Prevention Efforts Affecting School Personnel

The following are some tips on how to avoid abuse accusations.

Program Practices:

Every school should follow professional hiring practices that include reference checks and a face-to-face interview. In the personnel policies, it needs to be clearly stated that staff can be fired for any maltreatment of a child and these policies need to be reviewed annually. There needs to be someone staff can confidentially report to regarding concerns about student treatment.

Daily Practices:

Clear communication between staff and administration is key to reducing stress in a school environment; support services for staff need to be provided; prevention efforts to reduce staff stress; prevention efforts to mentor staff who are under stress need to occur; and staff need not to be put in vulnerable positions with children (i.e. never leave staff alone with a child).

Parent Relations:

Staff need to constantly work on positive relations with parents. They need to learn how to discuss sensitive issues. When discussing sensitive issues or if a staff member is meeting with a volatile parent, a relevant support staff person (counselor, principal, special education teacher, etc.) should be present. Staff should never be left alone in the building with any parent or student. Educate parents regarding school policies on reporting suspected child abuse.

Protecting Yourself:

Only work with children in sight of other adults. Do not take children into closets, bathrooms, secluded areas or off school grounds. If a child needs help in the bathroom, either have someone else go in with you or have the child come into view of others, especially when zipping pants, etc. Do not initiate physical touching. Let the child initiate the physical touch and then respond with a hug around the shoulders. Never pat a child on the bottom or head; do not give frontal body-to-body hugs; do not touch a girl’s chest area, etc. (Touch is very important and healing to children as it helps build a positive connection with you. Just be aware of where you are touching the child.) 

Never use physical discipline. If you must restrain a child, make sure another adult is present and that you use proper techniques. (All staff should be trained in proper restraint techniques to protect the student and yourself from injury and/or allegations.) Be aware of your stress levels and be proactive about reducing stress. You should take your breaks and get physical exercise and relaxation daily to help reduce your stress. 

If you find you need a break from a particular child or cannot work with him or her, be honest with your supervisor and ask for help. Document and/or show the counselor any suspicious bruises or marks on children. Being aware of what marks a child entered school within the a.m. protects you from being accused by the parent after school.

If you observe another staff member using questionable or abusive methods with a student, you need to alert your principal immediately. If you are free to be involved, you could ask the staff member if they need help or need a break; however, you must notify a supervisor immediately. You should also document in writing what you saw, that students were involved, the date, time and place, etc. Someone needs to give support to the student. Administrators should remind staff what constitutes an abusive act (including raising their voice or using sarcastic put-downs with students being emotionally abusive) on an annual basis. If the act is obviously abusive, it is required that the administrator notify the parents and law enforcement. Staff under investigation should be removed from all unsupervised contact with students during the investigation. 

ABOVE ALL, CONFIDENTIALITY MUST BE MAINTAINED!