HomeMy WebLinkAboutParks & Recreation Policy on Volunteer Training for Suspected Child Abouse Reporting - 2013CITY OF MILTON PARKS AND RECREATION POLICY ON
VOLUNTEER TRAINING FOR SUSPECTED CHILD ABUSE
REPORTING
February 25, 2013
During the 2012 State of Georgia Legislative Session, House Bill 1176 was enacted into law,
etTective July 1,2012. In the days leading up to the bill enactment, Attorney General Sam Olens
notified Georgians of a clause in HB 1176, the Criminal Justice Reform Bill. The bill contains
specific language with regard to adults who work with children who are now required by law to
report suspected child abuse.
Specifically, HB 1176 changes the definition of "child service organization personnel" to include
volunteers. The new law defines "child service organization personnel" as folluws:
"Child service organization personnel" means persons employed by or volunteers for a business
or an organi;;r..ation, whether public, private, for profit, not for profit, or voluntary, that provides
care, treatment, education, training, supervision, coaching, counseling, recreational programs, or
shelter to children.
"From an ethical and moral standpoint, volunteers who work with children already have an
obligation to report suspected child abuse," said Olcns. "HB 1176 simply makes this obligation a
requirement by law."
It is the policy of the City of Milton Parks and Recreation Department that every single adult, 18
years of age and above, who works with children in any program receive appropriate training in
how to identify and report suspected cases of child abuse, and provide a copy of the certification.
The Governor's Office for Children and Families (GOCF) is sponsoring a training program
offered through Pro Solutions Training, website ~l~~':Y,m:~?!i91utionsh:~iQi!1g,,£sm.! titled "Mandated
Reporters: Critical Links in Protecting Children in Georgia." This is a comprehensive training
program and as of the date of this publication, is free. The training program provides a
"Professional Development Certificate" upon passing the online test at the end of the training.
The actual link to the course is:
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fulton County Board of Education has developed their own training and certification program
for their employees and any volunteers who operate in thelr schools. Our preference is that a
volunteer take the Pro Solutions Training class, however, we will accept a certificate from the
peBoE program to meet the requirements of training in the identification and reporting of
suspected child abuse.
I) You f1!!!rl1 *r'_***,,,_.• * * "",Trill"" *PHONE: 678.242.2500 I FAX: 678.242.2499 .\ CilynfInfo@cltyofmlHonga.usl www.cltyofmlltonga.us \.. Ethics j
'i1.::'1I411.13000 Deerfield Parkway. Suite 107 I Milton GA 30004
FSTA[H.ISHED 2006
CITY OF MILTON PARKS & RECREATION POLICY ON
SUSPECTED CHILD ABUSE REPORTING
February 25,2013
PURPOSE
To provide guidance to employees and volunteers regarding the reporting of suspected child
abuse as mandated by Georgia state law.
INTRODUCTION
Employees and volunteers in a public organization providing recreational programs to children
who have reasonable cause to believe that a child has been abused are required by Georgia state
law to report or cause reports of that abuse be made to the proper authorities.
HOW TO REPORT CHILD ABUSE
A. If the child is in immediate danger:
1. Call 911 immediately.
2. Once the police have been contacted, notify your immediate supervisor.
3. The immediate supervisor will notity the City of Milton Parks and Recreation
Director or, in the absence of the Director, the City of Milton Program Coordinator.
4. The employee or volunteer who made the initial observation will complete a
written Report of Suspected Child AbuselNeglect and submit to DFCS within 24 hours.
B. If the abuse is not actively on-going and the child is not in immediate danger:
1. Notify your immediate supervisor.
2. The immediate supervisor will notify the City of Milton Parks and Recreation
Director or, in the absence ofthe Director, the City of Milton Program Coordinator.
3. The employee or volunteer who made the initial observation will contact the
Department of Family and Children Services.
i. On Monday -Friday between the hours of 8:00 AM and 5:00 PM, contact
the Fulton County Service Center DFCS office at 404-206-5600.
ii. At all other times, contact the DFCS Child Protective Services (CPS)
After-Hours Call Center at 1-855-0A CHILD (1-855-422-4453).
4. The employee or volunteer who made the initial observation will complete a
written Report of Suspected Child Abuse and submit to DFCS within 24 hours.
WRlTTEN REPORT OF SUSPECTED CHILD ABUSE
Employees and volunteers who have reasonable cause to believe that a child has been abused
shall complete the Report of Suspected Child Abuse (See attached form) for submittal to the
Department of Family and Children Services within 24 hours of filing an oral report.
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*****• Certified • PHONE: 678.242.2500 I FAX: 678.242.2499 CitYO~fEthicsInfo@cityofmlltonga.us I www.cltyofmlltonga.us ~ 'i),1Il;!.13000 Deerfield Parkway, Suite 107 I Milton GA 30004
SUSPECTED CHILD ABUSE REPORTING
TRAINING
All employees and volunteers who interact closely with children through their work; including
but not limited to, camp counselors, class instructors and youth sports coaches will receive
training; as a part of their orientation, on the signs of abuse and how to report it.
Such training will include:
I. An overview of the Georgia state law on Mandatory Reporting of Child Abuse,
2. Definitions and indicators of chi ld abuse according to the Georgia Department of Human
Resources,
3. Procedures as outlined in this policy for reporting suspected child abuse,
4. Directions on how to complete and submit the written Report of Sus.pected Child Abuse.
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CITY OF MIL TON PARKS AND RECREATION
REPORT OF SUSPECTED CHILD ABUSE
Within 24 hours of making an oral report, a mandated reporter shall complete and submit a
written re rt to the DFCS. Please
CHILD'S NAME FEMALE AGEIBIRTH DATE
riot or
CHILD'S ADDRESS
---------_.._._._-,---------------,--------
NAME OF PARENT OR GUARDIAN ADDRESS PHONE NUMBER
WHERE IS CHILD ST A YINO PRESENTLY IF NOT AT HOME? PHONE NUMBER I
NAME OF DFCS WORKER TO
WHOM ORAL REPORT WAS MADE
DATE OF ORAL
REPORT
DATE AND TIME OF
SUSPECTED ABUSE
NAME OF SUSPECTED
PERPETRA TROR, IF KNOWN
ADDRESS OR PHONE
NUMBERt IF KNOWN
RELATIONSHIP
TO CHILD
NATURE AND EXTENT OF THE CHILD'S INJURIES, MALTREATMENT OR
NEGLECT
INFORMATION CONCERNING ANY PREVIOUS INJURIES, MALTREATMENT OR
NEGLECT
LIST NAMES AND AGES OF SIBLINGS, IF KNOWN
11 Yllufi!Il
PHONE: 678.242.2500 I FAX: 67B.242.2499
Info@cityofmiltonga.us I www.cltyofmlltonga.us
13000 Deerfield Parkway. Suite 107 I Milton GA 30004
REPORT OF SUSPECTED CHILD ABUSE (continued)
DESCRIBE THE CIRCUMSTANCES IN WHICH THE INJURIES, MALTREATMENT OR
NEGLECT CAME TO BE KNOWN TO THE REPORTER
-------------------.-=-:-:::-c-::=:-:-=-:=--=:=-=-c-=-=-=-==---==-=-===-==-==--WHAT ACTION, IF ANY, HAS BEEN TAKEN TO TREAT, PROVIDE SHELTER OR
OTHERWISE ASSIST THE CHILD?
REPORTER'S NAME AND AGENCY ADDRESS PHONE NUMBER
REPORTER'S SIGNATURE DATEPOSITION