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Policies - Section 2400 » 2408 - (JLF) Reporting Child Abuse or Neglect

2408 - (JLF) Reporting Child Abuse or Neglect

 
 
2408 (JLF) Reporting Child Abuse or Neglect 2408 (JLF)

  1. Statutorily Mandated Reporting – All Persons

Under New Hampshire law (RSA 169-C:29), every person who has “reason to suspect” that a child has been abused or neglected is required to report that suspicion to DCYF (Division of Children, Youth and Families of the New Hampshire Department of Health and Human Services) or directly to the police.  Under RSA 169-C:30, the initial report “shall be made immediately via telephone or otherwise.”

The requirement to report is not dependent on whether there is proof of the abuse or
neglect, nor is it dependent upon whether the information suggests the abuse or
neglect is continuing or happened in the past. Any doubt regarding whether to report
should be resolved in favor of reporting. Failure to report may be subject to criminal
prosecution and potential personal liability, while a report made in good faith is
entitled to both civil and criminal immunity. Additionally, a “credential holder”, as
defined in New Hampshire Department of Education Rule 501.02(h), who fails to
report suspected abuse or neglect risks having action taken by the New Hampshire
Department of Education against his/her credential. See N.H. Code of Conduct for
Educators, Ed. 510.05 (e).

To report child abuse or neglect to DCYF, call 24/7 (800) 894-5533 (in-state) or (603)
271-6562. In cases of current emergency or imminent danger, call 911.

1. The initial report should contain to the extent known:

    1. the name and address of the child suspected of being abused or neglected,
    2. the person responsible for the child's welfare,
    3. the specific information indicating neglect/abuse or the nature and extent of the child's injuries (including any evidence of previous injuries),
    4. the identity of the person or persons suspected of being responsible for such neglect or abuse; and
    5. any other information that might be helpful in establishing neglect or abuse.
 

2. Modes of Reporting. When making a report to DCYF Central Intake, there
are 3 modes of reporting that the Central Intake Service Provider will inform
you about before you proceed to the actual report. The modes of reporting are:

    1. Disclosure Allowed – The Caller/Reporter provides all their
      identifying information to DCYF, and it may be provided to the
      child’s family upon request.
    2. Disclosure NOT Allowed – The Caller/Reporter provides all their
      identifying information to DCYF; however, information is redacted
      in official paperwork provided to the child’s family unless the case
      goes on to prosecution. At prosecution, identifying information in
      all reports becomes public record.
    3. Anonymous (Not available to School District Employees, Volunteers and
      Contracted Service Providers. See paragraph A.3, below.) – The
      Caller/Reporter calls the (603) 271-6562 number, blocks their
      “Caller ID” when calling DCYF, and does not provide any of their
      identifying information (personal or organizational).

3. Required reporting mode for school employees, volunteers and
contracted service providers. Notwithstanding that state law allows an
anonymous mode of reporting to DCYF, it is the policy of the District that
employees, volunteers and contracted service providers who are making a
report to DCYF regarding a child/family involved with the District make such
report using the "Disclosure Allowed" or “Disclosure NOT Allowed" mode. This
will help ensure there is a legal record of the report being made on behalf of
the District. If there are concerns about these reporting modes due to potential
retaliation from the family or others, consult the Principal for support.

  1. Additional provisions relating to school employees, volunteers and contracted
    service providers.
    Each school employee, designated volunteer or contracted service provider having reason
    to suspect that a child is being or has been abused or neglected must also immediately
    report his/her suspicions to the building Principal or other building supervisor. This initial
    report may be made orally, but must be supplemented with an original completed form
    JLF-F (1) "Child Abuse and/or Neglect Reporting Form" as soon as practicable after the
    initial report, but in no event longer than one calendar day.

    1. Request for Assistance in Making Initial Report

The initial report to the Principal/building supervisor may be made prior to the report
to DCYF/law enforcement, but only if:

When receiving a request for assistance in making a report, the Principal or other
person receiving the request is without authority to assess whether the report should
be made, nor shall he/she attempt in any way to dissuade the person from making
the legally mandated report. Once the Principal/building supervisor receives the
information, the law would impose a reporting requirement upon both the original
reporter and the Principal.

(a) the initial report is made for the purpose of seeking assistance in making the
mandated report to DCYF/law enforcement, and

(b) reporting to the Principal, etc. will not cause any undue delay (measured in
minutes) of the required report to DCYF/law enforcement.

    1. Principal’s Action upon Receiving Report or Information of Report

Upon receiving the report/request from the employee, volunteer or any other person,
the Principal/building supervisor shall immediately assure that DCYF/law
enforcement is or has been notified, and then notify the Superintendent that such a
report to DCYF has been made.

The Principal shall forward the original completed form JLF-F (1) to the
Superintendent within twenty-four (24) hours if it is available. If the completed form is
not yet available, then the Principal shall forward a written report including the
relevant information, such as:

        • the identity(ies) of the child(ren) and other persons directly involved in the
          report (suspected responsible parents or others);
        • the identities of siblings or other children in the household of the child(ren) who
          is the subject of the report;
        • information relating to the fact that a report was made to DCYF (e.g., the date,
          the mode, the person who made the report and the DCYF report number);
          and
        • any other information requested by the Superintendent, law enforcement or
          DCYF.
    1. Personal Notes of Reports.

Each person with knowledge of a report to DCYF (e.g., the original reporter, the
Principal, the Superintendent, etc.) is encouraged to create and maintain personal
notes reflecting the information they have relative to the nature of the report, as well
as information pertaining to the facts of the report (e.g., the date, time, person
making, and mode of the report), and the DCYF report number.

    1. Additional Reporting Requirements.

Employees/contract providers are also reminded of the requirements to report any act of “theft, destruction, or violence” as defined under RSA 193-D:4, I (a), incidents of “bullying” per Board Policy 5009 (JICK) and hazing under RSA 631:7. See also
Board Policy 2426 (GBEAB). A single act may simultaneously constitute abuse,
bullying, hazing, and/or an act of theft, destruction or violence.

  1. Signage Notification and District Reporting Form.

The Superintendent is directed to ensure that the Principal or administrator of each school
shall post a sign within the school that is readily visible to students, in the form provided by
the Division for Children, Youth, and Families, that contains instructions on how to report
child abuse or neglect, including the phone number for filing reports and information on
accessing the Division's website. Additionally, information pertaining to the requirements of
section A of this policy shall be included in each student handbook and placed on the
district’s website. Finally, the Superintendent shall ensure that Form JLF-F(1) is readily
available to all staff members, either in hard copy form, or through the District's or school
websites.

  1. Training Required.

The Superintendent shall assure that all District employees, designated volunteers and contracted service providers receive training (in-person or online) upon beginning service with the District, with biennial renewal training thereafter, on the mandatory reporting
requirements, this policy, and the materials described in RSA 189:13-a, XII.

NH Statutes   Description
RSA 169-C   Child Protection Act
RSA 169-C:29-39   Reporting Law
RSA 189:13-a
 
  
RSA 189:72   Child Abuse or Neglect Information
RSA 193-D:4   Safe School Zones, Written Report Required
     
NH Dept of Ed
Regulation		   Description
NH Code of Admin. Rules, Ed
510.05(e)		  
 
NH Code of Administrative
Rules, Ed 306.04(a)(10)		   Reporting of Suspected Abuse or Neglect

 

 

Adopted:  05/1978

Revised:  07/1985, 06/1994, 06/2007, 04/2009, 06/2021, 3/2025

 

 
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