[irelady10]

I need some perspective on this because tonight I am just SO mad and worried and upset!

I am a teacher. Today, one of my students told me and another teacher that she could not pick something up because she hurt her arm when she was much younger. This child had previously disclosed to me a very abusive episode with her mom. Because of her history, I had her seen by the nurse. The nurse says that it looks like her shoulder is dislocated. The child refuses to say what happened to her except that she hurt her arm as a small child (7 years ago!). I tell the VP and Principal about the situation and they both tell me NOT to call DYFS...because the child did not report that mom did this to her.

From my perspective you have a kid who is obviously lying about how she hurt her arm, a history of abuse by her parent, and a history of NUMEROUS calls to CPS about abuse and neglect.

I am SHOCKED that I was instructed not to call CPS. I went back to the VP to request an explanation as to why I should not call CPS and he stated the law to me: that unless a child says someone hurt them, teacher should not call. Forget my concern about the kid; forget any explanation that they (the school) were going to request mom to take the child to a doctor. And I was treated rudely and unprofessionally to boot!!!

CPS WAS called...but I just cannot believe that I was instructed by my administrator to not call them.

[b12]

I can't say that I'm surprised. I was a substitute teacher for several years and ran into many cases of abuse, but was always told that it wasn't "serious enough" to call in.

[Withay]

Thank you for calling and reporting this anyway. Thank you for having a heart for this little girl. You may have just saved her from critical or even fatal injuries. Bless you.

Shame on the administrator and vp. They should be ashamed.

[Live.and.Learn]

It seems to me that you are a mandated reporter twice over. Once as a teacher. Second as a foster parent. As a mandated reporter I would follow my gut and let DHS do their job. Investigate as needed is they believe the suspicions have merit based on their previous experience with this family. Your responsibility is to report suspected abuse. DHS's job is to investigate. It isn't your principal's job to be your moral compass.

[connie_anne]

There is no part of the law that says that a child has to "report that the mom hurt her." You suspect abuse for any reason you call!! I am glad that you went with your gut and called. I would say next time, call first, then talk to the administrator. We just had our mandated reporter training and they did not say anything about wether or not the child says they are being hurt at home. These kids will usually NOT say that because they are trying to protect their parents.

[TemporaryMom]

Originally Posted by Live.and.Learn

It seems to me that you are a mandated reporter twice over. Once as a teacher. Second as a foster parent. As a mandated reporter I would follow my gut and let DHS do their job. Investigate as needed is they believe the suspicions have merit based on their previous experience with this family. Your responsibility is to report suspected abuse. DHS's job is to investigate. It isn't your principal's job to be your moral compass.

Totally agree with this. OP have you looked through the rules to see if what they say is true? Although your position as foster parent and mandated reporter is justification enough to report it. Shouldn't the nurse who inspected her also been mandated? I'd think her position as an RN trumps her position at the school.

[HopingForForever]

My mom is a special education assistant teacher for preschoolers and has been for many years. It is shocking how the other teachers are so hesitant to report obvious abuse! One little boy had obvious cigarette butt burns on the back of his neck (plus there were other signs of neglect) and they didn't want to call it in because they weren't "sure". I think a lot of people think DCFS/CPS just comes in and automatically removes the kids or something and they are nervous about being wrong even when it's obvious! My mom has had to reassure then that it doesn't happen that way and they do a full investigation first.

[servnjah]

I'm a bit gun-shy about teachers using opinions and feelings about situations to call CPS considering what we went through last fall. What if it is the teacher who is abusive, prejudice, mentally unstable?

However, from what you say, I absolutely agree with reporting because YOU are a mandated reporter. You know the kid was hurt and you know she is lying about the circumstances. Let CPS work out the details with the child/family. If it is innocent, great! If not, then the child will be protected (ideally).

I think it is fine to go to your administrator, of course. In fact, it is often protocol. But in the end, you are responsible for the choice to call CPS if you have a concern.

[RavenSong]

Thank you from the bottom of my heart for caring enough about this child to report her injuries to CPS. The school administrator was wrong on so many levels. Children often deny that their parents caused their injuries.

It's people like yourself who give me hope about humanity...

[foster2forever]

Irelady - I think you are in my state. We actually have unusual laws on "mandated reporting.". Every single person in this state is a mandated reporter regardless of profession. The law doesn't have any separate provisions for doctors, nurses, teachers etc. ANY person who suspects abuse MUST report it. It doesn't get any simpler than that. Schools cannot require a teacher report it only to administration. You must call cps.

If anyone ever tells you something like that again, ask to see the WRITTEN school policy that says what they told you. Tell them that absent a written policy, you have to call.

If they have any ridiculous written policy about reporting suspected abuse, make a copy and report that as well. I'm not sure cps would do anything about such a school policy but the press and commissioner of family services would likely take a strong interest.

Good for you for doing what you knew was right!

[irelady10]

I researched the law in my state- this is what is says

B. When is a Mandatory Reporter Required to Report?
When must abuse be reported?

A report is required when a person has reasonable cause to believe that a child has been subjected to abuse or acts of abuse.

N.J. Ann. Stat. § 9:6-8.10.

I would like to print this law out and hand it to my VP on Monday. Of course, I like my job and need to feed my son, so I guess I will need to show some self-control.

I hope this child is okay this weekend. The more I think about the situation, the more worried I become.

[b12]

Originally Posted by servnjah

I think it is fine to go to your administrator, of course. In fact, it is often protocol.

I'm not sure about the state, but in my district abuse reporting is supposed to go to through the principal or other administrators. Teachers or nurses write it up, document everything, and then the principal is supposed to call in the investigators. Of course, it turns out that it doesn't work that way, and as a sub you often found out they weren't called the next time you came to that school.

[Lolley33]

That is horrible. In my state every person is a mandated reporter. So, here you could have called yourself anonymously of course. I don't understand policies sometimes.

[arbuckle17]

they misquoted, the law does not require the child to point the finger, many kids are to scared to do so... many victims of abuse in general are.

Further and more important, you are madatory reporter, to not do so can lead to fines or jail time in some states.

[MomFoster]

As a former teacher, I once asked an administrator to make a report (which was the district's policy) and later learned that because I had not made that report myself, I was violating the law. Why the district would have an illegal policy is a good question, of course. Nonetheless, I always ask myself how I would feel if I had NOT made the report and something worse were to happen. CPS doesn't investigate every report. Usually they wait for a pattern to emerge before they investigate, never mind remove the children.

You had good reason to have a suspicion of abuse in this case. If nothing else, the parents are guilty of medical neglect if they knew their child had a dislocation and did nothing about it.