Ct Dcf Reporting Requirements
The penalty for non-reporting is a Class A offence punishable by imprisonment for up to one year, a fine of up to $2,000, or both, and a requirement that the hired journalist take a prescribed reporting course funded by participant fees. Previously, the fine was only $500 to $2,500. Any person found guilty of intentionally and unduly disturbing or preventing a person who is a hired journalist from meeting the reporting requirement will be deemed to have punished the risk of injury to the child, a Class D crime, a penalty of up to five years` imprisonment, a fine of up to $5,000, or both. Under Connecticut law, virtually all employees of the university are mandatory reports of child abuse and neglect and must comply with reporting requirements under Connecticut`s required reporting laws. (Sections 17a-101a to 17a-101d of the Connecticut General Laws). In addition to legal reporting requirements, university employees must also comply with any other university policies that impose additional reporting requirements, such as the Policy on Combating Discrimination, Harassment and Related Interpersonal Violence. For more information about other required state filing laws and other state laws that affect social work practice in Connecticut, go to www.naswct.org and click professional issues. This is for informational purposes only and should not be construed as legal advice. University employees are protected by state law for reporting child abuse or neglect in good faith, even if a subsequent investigation does not support the allegations. Under Connecticut regulations, all social workers are responsible for alleged child abuse and neglect. Since October 1, 2013, the laws relating to children`s reporting have been revised, with the changes mentioned in the article being printed in bold. Any social worker who, in the normal course of his or her employment or profession, has reasonable grounds to believe that a child has been abused or neglected, has suffered a non-accidental physical injury or an injury that deviates from the explanation or is directly at risk must report this information to the Ministry of Children and Families.
The previous law was narrower in that it required hired journalists to report in a professional capacity, while journalists now hired are bound both by their employment and as a member of the profession, the latter being social workers at all times. This issue of a sexual relationship involving a minor has been a controversial issue of when it should be reported. DCF ruled that a designated journalist is required to report all sexual relations between a minor under the age of 13 and sexual relations between a minor under the age of 16 and a person over the age of 21, whether or not the designated journalist has knowledge of other facts. On the other hand, a hired journalist is not automatically required to report consensual sexual relations between two minors aged 13 or over and located less than 2 years apart, unless he has other facts that give a realistic reason to believe that there has been abuse or neglect of a child (emphasis added). NASW/CT supports DCF`s interpretation of such circumstances, and the Attorney General`s Office also considers DCF`s interpretation to be reasonable. However, it should be noted here that prosecutors and the attorney general have had different views and believe that even consensual sexual relations, where there does not appear to be abuse, should be reported, although these reports would have a deterrent effect on minors who use health services. It is expected that legislative action will be required to clarify the intent of the legislation and, if so, NASW/TB will support the interpretation of the DCF. Any social worker who has reason to believe or believes that a person with a developmental disability has been abused or neglected must report this information to the Connecticut Office of Disability Protection and Advocacy within five calendar days. The notified registrant must follow up his report with a written report within an additional five calendar days. In the case of a person under 18 years of age, procedures for reporting child abuse and neglect should also be followed. The Office of Protection and Advocacy can be reached at (860) 297-4300 or (800) 842-7303. As soon as possible, but no later than 12 hours after the reasonable suspicion of abuse, negligence or imminent danger of serious harm, the designated journalist must file an oral complaint with DCF or the local police.
To contact DCF, call the Child Abuse and Neglect Hotline at 1-800-842-2288. The old law required a report within 24 hours. In addition, a school social worker found guilty of not making a declaration as required will be reported to the Commissioner of Education and his or her certificate may be revoked. The decision: Accept or not accept? The examiner must then decide whether the allegations merit some form of additional state involvement – an accepted transfer. Last year, 95,000 phone calls were received. 45,000 of them were accepted. Approximately 11,000 of these calls resulted in comprehensive reviews of the DCF. If the caller does not provide sufficient information or if the claim (even if it is true) is not considered abuse or neglect, the appeal will be considered “non-acceptance”. For frequently asked questions about reporting child abuse and neglect: portal.ct.gov/DCF/1-DCF/Reporting-Child-Abuse-and-Neglect The Investigation: The response time to initiate an investigation depends on the severity of the referral accepted. An emergency requires a response time of 2 hours. For less urgent exams, there are reaction times of 24 hours and 72 hours.
For more information about Connecticut`s laws and additional resources on child abuse and neglect, please visit the Connecticut Branch Of Justice Legal Libraries website: www.jud.ct.gov/lawlib/law/childabuse.htm In cases where an employee or faculty member has abused or neglected a child in the care of the institution, DCF must inform the head of the public or private institution, unless the head of the institution is the presumed perpert. The old law required the mandated journalist to make this notification. Elder abuse, neglect, exploitation and abandonment: This law applies to all persons aged 60 and over. Within 48 hours of the oral report, DCF must receive a written report using the DCF Suspected Abuse form (Form DCF-136). Policy against Discrimination, Harassment and Related Interpersonal Violence Please note: If you witness child abuse or if there is an immediate or persistent threat to a person or community, call 9-1-1 immediately.Child Abuse and Neglect: This law applies to all children under the age of eighteen. Abuse or neglect of persons with developmental disabilities: This law applies to all persons with developmental disabilities. Connecticut law requires that reports of known or suspected child abuse or neglect be made orally to the Department of Children and Family `DCF` 24-hour hotline and/or law enforcement agencies as soon as possible, but no later than 12 hours at the latest. This article is provided for informational purposes only and should not be construed as legal advice. I sometimes get calls or emails from those who want to create a report.
Do not contact me to create a report. Call 1-800-842-2288 Who should call? Hired journalists such as school staff, doctors and counsellors (to name a few) are required to report suspected cases of child abuse or neglect. Within 48 hours of reporting to the hotline, hired journalists must complete a written report on allegations of child abuse or neglect – Form DCF 136. Hired journalists who do not show up can be fined between $500 and $2,500 and must participate in a training program. The process: A DCF employee known as a “controller” or recording worker will answer the call. They collect information such as the identity of the family, the age of the child, siblings, the name of the person(s) responsible for caring for the child and, of course, details of the alleged abuse or neglect. In Connecticut, the State Department of Children and Family Affairs (DCF) is responsible for investigating and enforcing our state`s child protection laws. HOW TO FIND SUPPLIERS IN THE CONNECTICUT COMMUNITY RESOURCES DATABASE: Who Should Call? Anyone who has a “reasonable suspicion” that a child will be abused or neglected. When preparing the report, the designated registrant must include the name and address of the allegedly abused or neglected person, a statement by the designated registrant showing that that person is mentally retarded, information that supports the assumption that that person is essentially unable to protect himself or herself from abuse or neglect, contains information about the nature and extent of the abuse or neglect, and any other information that, according to the rapporteur, could be useful. an investigation into the case.
The relationship between the alleged pertrator and the child does not matter. Anyone suspected of abuse or neglect or who puts a child in imminent danger must be reported. Under the old law, only persons responsible for the health, welfare or care of the child or a person to whom the person responsible had access to the child were required to be reported. Suspected Abuse Reporting Form (Form DCF-136) Individuals who have reason to believe that a child is being abused or neglected should contact the Ministry of Children and Families (DCF) at the toll-free 24-hour child care line (1-800-842-2288). Some professionals in social services, mental health, education and other professionals are mandated by journalists and are therefore required by law to produce a report if they have reasons, in their professional capacity, to believe that a child is being abused or neglected. If you are not sure if a situation is to be reported under the law, do not hesitate to contact the CCF Child Abuse and Neglect Child Care Line.