4390 Child Abuse

  • The District recognizes that because of their sustained contact with school-age children, employees are in a position to help identify and report suspected child abuse and neglect.
     
    In compliance with the Child Protective Services Act, §14-3-201 through 215,  the District shall report abuse or neglect whenever any person knows or has reasonable cause to believe or suspect that a child has been abused or neglected, or observes any child being subjected to conditions or circumstances that would reasonably result in abuse or neglect.
     
    If a person reporting child abuse or neglect is an employee, they are to notify the principal, or designee, as soon as possible, who is thereupon also responsible to make the report or cause the report to be made. Any teacher or employee having any such knowledge is to make an initial report to the principal, or designee. The principal, or designee, will then notify the Superintendent, or designee.
     
    An employee's report to the principal does not relieve that individual of their obligation to report on their behalf unless a report has already been made or will be made. The Wyoming Statutes are mandatory and absolutely require that a report be made. Failure to report is a violation of Wyoming law.
     
    Reports are required to be given to the Department of Family Services (DFS) or a local law enforcement agency. The reports can be submitted in written form or by phone (doing both is recommended).
     
    School employees will not contact the child's family or other person to determine the cause of the suspected abuse or neglect. It is not the responsibility of the school employee to prove a child has been abused or neglected, or to determine whether the child is in need of protection.
     
    "Abuse" means inflicting or causing physical or mental injury, harm or imminent danger to the physical or mental health or welfare of the child other than by accidental means, including abandonment, unless the abandonment is a relinquishment under W.S. 14-11-101 THROUGH 109, excessive or unreasonable corporal punishment, malnutrition or substantial risk thereof by reason of intentional or unintentional neglect, and the commission or allowing the commission of a sexual offense against a child as defined by law.

    "Neglect" means a failure or refusal by those responsible for the child's welfare to provide adequate care, maintenance, supervision, education or medical, surgical or any other care necessary for the child's wellbeing.  "Neglect" for purposes of "education" as used in this paragraph includes willful absenteeism as defined in W.S. 21-4-101(a)(vii).
     
    ADOPTION DATE:
    June 26, 1984; Editorial Revision August 14, 1984; Revised July 12, 1993; Renumbered May 22, 1995 (formerly 4290); Reviewed October 23, 2007; Revised August 23, 2016; Revised January 9, 2024
     
    LEGAL REFERENCE(S):
    State Statute 14-3-201 through 215
     
    CROSS REFERENCE(S):
    4390-R
     
    ADMINISTRATIVE REGULATION: