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Connecticut Guidelines for Child Abuse and Neglect Reporting
Pro Sports Experience has a responsibility to prevent child abuse and neglect of children
enrolled in its programs, whenever possible.
Dept. of Children and Families Hotline: 1-800-842-2288
Child Abuse Definition:
- is a non-accidental injury to a child which, regardless of motive, is inflicted or allowed to be inflicted by the person responsible for the child's care
- includes:
- any injury which is at variance with the history given
- maltreatment such as, but not limited to, malnutrition, sexual molestation, deprivation of necessities, emotional maltreatment or cruel punishment.
Neglect Definition:
Neglect is the failure, whether intentional or not, of the person responsible for the child's care to provide and maintain adequate food, clothing, medical care, supervision, and/or education.
A child may be found neglected who:
- has been abandoned
- is being denied proper care and attention physically, educationally, emotionally, or morally
- is being permitted to live under conditions, circumstances or associations injurious to his well-being
- is being abused.
Pro Sports Experience has a Zero Tolerance Policy for abuse and neglect and any allegation that a staff member has abused or neglected a child shall result in a report being made to Dept. Of Children and Families Hotline and immediate suspension of staff member pending an investigation.
Duty to Report:
Connecticut law requires certain citizens to report suspected child abuse and neglect. These mandated reporters are people in professions or occupations that have contact with children or whose primary focus is children. The law requires that they report suspected child abuse or neglect.
In reporting in good faith, they are immune from civil and criminal liability. However, failure to report could result in fines up to $500.
Under Connecticut General Statute, Section 17a-101, the following are considered mandated reporters:
- Any person paid to care for a child in any public or private facility, child day care center, group day care home or family day care home which is licensed by the State
- Persons paid for caring for children in any public or private facility
- For the complete list, see: http://www.ct.gov/dcf/cwp/view.asp?a=2556&Q=314388#Who
Staff Responsibilities should they witness, or become aware, abuse or neglect of a child in a PSE program:
ý Tell the child that you believe them and that you are going to contact people who can help.
ý Respect the privacy of the child. The child will need to tell their story in detail later, so don't press the child for details. Remember, you need only suspect abuse to make a report.
ý Don't display horror, shock, or disapproval of parents, child, or the situation. Don't place blame or make judgments about the parent or child.
ý Believe the child if she/he reports sexual abuse. It is rare for a child to lie about sexual abuse.
Administrative Responsibilities to protect children once there is an allegation of abuse or neglect of a child in a PSE program.
ý You are required to report or cause a report to be made when, in the ordinary course of your employment or profession, you have reasonable cause to suspect or believe that a child under the age of 18 has been abused, neglected or is placed in imminent risk of serious harm. (Connecticut General Statutes ý17a-101a)
ý Reporters must report orally to the Department of Children and Families' (DCF) Hotline or a law enforcement agency within 12 hours of suspecting that a child has been abused or neglected and must submit a written report (DCF-136 form) to DCF within 48 hours of making the oral report. DCF is required to tape record all reports to the Hotline.
ý The Child Abuse and Neglect Hotline operates 24 hours a day and seven days a week. 1-800-842-2288. DCF is Required to tape record all reports to the hotline.
ý When making a report, you must provide the following information, if known:
1. names and addresses of the child and his parents or responsible caregiver(s)
2. child's age and gender
3. nature and extent of injury, maltreatment or neglect
4. approximate date and time the injury, maltreatment or neglect occurred
5. the circumstances in which the injuries, maltreatment or neglect became known to the reporter
6. previous injury, maltreatment or neglect of the child or siblings
7. name of the person suspected to have caused the injury, maltreatment or neglect
8. any action taken to treat or help the child
ý If, outside the ordinary course of your employment or profession, you have reasonable cause to suspect or believe that a child under the age of 18 is in imminent risk of being abused or has been abused or neglected, make a report to the Hotline.
You are protected by Law for Filing a Report
ý Anyone participating in good faith in the making of a report of child abuse and who has reasonable grounds for making the report, shall have immunity from any liability, civil or criminal, that might otherwise be incurred or imposed with respect to the making or content of such report. Any such participant shall have the same immunity with respect to participating in any judicial proceeding resulting from such report.
ý Immunity from civil or criminal liability is granted to people who make required reports in good faith. Immunity is also granted to people who in good faith have not reported.
ý However, failure to report could result in fines, which range from $500 to $2,500 and the individual will be required to participate in an educational and training program. In addition, mandated reporters could also be sued for damages if further injury is caused to the child because they did not act.
ý Anyone who knowingly makes a false report of child abuse or neglect shall be fined up to $2,000 or imprisoned for not more than one year, or both. The identity of any such person shall be disclosed to the appropriate law enforcement agency and to the perpetrator of the alleged abuse.
ý Employers may not discharge, discriminate or retaliate against an employee for making a good faith report or testifying in an abuse or neglect proceeding. The Attorney General can bring a court action against any employer who violates this provision, and the court can assess a civil penalty of up to $2,500 plus other equitable relief.
Confidentiality of Report
ý You are required to give your name when you make a report to DCF, however, you may request anonymity to protect your privacy. This means that DCF would not disclose your name or identity unless mandated to do so by law (Connecticut General Statutes, Sections 17a-28 and 17a-101).
Notification to Parents
- When a child is suspected of being abused, neglected or placed at imminent risk of serious harm by a member of Pro Sports Experience staff, the person in charge of Pro Sports Experience must notify the childýs parent or other person responsible for the childýs care that a report has been made. It is DCFýs responsibility to notify the head of Pro Sports Experience that a report has been made.
You are under no legal obligation to inform parents that have made a report to DCF about their child if that report does not involve a member of Pro Sports Experience.
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