- I. CHILD ABUSE POLICY AND PROCEDURES
- A. INTRODUCTION
- B. REPORTING CHILD ABUSE - THE REPORTING LAW
- C. DEFINITIONS
- D. MAKING A REPORT
- E. DETECTION OF CHILD ABUSE
- F. WHO TO CALL
- G. INTERVIEWING A VICTIM AT SCHOOL WHEN THE MATTER PERTAINS TO CHILD ABUSE WITHIN THE CHILD'S HOME
- H. EMPLOYMENT REQUIREMENTS
- I. PREVENTION AND PREPARATION
- J. WHAT TO DO WHEN ABUSE OR NEGLECT IS SUSPECTED
- K. RESOURCES
- L. INDEPENDENT FACT FINDING COMMITTEE
- M. A FINAL NOTE
- II STUDENT-TO-STUDENT HARASSMENT POLICY AND PROCEDURES
- YOUTH/ADOLESCENT HARASSMENT POLICY AND PROCEDURES
I. CHILD ABUSE POLICY AND PROCEDURES #
A. INTRODUCTION #
The terms “childhood” and “innocence” are synonymous in nature. That is why the pain runs so deep for all those of good will when we learn that the innocence of a child has been harmed, and in some cases destroyed, by the experience of childhood abuse. In the Gospel, Jesus says, “Let the little ones come unto me”, and “Woe to him who brings harm to the child”. Recognizing the particular beauty, innocence, and vulnerability of children, Jesus entrusted them to our special care. Therefore, these policies and procedures have been developed to provide prompt and objective investigations of claims of abuse of children and to provide effective pastoral assistance to those who have been harmed.
As a condition of employment, those who serve the Archdiocese of San Francisco are required to follow the Policies and Procedures set forth below.
B. REPORTING CHILD ABUSE – THE REPORTING LAW #
While everyone should report suspected child abuse and neglect, Article 2.5 of the State of California Penal Code provides that it is a crime for certain individuals who have contact with and supervision of children (e.g., school, parish and agency teachers and administrators, coaches, etc.) not to report suspected abuse to the proper authorities. The following are excerpts and summaries of sections from the State of California Child Abuse Reporting Laws:
“. . . any child care custodian, health practitioner, or employee of a child protective agency who has knowledge of or observes a child in his/her professional capacity or within the scope of his/her employment whom he/she knows or reasonably suspects has been the victim of child abuse shall report the known or suspected instance of child abuse to a child protective agency immediately or as soon as practically possible by telephone and shall prepare and send a written report thereof within 36 hours of receiving the information concerning the incident. For the purposes of this article, “reasonable suspicion” means that it is objectively reasonable for a person to entertain such a suspicion, based upon facts that could cause a reasonable person in a like Dosition, drawing when appropriate on his/her training and experience, to