D., SPS, and R.C.M.P. in the development and review of the Trilateral Protocol Agreement for the investigation of child abuse and neglect complaints and the monitoring of liaison with related agencies.
| | h. | The Superintendent shall ensure that school trustees receive information concerning general child abuse and neglect dynamics, reporting procedures, the Trilateral Protocol Agreement and the role of the District during an investigation.
| | i. | The following key reference documents and resources are available in each school and should be referenced for more detailed information:
i. | B.C. Handbook for Action on Child Abuse and Neglect (2007);
| | ii. | Interagency Protocol for Dealing with Child Abuse in Surrey (2007);
| | iii. | Critical Incidence Quick Reference for Staff (2007); and
| | iv. | Child Abuse Prevention In-service Training Package.
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| | j. | Please note: The B.C. Handbook for Action on Child Abuse and Neglect was updated and distributed in 2007, one copy per school and is available on the M.C.F.D. website at: “http://www.mcfd.gov.bc.ca”.
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