Okeechobee Christian Academy

Standards and Policies for Ethical Conduct

Educators have both a legal and moral responsibility to be fully knowledgeable about child abuse.  Millions of children annually are abused.  Child abuse occurs in all social classes, both within and outside the church.  No church or social group is exempt.  Statistics show that family members, especially stepfathers, are the most common abusers.  This document will cover the following:

I.    Legal Requirements Relating To Child Abuse

II.   Symptoms Of Various Forms Of Abuse

III. Preventing Sexual Child Abuse On Your Campus

IV. Procedure For Child Abuse Accusations

I.  Legal Requirements Relating To Child Abuse

Who must report  --  Mandated Reporters

All professionals, such as teachers, day care workers, doctors, counselors, nurses, lawyers, etc., are required by law to report all possible incidences of child abuse.  A report must be made to the Dept. of Children and Family (DCF) and/or local police anytime there is reasonable suspicion that child abuse has occurred or is occurring.

Clergy are exempt from this reporting law when a person is casually or informally seeking pastoral advice or making a confession.  This exemption does not apply if the clergy learns of the abuse during a planned, scheduled counseling session, regardless of whether the clergy is a licensed counselor or not.  All clergy who are also licensed counselors must always report.

The duty to report child abuse is an individual duty and no supervisor or administrator may impede or inhibit such reporting duties.  Furthermore, no person making such a report shall be subject to any sanction for making such report.  However, internal procedures to facilitate reporting and apprise supervisors and administrators of reports may be established, provided they are not inconsistent with the provisions of the Penal Code.

Immunity of Reporting Person

Persons required to report such as educators, are not liable for damages or subject to criminal prosecution for reporting as required by law.  Other persons are not liable either civilly or criminally unless it can be proven that a false report was purposely made and that the person knew or should have known that the report was false.

How & When To Report

Contact DCF and/or local police by the following methods:

·         Phone (immediately) – Be prepared to provide DCF with all names, ages, addresses and details of the suspected abuse.  The state-wide reporting phone number is 1-800-96-ABUSE or 1-800-962-2873.

·         Written Report faxed to DCF (within 48 hours of phoning) – Include all the above details in this report.  There is a specific reporting form that must be used to make this report (see Secretary).

·         Note:  Instances of suspected or known child abuse by a non-caretaker shall also be reported immediately to local police.

School Site Procedures When DCF Arrives

When DCF arrives at your school to interview a child you must cooperate 100% with them.  DCF has full legal right to interview any child on your campus without official court documents. 

The following is an actual quote of DCF policy:

“In a child protective investigation or a criminal investigation, when the initial interview with the child is conducted at school, the department or the law enforcement agency may allow, notwithstanding the provisions of s.39.411(4), a school instructional staff member who is known by the child to present during the initial interview if:

1.  The department or law enforcement agency believes that the school instructional staff member could enhance the success of the interview by his presence; and

2.  The child requests or consents to the presence of the school instructional staff member at the interview.

School instructional staff may only be present when authorized by this subsection.  Information received during the interview or from any other source regarding the alleged abuse or neglect of the child shall be confidential, except as otherwise provided by court order.  A separate record of the investigation of the abuse or neglect shall not be maintained by the school or school instructional staff member.  Violation of this subsection constitutes a misdemeanor of the second degree, punishable as provided in s. 775 or s. 775.083.”

II.  Symptoms Of Various Forms Of Abuse

A.  Physical Abuse

1.  Unexplained and/or repeated marks, burns, etc. (especially cigarette burns or bruises)

2.  Child cowers when certain adults come around and rejects physical love or touching

3.  Child cries when it’s time for him/her to go home

4.  Child is extremely violent in behavior

5.  Child wears inappropriate clothing (i.e. long sleeves in summer)

6.  Child is emotionally withdrawn or depressed

7.      Repeated or numerous broken bones, especially in arms, nose, or facial structure (key sign)

8.      Injuries in various stages of healing

9.      Marks or bruises after absences, weekends or vacations

10.  Unexplained swelling of abdomen

11.  Human bite marks (adult size)

12.  Restlessness or inability to sit down

13.  Chronic tardiness, poor school attendance, increased withdrawal, preoccupation or imply the need to talk to someone

B.  Physical Neglect

1.  Underweight, malnourished, pale

2.  Dirty, torn clothing, un-bathed, poor hygiene

3.  Falls asleep in class repeatedly, constantly fatigued

4.  Begging for or stealing food, constantly hungry

5.  Medical services not obtained when needed

6.  Living in unhealthy or unsafe housing conditions (i.e. lead poisoning)

7.  Lacking appropriate clothing for seasonal conditions

8.  Left alone and unattended for long periods of time

9.  Lack of proper supervision in especially dangerous situations

10. Extended stays at school (early arrival or late departures)

11. Child states that there is no guardian or parent in home

12. Alcohol or drug abuse in the home

C.  Sexual Abuse

1.  Over-sexualized behavior or sexually acting out which is beyond the child’s developmental age.

2.  Over-knowledgeable of or advanced questions regarding sexual acts, terms and sexual language

3.  Produces detailed sexual drawings beyond age level

4.  Being infected with a sexually transmitted disease

1.      Early pregnancy

2.      Torn vaginal tissue, injured genitals, difficulty in sitting, torn/stained underclothing, itching, bleeding or pain in the groin area

3.      Bleeding rectum

4.      Having multiple sex partners as youth

5.      Bedwetting and inability to control bowels

6.      Eating and/or sleeping disorders

7.      Substance abuse (used as a means of escape)

8.      Involvement in prostitution

9.      Running away from home or school truancy

10.  Disassociation; a state of mind where body is disconnected from mind.  These children will often harm or inflict pain on them selves attempting to stay in touch with reality.

11.  Behavioral changes:

a.   New or different behavior never seen before

b.   Turns on one parent; starts to dislike

c.   Avoidance of persons or places they used to normally visit freely/willingly

d.      Regression in behavior back to an earlier developmental stage (i.e. five-year-old begins soiling pants)

e.       Sudden desire to quit the team, change schools, not go to the baby sitter, etc.

16. Unwillingness to change for gym or participate in P.E.

17. Verbal statements by child of sexual relations with an adult

The Dept. of Children and Family’s Definition Of Sexual Abuse

(a)  Any penetration, however slight, of the vagina or anal opening of one person by the penis of another person, whether or not there is the emission of semen.

(b)  Any sexual contact between the genitals or anal opening of one person and the mouth or tongue of another person.

(c)  Any intrusion by one person into the genitals or anal opening of another person, including the use of any object for this purpose, except that it does not include any act intended for a valid medical purpose.

(d)  The intentional touching of the genitals or intimate parts, including the breasts, genital area, groin, inner thighs and buttocks or the clothing covering them, of either the child or the perpetrator, except that it does not include:

1. Any act which may reasonably be construed to be a normal caretaker responsibility, an interaction with, or affection for a child; or

2. Any act intended for a valid medical purpose.

(e)  The intentional masturbation of the perpetrator’s genitals in the presence of a child.

(f)  The intentional exposure of the perpetrator’s genitals in the presence of a child, or any other sexual act intentionally perpetrated in the presence of a child, if such exposure or sexual act is for the purpose of sexual arousal or gratification, aggression, degradation or other similar purpose.

(g)  The sexual exploitation of a child, which includes allowing, encouraging or forcing a child to:

1. Solicit for or engage in prostitution; or

2. Engage in a sexual performance, as defined by chapter 827.

D.  Emotional Abuse

Just as physical injuries can scar and incapacitate a child, emotional cruelty can similarly cripple and handicap a child emotionally, behaviorally and intellectually.  Obviously, individual incidents of emotional abuse are difficult to identify and/or recognize and, therefore, are not mandated reporting situations.  However, the interests of the child should be primary; and, if it is suspected that the child is suffering from emotional abuse, it should be reported.  Furthermore, if there is an indication that emotional abuse is being inflicted willfully and causing unjustifiable mental suffering, reporting is required.  Regardless of whether the situation is one requiring mandatory reporting or not, causes should be diverted to some sort of treatment as soon as possible.

Behavioral Indicators Of Emotional Abuse

1.  Withdrawn, depressed, apathetic behavior

2.  Antisocial or “acting out” behavior

3.  Overly rigid in conforming to instruction of authority figures

4.      Displaying other signs of emotional turmoil (repetitive/rhythmic movements, inordinate attention to details, no verbal or physical communication to others)

5.  Unwittingly makes comments about own behavior (i.e. “Daddy always tells me I’m bad.”)

E.  Emotional Deprivation

Like emotional abuse, emotional deprivation can leave serious scars on a child.  It, too, is difficult to recognize or identify, and is only mandated a reporting situation if willfully intended and if serious mental suffering results.  However, the same precautions apply:  In the best interests of the child, suspected emotional deprivation should be reported and/or referred for some type of intervention treatment.

Physical Indicators Of Emotional Deprivation

1.  Speech disorders

2.  Lag in physical development, frailty, refusal to eat

3.  Failure to thrive

Behavioral Indicators Of Emotional Deprivation

1.  Thumb or lip sucking (habit disorders)

2.  Constantly “seeking out” or pestering other adults for attention or affection

3.  Attempted suicide

4.  Antisocial or destructive behavior

5.  Sleep disorders, inhibition of play, neurotic traits

6.  Behavior extremes (compliant /demanding, passive/aggressive)

7.  Hysteria, phobia or compulsive traits

III.  Steps We have Followed to Prevent Sexual Child Abuse On Our Campus

A.  Selective Hiring

1.   All employees and volunteers are to fill out a job application

2.   Look for time gaps in employment history

3.   Contact in writing, all former employers (obtain written release from applicant)

4.   Carry out thorough personnel interviews after all references are checked

5.   Require Level 1 and 2 Livescan Fingerprint checks through the VECHS Program with the FDLE and disqualify personnel and administrators who are ineligible under S.1012.315,F.S.

B.  Established Clear Workplace Guidelines

1.   Designate a “confidential counselor”

2.   Establish procedures and policies regarding the investigation of sexual abuse charges

3.      Encourage employees and volunteers to limit physical contact with children.

4.      Require activities to be done in the open (not behind closed doors; i.e. a teacher should never be alone in a room with an individual student)

5.   Require that more than one adult accompany children on trips, etc.

6.   Install windows in classrooms

7.   Beware of adults who spend too much “off duty” time with children

8.   Develop a written code of conduct and contact for your staff to follow

C.  Teach Children The Basics Of Proper Touching/Physical Contact

D.  Train Staff To Detect Child Abuse

E.  Know The State Laws In Advance Regarding Child Abuse

IV.  Procedure For Child Abuse Accusations

A.  Inform And Discuss Accusation With Worker

B.  Suspend With Pay While A Confidential Investigation Is Being Conducted

C.  Consult Your Attorney

D.  File Necessary Reports With State & Parents To Determine Details Of Alleged Offense

E.  Notify Your Liability Insurance Company Immediately!

F.  Cooperate Fully With Any Investigation By Your Insurance Company And State Agency

G.  Do Not Talk To The Media