Page 37 - Team Member Handbook Aug 2020.docx

POLICY: MANDATED REPORTING OF SUSPECTED CHILD ABUSE,
ABANDONMENT, MALTREATMENT & NEGLECT Policy #24

CREATION DATE: September 2015

REVISION DATE: February 2019
EFFECTIVE DATE: January 2016

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Under the Child Protective Services Act, mandated reporters are required to report any
suspicion of abuse, abandonment, maltreatment or neglect to the appropriate authorities. Team
member are to report all suspected incidents of child abuse, abandonment, maltreatment or
neglect both by families, team member, volunteers, or others to the appropriate local agencies.

ALL TEAM MEMBERS of Jack & Jill Children’s Center are considered mandated
reporters, under this law.

Team members are required to discuss any suspicions of child abuse, abandonment,
maltreatment or neglect with the Early Childhood Program Director and the Family
Strengthening Program Specialist, who will make all reports of suspected child abuse,
abandonment, maltreatment or neglect on behalf of Jack & Jill Children’s Center to the Florida
Department of Children and Families. Team members can also report their suspicions to the
Florida Department of Children and Families. Jack and Jill Children’s Center encourages team
members to inform the Early Childhood Program Director and the Family Strengthening
Program Specialist prior to making the report to the Florida Department of Children and
Families.

The team members of Jack & Jill Children’s Center should not discuss their suspicions with
parents prior to reporting the matter to the appropriate authorities, nor should they investigate
the cause of any suspicious marks, behavior or condition prior to making a report, under the
Act. Mandated reporters can be held criminally responsible if they fail to report suspected
abuse or neglect. We at Jack & Jill Children’s Center take this responsibility very seriously and
will make all warranted reports to the appropriate authorities. The Child Protective Services
Act is designed to protect the welfare and best interest of all children.

Team member who report suspicions of child abuse, abandonment, maltreatment or neglect
where they work are immune from discharge, retaliation, or to other disciplinary action for that
reason alone unless it’s proven that the report is malicious.

Liability Protection: Any person, official or institution participating in good faith in any act
authorized or required by law, or reporting in good faith any instance of child abuse,
abandonment, maltreatment or neglect to the department or any law enforcement agency, shall
be immune from any civil or criminal liability which might otherwise result by reason of such
action (FS. 39.203)

An employer who discloses information about a former or current employee to a prospective
employer of the former or current employee upon request of the prospective employer or of the
former or current employee is immune from civil liability for such disclosure or its
consequences unless it is shown by clear and convincing evidence that the information
disclosed by the former or current employer was knowingly false or violated any civil right of
the former or current employee protected under F.S. Chapter 760. (F.S. 768.095)