CHILD ABUSE POLICY AND PROCEDURES

The increasing incidence of reported child abuse is a special concern for the South Carolina Cooperative Extension System. It is all employees' duty to recognize and report child abuse and neglect. Child abuse is damage to a child for which there is no "reasonable" explanation. Child abuse includes nonaccidental physical injury, neglect, sexual molestation, and emotional abuse. The following guidelines have been adopted as the official policy.

Staff Recruitment, Training and Supervision

1. Reference checks on all prospective employees and program volunteers will be conducted, documented, and filed prior to employment. The Extension Volunteer Application (Exhibit A) must be completed by all volunteers and should be retained on a local basis.

2. Supervisors are encouraged to work with the Agricultural Personnel Office to secure license checks, or otherwise conduct criminal record checks of staff and volunteers who work directly with youth and 4-H youth development education programs and their associated events. Youth employed in programs such as child care and camping are included in the employee screening process.

3. All new employees and volunteers will be required to participate in an orientation program including written materials explaining Extension policies, procedures, and regulations on child abuse. They should be aware of legal requirements and, by their signature, acknowledge having received and read appropriate policies and procedures.

4. Employees and volunteers working directly with children will be provided training and information about identifying signs of possible child abuse. Staff training will include approved procedures for responding to the suspicion of child abuse.

5. Administrative staff responsible for the supervision of programs involving the care of children will make unannounced visits to each program site to assure that standards, policies, program quality, and performance of staff are being maintained.

Staff Relationships With Children

6. In order to protect individuals, employees and volunteers, they are encouraged to avoid, where possible, being alone with a single child.

7. Extension employees and volunteers are encouraged not to socialize with program participants under the age of 18 outside of Extension program activities.

8. Extension employees and volunteers will not, under any circumstances, discipline children by use of physical punishment or by failing to provide the necessities of care such as food or shelter.

9. Extension employees and volunteers should be alert to the physical and emotional state of all children each time they report for a program. Signs of injury or suspected child abuse should be reported to the Agricultural Personnel Office.

Responsibilities To Parents

10. Parents will be informed about their child's program participation and may visit Extension programs at any time.

Reporting Procedures

11. When there is suspicion of child abuse, employees or volunteers to whom it has been reported will immediately inform the Agricultural Personnel Office. The reporting of suspected child abuse situations is a personal obligation as well as a professional and legal one. By law, reports must be made by medical, educational, day care, social service and law enforcement personnel.

12. The following are South Carolina statutes (South Carolina Code Annotated, Sections 20-7-480 through 20-7-690) related to child abuse and neglect.

Report to Whom: County Department of Social Services or to a law enforcement agency in the county where the child resides or is found. In cases of institutional abuse or neglect, the State Law Enforcement Division is empowered to receive and investigate reports.

Investigation: When Conducted - within 24 hours of receipt of a report. Findings to be made no later than 60 days after receipt of report.

Who Conducts - the local child protective service agency.

Procedure and Requirements - immediate investigation into the condition of other children and into protection of other children in the house.

Penalty For Failure to Report: Any person required to report or any person required to perform any other function who knowingly fails to do so, or any person who threatens or attempts to intimidate a witness shall be deemed guilty of a misdemeanor and upon conviction shall be fined not more than $500 or be imprisoned not more than six months, or both.

Immunity: Any person required or permitted to report or who participates in judicial proceedings resulting therefrom shall be immune from civil and criminal liability.

13. The designated Extension employee receiving the initial report is responsible for investigating the facts reported and the condition of the child. This should be done as soon as the report is received.

14. Volunteers who suspect any child abuse should report the information to the Extension employee (County Extension Agent).

15. In the event the reported incident involves an Extension employee or volunteer, this individual will be relieved from all activities involving children until cleared.

16. Regardless of where or under what circumstances the alleged incident takes place, if an Extension employee is involved, appropriate action will be taken according to the University's Progressive Discipline Policy.

17. Extension employees and volunteers should be sensitive to the need for confidentiality in the handling of information concerning child abuse. Employees will discuss matters pertaining to abuse and suspected abuse only with the appropriate Extension representatives.

Extension Volunteer Application