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Senate Bill 471-
"Preventing, Recognizing and Reporting Child Abuse and Neglect"
Nutshell Version
Have you had the time to read your most recent notification from Licensing regarding this new training requirement? Time is running out. Let us help you break it down and get it done!
Below is the info from the Department of Family and Protective Services that was sent out earlier this summer. Our suggestions to help you easily prepare and comply are in red.
Prevention of Child Abuse and Neglect Training and Policy for Child Care Centers
Background
The passage of Senate Bill 471 by the 82nd Legislature requires that licensed child care centers:
Offer one hour of annual training for staff members in prevention techniques for and recognition of symptoms of abuse and neglect as well as the responsibility and procedure for reporting suspected abuse and neglect.
Adopt and implement a policy addressing sexual abuse and other abuse/neglect of children.
Who must complete the training?
Directors and caregivers
When?
The law went into effect as of June 19, 2011. licensing staff will provide Technical Assistance until minimum standard revisions are effective, anticipated to be March 2012.
How to Comply?
Training must include:
- Factors indicating a child is at risk for abuse and neglect;
- Warning signs indicating a child may be a victim of abuse or neglect;
- Internal procedures for reporting child abuse or neglect;
- Community organizations that have training programs available to staff, children, and parents.
You and your staff must complete one clock hour of training as required by the law. You also must cover this information during employee orientation for new employees.
You may contact your local licensing office for information regarding community-based organizations that offer the training at no cost or go online www.dfps.state.tx to research training resources in your area.
Policy must include:
- Required annual training for employees;
- Methods for increasing employee and parent awareness of issues regarding child abuse and neglect, including warning signs that a child may be a victim of abuse or neglect;
- Methods for increasing employee and parent awareness of prevention techniques regarding child abuse and neglect;
- Strategies for coordinating between the operation and appropriate community organizations; and
- Actions that the parent of a child who is a victim of abuse or neglect should take to obtain assistance and intervention.
This policy must be shared with employees and included in your center's written operational policies.
 Click here to order "Preventing, Recognizing and Reporting Child Abuse and Neglect" from The Child Care Consulting Group.
This training packet includes
- 1.5 hours of excellent training exceeding the requirement for this standard;
- a PowerPoint presentation that can be viewed annually in a group setting with your staff and/or by individuals as part of your Orientation program as you hire them;
- an original training certificate that you can reproduce and complete as many times as you need; and
- wonderful handouts with extra information such as Age Appropriate Sexual Behavior that also covers identifying uncommon sexual behavior by age group;
- and more!
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Below is suggested wording of your Center's policy (to be included in your Operational Procedures) based directly on the requirements from DFPS:
"All (name of Center) managers and caregivers upon hiring and annually thereafter receive one hour or more of training in prevention techniques for and the recognition of symptoms of abuse and neglect and the responsibility and procedure for reporting suspected abuse and neglect. In order to increase employee and parent awareness of issues regarding child abuse or neglect, including warning signs and prevention techniques, we post on our Parent and Staff Info boards information from the DFPS website "It's Up to You! Preventing Child Abuse & Neglect" and urge staff, parents and others to visit the site also. (www.dfps.state.tx.us/itsuptoyou/default.asp)
The strategy for coordination between (name of Center) and appropriate community organizations will always be through and upon advisement of the Department of Family and Protective Services and our current Child Care Licensing Representative.
For assistance and intervention, parents and others can contact DFPS 1-800-252-5400 or 1-800-4-A-CHILD or online www.txabusehotline.org"
Go to the website now and download information for your Staff and Parent Info boards such as posters and their Featured Prevention Resource "Diving Into the Sea of Parenting" 2012 calendar.
Now sit back and relax for a minute.
You have accomplished a lot today!
Our 2012 Training Conferences Schedule will be available soon! In the meantime, you can call us for on-site training at your location on any topic, any time!
- Dealing With Difficult Children
- Professionalism
- Creative Classroom Management
- Preventing, Recognizing and Reporting Child Abuse and Neglect
- Supervision
- Minimum Standards and How They Apply to the Caregiver
- Child Development, Observation and Assessment
- Developmentally Appropriate Practice
Call 972-979-0282 for more information.
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Good Reputation, Solid Producer and Location this is a great investment opportunity that won't last long!
See you next month with more new and exciting ideas and information!
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EWS IDEA 