How Do Teacher Report Child Abuse of Students in Florida?

Question

If you are a teacher and you have a smelly child that always comes to school with the same cloths and injuries and you think it's happening at home, how do you report it?

Where do you start?

What happens if you report it to the prinicpal?

What is CPS and do you have this in Florida by another name?

Do you have a website with procedures?

What if you report it to the police, school nurse, school psychologist or couserlor?

But, again, how are you supposed to report it as a teacher?

Answer 1

You can report it to the principal, and then if that doesn't work, tell the police that the principal won't help.

I would just go strait to the police.

I do not know what CPS is.

I do not understand what a  psychologist or counserlor would do as they don't seem to have anything to do with abuse; they deal with mental health problems.

But you can try all.

The police would be able to tell you what to do to report such issues correctly.

Do they have a child abuse help line or anything, the child can call it if they do?

Snow Man

Answer 2

As a Florida teacher you are held to the state's code of ethics which requires you to report abuse. If you do not, you face liability, which obviously you do not deserve because you sound like a caring person. I would speak to your principal and make them aware of the situation. I would also follow up with them and make sure they reported to the proper authorities (DCF). I would not report it myself without going through administration unless I wanted to be black listed by them. I know the child is number 1, but I think with persistence you can get action through administration within a few days.

Answer 3

You pick up the phone and dial!!  How much thinking do you need to do before that child is seriously hurt?