GRACE Christian School is committed to the highest standards of care for its students and seeks to ensure that our students are protected from inappropriate or hurtful actions by adults responsible for their care, as well as anyone else who may mistreat a student. In addition, under North Carolina law, all individuals and institutions are required to report suspected abuse or neglect of a child to social services when they have “cause to suspect” that a child under the age of eighteen (18) is abused, neglected, dependent, or has died as the result of maltreatment. “Cause to suspect” may be based on factors including, but not limited to, observations, allegations, facts or statements by a child, a victim, or a third party. The standard does not require certainty or probable cause.
The responsibility to report rests on both GRACE Christian School and all school employees. While an employee may wish, and is indeed encouraged, to consult with the Head of School, Campus Principal, or the School Counselor prior to making a report of suspected child abuse or neglect, all employees are required to report their reasonable suspicions to DSS and local authorities (in city/county where the student lives), even if the Head of School, Campus Principal, or School Counselor may not agree with the employee’s concerns.
Procedures
In accordance with applicable North Carolina law, when a GRACE Christian School employee has cause to suspect or believes that a child has been abused, neglected, dependent, or has died as the result of maltreatment, the employee is expected to immediately report it to the Head of School (or campus principal). This report should in all cases happen immediately and in no case greater than 24 hours after suspecting, believing or receiving knowledge of a concern.
Additionally, by NC law, the employee must also report the suspicion to 1) the local authorities in the county in which the student lives, and 2) to the Department of Social Services (DSS) in the county in which the student lives. The responsibility to report rests on both the School and the School employee. Failure to report abuse/neglect is a Class 1 misdemeanor in the State of North Carolina.
Upon notification by a GRACE Christian School employee, the Head of School (or campus principal) will review the information immediately and may consult with the School Counselor and, if appropriate, the child’s family. If appropriate, legal counsel and/or a consultant specializing in the care and protection of children also may be involved in these reviews. The School will make appropriate efforts to protect the confidentiality of the child and his or her family. If the abuse, neglect, dependency, or death due to maltreatment is suspected to originate with the child’s family, an approach to protecting the child will be identified and the family will be promptly notified of the School’s obligation to report the information to social services.
In the event it is not clear whether conduct reaches a level of reportable abuse or neglect or there is a disagreement between an employee and the School’s administration, any party who believes that the incident rises to the threshold for making a report, must make the report. Again, the responsibility to report rests on both individuals and the institution.
The report may be made orally, by telephone (Report Line at 919-212-7990 for Wake County), or in person. The report must include information as is known to the person making it including:
- The name, address and age of the child;
- The name and address of the child’s parent, guardian, custodian, or caretaker;
- The name, address, and age of the person who committed the offense against the child;
- The location where the offense was committed;
- The names and ages of other children present or in danger;
- The present whereabouts of the child if not at the home address;
- The nature and extent of any injury making the person reporting believes might be helpful in establishing the need for protective services or court intervention.
If the report is made orally or by telephone, the person making the report is required to give the person’s name, address, and telephone number.
All staff are trained annually on the North Carolina law regarding the “Duty to Report” via our SafeSchools online training program.
All GRACE employees are expected to be familiar with the law. Further information regarding the NC Duty to Report law may be found here.
Definitions
Child means a person who has not reached the person’s eighteenth (18th) birthday and is not married, emancipated, or a member of the Armed Forces of the United States.
Abused child means any child whose parent, guardian custodian, or caretaker:
- Inflicts or allows to be inflicted upon the child a serious physical injury by other than accidental means;
- Creates or allows to be created a substantial risk of serious physical injury to the child by other than accidental means;
- Uses or allows to be used upon the child cruel or grossly inappropriate procedures or cruel or grossly inappropriate devices to modify behavior;
- Commits, permits, or encourages the commission of a violation of the laws concerning sexual assault or sexual offense by, with, or upon the child;
- Creates or allows to be created serious emotional damage to the child;
- Encourages, directs, or approves of delinquent acts involving moral turpitude committed by the child; or
- Commits or allows to be committed an offense under the laws concerning human trafficking, involuntary servitude or sexual servitude against the child.
Neglected child means a child:
- Who does not receive proper care, supervision, or discipline from the child’s parent, guardian, custodian, or caretaker;
- Who has been abandoned;
- Who is not provided necessary medical care;
- Who is not provided necessary remedial care;
- Who lives in an environment injurious to the child’s welfare; or
- Who has been placed for care or adoption in violation of law.
Dependent child means a child in need of assistance or placement because:
- The child has no parent, guardian, or custodian responsible for the child’s care or supervision; or
- The child’s parent, guardian, or custodian is unable to provide for the child’s care or supervision and lacks an appropriate alternative child care arrangement.
Caretaker means any person other than a parent, guardian, or custodian who has responsibility for the health and welfare of a child in a residential setting.
