Child Abuse

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Child Abuse

• Child Abuse Reporting Programs
• TEC 38.004
• Sexual Abuse Prevention Training
• TEC 38.0041

Clara Cáceres Contreras, B.S., M.Ed., ACPS,
IPS Advanced Certified Prevention
Specialist International Prevention
Specialist School Health/Safe Schools Region One
Education Service Center 956-984-6125 ccontreras
_at_esc1.net www.esc1.net/schoolhealth
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Child AbuseThe Role of the School TEC - 38.004

• CHILD ABUSE REPORTING AND PROGRAMS
• (a) The agency shall develop a policy governing
  the child abuse reports REQUIRED by Chapter 261,
  Family Code, of school districts and their
  employees. The policy must provide for
  cooperation with law enforcement child abuse
  investigations without the consent of the child's
  parents if necessary, including investigations by
  the Department of Protective and Regulatory
  Services. Each school district shall adopt the
  policy.
• (b) Each school district SHALL provide child
  abuse ANTI-VICTIMIZTION programs in elementary
  and secondary schools.

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Policies Addressing Sexual Abuse Other
Maltreatment of Children - TEC 38.0041

• (a) Each school district shall adopt and
  implement a policy addressing sexual abuse and
  other maltreatment of children, to be included in
  the district improvement plan under Section
  11.252 and any informational handbook provided to
  students and parents.
• (b) A policy required by this section must
  address
• (1) methods for increasing staff, student, and
  parent awareness of issues regarding sexual abuse
  and other maltreatment of children, including
  prevention techniques and knowledge of likely
  warning signs indicating that a child may be a
  victim of sexual abuse or other maltreatment,
  using resources developed by the agency under
  Section 38.004

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Policies Addressing Sexual Abuse Other
Maltreatment of Children - TEC 38.0041

• (2) actions that a child who is a victim of
  sexual abuse or other maltreatment should take to
  obtain assistance and intervention
• (3) available counseling options for students
  affected by sexual abuse or other maltreatment.
• (c) The methods under Subsection (b)(1) for
  increasing awareness of issues regarding sexual
  abuse and other maltreatment of children must
  include training, as provided by this subsection,
  concerning prevention techniques for and
  recognition of sexual abuse and all other
  maltreatment of children.
• The training (1) must be provided, as part of a
  new employee orientation, to all new school
  district employees on a schedule adopted by the
  agency by rule until all district employees have
  taken the training and

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Policies Addressing Sexual Abuse Other
Maltreatment of Children - TEC 38.0041

• (2) must include training concerning
• (A) factors indicating a child is at risk for
  sexual abuse or other maltreatment
• (B) likely warning signs indicating a child may
  be a victim of sexual abuse or other
  maltreatment
• (C) internal procedures for seeking assistance
  for a child who is at risk for sexual abuse or
  other maltreatment, including referral to a
  school counselor, a social worker, or another
  mental health professional
• (D) techniques for reducing a child's risk of
  sexual abuse or other maltreatment and
• (E) community organizations that have relevant
  existing research-based programs that are able to
  provide training or other education for school
  district or open-enrollment charter school staff
  members, students, and parents.

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Policies Addressing Sexual Abuse Other
Maltreatment of Children - TEC 38.0041

• (d) For any training under Subsection (c), each
  school district shall maintain records that
  include the name of each district staff member
  who participated in the training.
• (e) If a school district determines that the
  district does not have sufficient resources to
  provide the training required under Subsection
  (c), the district shall work in conjunction with
  a community organization to provide the training
  at no cost to the district or charter school.
• (f) The training under Subsection (c) may be
  included in staff development under Section
  21.451.
• (g) A school district employee may NOT be subject
  to any disciplinary proceeding, as defined by
  Section 22.0512(b), resulting from an action
  taken in compliance with this section. The
  requirements of this section are considered to
  involve an employee's judgment and discretion and
  are not considered ministerial acts for purposes
  of immunity from liability under Section 22.0511.
  Nothing in this section may be considered to
  limit the immunity from liability provided under
  Section 22.0511.

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Sec. 38.0042 - POSTING CHILD ABUSE HOTLINE
TELEPHONE NUMBER

• (a) Each public school shall post in a clearly
  visible location in a public area of the school
  that is readily accessible to students a sign in
  English and in Spanish that contains the
  toll-free telephone number operated by the
  Department of Family and Protective Services to
  receive reports of child abuse or neglect.
• (b) The commissioner may adopt rules relating to
  the size and location of the sign required by
  Subsection (a).

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Child Abuse Trainings

• Sexual Abuse Prevention Training Darkness to
  Light www.D2L.org/TXEd
• Texas Department of Family and Protective
  Services (DFPS) provides online training and
  printed certificates
• http//www.dfps.state.tx.us/Training/Reporting/rec
  ognizing.asp

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TEA Letter - Mandatory 2014-2015 Child Sexual
Abuse Prevention Training Posting of Child
Abuse Hotline Number

• http//www.tea.state.tx.us/index4.aspx?id25769814
  844
• Poster
• All campuses are required to post, at student
  eye-level, in at least one high-traffic area, and
  in both English and Spanish, a poster (11 x 17
  inches or larger) with information that includes
  the Texas DFPS Abuse Hotline telephone number,
  instructions to call 911 and directions to
  www.txabusehotline.org.
• To download a poster that was developed to meet
  the requirements of TEC, 38.0042, and TAC,
  61.1051, visit http//www.onewithcourage.org/tak
  e-action/for-educators/
• Additional information about child abuse and
  neglect reporting and prevention resources visit
  TEAs Child Abuse Prevention website
  http//www.tea.state.tx.us/index.aspx?id2820