Due to the requirements by the State of Florida and the updated Ethics in Education Act, the following child abuse reporting policy and guidelines will now be posted on the HCS website:

Look for the signs --- Dial 1-800-96-Abuse

Refer to statutes 39.202 and 768.095, listed below the following explanation, which provide more detailed information concerning state of Florida law (highlighted in yellow).

Signs of physical abuse

The child may have unexplained bruises, welts, cuts or other injuries; broken bones; burns.

A child experiencing physical abuse may seem withdrawn or depressed; seem afraid to go home or may run away; shy away from physical contact; be aggressive; wear inappropriate clothing to hide injuries.

Signs of sexual abuse

The child may have torn, stained or bloody underwear; trouble walking or sitting; pain or itching in genital area; a sexually transmitted disease.

A child experiencing sexual abuse may have unusual knowledge of sex or act seductively; fear a particular person; seem withdrawn or depressed; gain or lose weight suddenly; shy away from physical contact; run away from home.

Signs of neglect

The child may have unattended medical needs; little or no supervision at home; poor hygiene; appear underweight.

A child experiencing neglect may be frequently tired or hungry; steal food; appear overly needy for adult attention.

Look for the patterns:  Serious abuse usually involves a combination of factors.  While a single sign may not be significant, a pattern of physical or behavioral signs is a serious indicator and should be reported.

If a child tells YOU about abuse -- Be a good listener:  Show that you understand and believe what the child tells you.  Encourage, but don't pressure him/her to talk.  Ask open ended questions.  Be supportive:  Tell the child he/she did the right thing by coming to you.  Stress that he/she is not to blame.  Let the child know that you want to help.  Don't overreact:  This can frighten the child or prevent him/her from telling you more.  Do not talk negatively about the suspected abuser in front of the child.  Document and report it:  Document your conversation as soon as you can.  If possible, write down the child's exact words.  Don't Delay:  Never assume someone else will report the abuse.  The sooner it's reported, the sooner the child and their family can be helped.

Who must report abuse?

Doctors, Nurses, Social Workers, Police Officers, Child Care Workers, Any Witnesses, Any/All School Personnel.

Call or report it online at:  http://www.dcf.state.fl.us/abuse/report/

STATUTE 39.203  Immunity from liability in cases of child abuse, abandonment or neglect.

(1)(a) Any person, official or institution participating in good faith in any act authorized or required by this chapter, or reporting in good faith any instance of child abuse, abandonment, or neglect to the department or any law enforcement agency, shall be immune from any civil or criminal liability which might otherwise result by reason of such action.

(b) Except as provided in this chapter, nothing contained in this section shall be deemed to grant immunity, civil or criminal, to any person suspected of having abused, abandoned, or neglected a child, or committed any illegal act upon or against a child.

(2)(a) No resident or employee of a facility serving children may be subjected to reprisal or discharge because of his or her actions in reporting abuse, abandonment, or neglect pursuant to the requirements of this section.

(b) Any person making a report under this section shall have a civil cause of action for appropriate compensatory and punitive damages against any person who causes detrimental changes in the employment status of such reporting party by reason of his or her making such report.  Any detrimental change made in the residency or employment status of such person, including, but not limited to, discharge, termination, demotion, transfer, or reduction in pay or benefits or work privileges, or negative evaluations within a prescribed period of time shall establish a rebuttable presumption that such action was retaliatory.

STATUTE 768.095 Employer immunity from liability; disclosure of information regarding former or current employees.

An employer who discloses information about a former or current employee to a prospective employer of the former or current employee upon the request of the prospective employer or of the former or current employee is immune from civil liability for such disclosure or its consequences unless it is shown by clear and convincing evidence that the information disclosed by the former or current employer was knowingly false or violated any civile right of the former or current employee proteccted under chapter 760.

View these Florida state statutes online through this link:

http://www.flsenate.gov/Statutes/index.cfm