Safe Environment Strategies: Transportation
Your youth-serving organization may provide transportation to children and youth—either on a regular or occasional basis. If you’re a larger…
Home / Reporting / When to Report Abuse and Neglect
With some exceptions, a single incident or observation of suspected abuse or neglect may not necessarily trigger the need for a call to the Department of Children and Families (DCF). But even if a decision is made not to contact DCF, when an indicator is observed it should be a red flag to keep a watchful eye on the child/youth, ask fellow staff or supervisors whether they’ve noticed similar physical and/or behavioral symptoms, and keep notes about the behaviors that are causing concern. Certainly, if a pattern emerges, or the symptom becomes more pronounced or severe, a call to DCF must be made.
Most people have never filed a report with DCF, and many—especially non-professionals— who work or volunteer with children/youth may feel reluctant to do so. People may “second-guess” the situation or their own observations and remain silent because of questions about their personal liability or being sued; worry about being wrong or causing trouble to another family or to their employer; mistrust of the authorities like DCF; and uncertainty about what will happen after a report is made. That’s why it’s important that your leaders take steps to address this reluctance by “demystifying” the reporting process, by showing staff and volunteers that they will be supported in their efforts to keep children/youth safe, and by making it clear that there will be no negative consequences or repercussions for reporting—even if the report turns out to be wrong.
To increase awareness among staff and volunteers, you can keep instructional materials about child abuse, such as our chart on physical and behavioral indicators, and a one-page flow chart describing reporting, as an appendix to your Policies and Procedures, or as an attachment to your Code of Conduct. Your flow chart should include the reporting sequence to follow, the people to contact, and the numbers to call if abuse is suspected, observed, or disclosed, like in these sample charts (See Reporting Child Abuse and Neglect Sample 1 and 2 charts). Your leaders can use these materials as part of your orientation process for new hires or volunteers, and include them in annual training or professional development efforts.
Since the vast majority of abuse cases—including incidents of sexual abuse—take place at the hands of someone a child/youth knows and trusts, most of the situations that could come to the attention of your personnel would likely occur outside of your organization—in the child’s home, within their extended family, or through the family’s social network. In other cases, however, the allegation may concern a current or past employee or volunteer of your organization, or even another child or youth attending your program.
You’ll need to provide additional guidance for any allegations concerning suspected abuse occurring within your organization. Your guidance should include the process of an internal investigation, notification to parents, and a plan for public communication and response.
Safe Environments
Your youth-serving organization may provide transportation to children and youth—either on a regular or occasional basis. If you’re a larger…
Safe Environments
Standards should be implemented to ensure safe physical spaces for children, such as clear sight–lines and visitor procedures. To ensure child…
Safe Environments
How is Your Facility Designed to Keep Children Safe? Child development and school-age programs operate in many different types of facilities….
Reporting
Who Are Mandated Reporters? Massachusetts law defines a number of professionals as mandated reporters (for the full list, see MGL Chapter 119,…
Screening & Hiring
Your Youth-Serving Organization’s (YSO’s) hiring process should include basic screening measures for potential staff and volunteers through…
Screening & Hiring
To determine what screening tools are most appropriate to use for a particular position and to ensure consistency in your screening protocols, we…
Monitoring Behavior
Monitoring Behavior is the responsibility of all staff to hold each other accountable for appropriate behaviors and to report inappropriate conduct…
Monitoring Behavior
Protocols should be developed in order to inform staff and volunteers about supervision, communication, and reporting procedures at your…
Reporting
Visit the website, Massachusetts Department of Children & Families Locations to find contact information for your local office and see…
Code of Conduct
Along with guiding appropriate behavior, your Code of Conduct should include a clear description of the lines of communication and reporting…
Customized child sexual abuse prevention guidelines to meet the unique needs of any organization that serves children.
Learning Center Registration
Sign up for an account and start your learning experience.
Free Online Assessment
Let us help you find out where to start.