Chesapeake Fire Department Child Abuse Policy PDF

Policy 322 Chesapeake Fire Department Policy Manual Copyright Lexipol, LLC 2023/03/29, All Rights Reserved.Published with permission by Chesapeake Fire Department Child Abuse - 1 Child Abuse 322.1 PURPOSE AND SCOPE The purpose of this policy is to provide guidelines for the reporting of suspec...

Policy 322 Chesapeake Fire Department Policy Manual Copyright Lexipol, LLC 2023/03/29, All Rights Reserved.Published with permission by Chesapeake Fire Department Child Abuse - 1 Child Abuse 322.1 PURPOSE AND SCOPE The purpose of this policy is to provide guidelines for the reporting of suspected child abuse. 322.1.1 DEFINITIONS Abused or neglected child- Parents or person responsible for the care of the child: • Creates or inflicts, threatens to create or inflict, or allows to be created or inflicted upon such child, a physical or mental injury by other than accidental means, or • Creates a substantial risk of death, disfigurement, or impairment of bodily or mental functions • Neglects or refuses to provide care necessary for the child’s health • Abandons such child • Commits or allows to be committed any act of sexual exploitation or any sexual act upon a child in violation of the law • Has unreasonable absence of the mental or physical capacity to provide parental care or guardianship of the child Child- A person less than eighteen (18) years of age. 322.2 POLICY It is the policy of the Chesapeake Fire Department to ensure the local social services department's Child Protective Services (CPS) is notified of suspected child abuse as required by law. 322.3 MANDATORY NOTIFICATION Emergency Medical Services (EMS) members of the Chesapeake Fire Department shall, and all other members should, notify CPS when the member has reason to suspect that a child is being abused or neglected (Va. Code § 63.2-1509). For purposes of notification, abuse and neglect include but are not limited to the following: (Va. Code § 63.2-100; 22 VAC 40-705-30): (a) An intentional act or omission by the caretaker of a child that causes, threatens, or permits a physical or mental injury to the child (b) The creation by the caretaker of a child of a substantial risk of death, disfigurement, or impairment of bodily or mental functions (c) The failure by the caretaker of a child to provide adequate food, clothing, shelter, supervision, or medical care (d) The commission or allowance by the caretaker of a child or caretaker's partner of any sexual act or act of sexual exploitation upon a child (e) The commission by any person of sex trafficking or other severe forms of trafficking against a child. Chesapeake Fire Department Policy Manual Child Abuse Copyright Lexipol, LLC 2023/03/29, All Rights Reserved.Published with permission by Chesapeake Fire Department Child Abuse - 2 322.3.1 NOTIFICATION PROCEDURE Notification should occur immediately, but no later than 24 hours after becoming aware of the abuse or neglect, by directly contacting the local CPS office or by calling the child abuse and neglect hotline (Va. Code § 63.2-1509). The report should include the following information, if known: (a) The name, address and telephone number of both the child and parent or other person responsible for the child’s care (b) The child’s date of birth, age, sex and race (c) The names and ages of the other persons who reside with the child and their relationship to the child (d) Whether or not there is a family member who can protect the child (e) The name, address and telephone number of the suspected abuser and his/her relationship to the child (f) The nature and extent of the abuse or neglect, including any knowledge of prior maltreatment of the child or his/her siblings (g) Any special language needs of the family (h) Any child or adult developmental issues (i) Whether the child has a disability and the ways in which the disability affects the child’s functioning and care (j) The name and contact information for the investigating member (k) Any other pertinent information The department Field Medical Officer should be notified of the incident as soon as practical. A written report shall be prepared and, if requested, forwarded to law enforcement or CPS. If a child is being transported to a medical facility, the receiving center triage nurse or physician shall be notified of the situation upon the child’s arrival. Failure to report an incident of known or reasonably suspected child abuse or neglect by a mandated reporter may result in a fine or a misdemeanor charge, and may also result in discipline (Va. Code § 63.2-1509). SERVICE REQUESTCONTACT NUMBERRequest that a Child Protection Social Worker respond to the location to which you will be transporting the infant. 382-6161 Request the assistance of Child Protective Services during regular business hours (0830 – 1700 M- F). 382-2000 Chesapeake Fire Department Policy Manual Child Abuse Copyright Lexipol, LLC 2023/03/29, All Rights Reserved.Published with permission by Chesapeake Fire Department Child Abuse - 3 Virginia Child Abuse Hotline (Available 24/7). 1-800-552-7096 322.4 CONFIDENTIALITY Reports of child abuse are confidential and will only be released in accordance with the Release of Records Policy.