Storyland Abuse and Neglect Policy

Your guide to Storyland Abuse and Neglect Policy

Storyland Abuse and Neglect PolicyStoryland Abuse and Neglect Policy

Storyland Preschool and Childcare Center's Policies on Preventing and Responding to Abuse and Neglect of Children

At Storyland Preschool, we take Abuse and Neglect of Children exceptionally seriously and do whatever we can to assure that all children are safe, free of abuse and neglect, and are cared for in the way that all children deserve.

Storyland encourages daily practices that achieve our goals of keeping children safe and free of abuse or neglect to prevent abuse and neglect at the center.

Storyland Abuse and Neglect Policy

Part One:  Annual Child Abuse and Neglect Training

Each teacher and staff person is required to have annual training in the detection and prevention of child abuse and neglect. This training includes the following categories:

  1. Appropriate discipline methods that include positive guidance and age-appropriate ways to teach children appropriate behaviors in a gentle, caring manner.  Our discipline program training also contains practices that are prohibited and those that will get a staff member an immediate termination.  During this part of the training, we refer to the State of Texas Minimum Standards, §746.2805 (1 - 9) and §746.2807.

  2. The annual training in child abuse and neglect covers a variety of different topics in addition to correct methods of discipline.  

Annual Training Table of Contents

  • Objectives 
  • What is Abuse? 
  • Take this Quiz
  • Defining Abuse 
  • Types of Abuse 
  • Neglect 
  • Neglect Citation: Fam. Code § 261.001 
  • Parents of Neglected Children 
  • Indicators of Neglect 
  • Physical Abuse 
  • Physical Abuse Citation: Fam. Code § 261.001 
  • Indicators of Physical Abuse 
  • Check List of Physical Abuse Symptoms 
  • Sexual Abuse 
  • Sexual Abuse/Exploitation Citation: Fam. Code § 261.001 
  • Indicators of Sexual Abuse 
  • Children up to age 3 may exhibit: 
  • Children ages 2 to 9 may exhibit: 
  • Symptoms of sexual abuse in older children and adolescents include: 
  • Emotional Abuse (Also called Psychological Abuse) 
  • Types of Emotional Abuse 
  • Emotional Abuse Citation: Fam. Code § 261.001 
  • Indicators of Emotional Abuse 
  • Results of Child Abuse 
  • Who abuse children? 
  • Abuse Statistics 
  • The Cost to Society 
  • Risk Factors 
  • Reasons children Might Not Tell the Truth about Abuse /Neglect 
  • Your Legal Obligations 
  • Child Abuse as it Pertains to Child Care Teachers working in a Licensed Facility in Texas 
  • Child Abuse and Minimum Standards 
  • Ways that Child Care Workers can protect themselves from being unfairly charged with abuse or neglect violation 
  • Helping Abused and Negl ted Children 
  • Helping a Child Tell His Story 
  • Help for Abused Children 
  • Working with Abused Children in the Classroom 
  • Behaving Aggressively 
  • Hurting others without seeming to care 
  • Deliberately Annoying Others 
  • Being Hyper vigilant 
  • Dissociating Themselves 
  • Fearing Failure 
  • Preventing Child Abuse and Neglect 
  • Is spanking okay? 
  • When Spanking Becomes Abusive 
  • Preventing child sexual Abuse 
  • References 

For a complete copy of the training, please click here to download our employee training on Child Abuse and Neglect.

Part 2: Increasing Awareness of Abuse and Neglect Issues

At Storyland, in addition to the annual training, we make it our ongoing policy to increase employee and parent awareness of issues regarding abuse and neglect. This would include things such as warning signs that a child may be a victim of abuse or neglect and factors indicating a child is at risk for abuse and neglect. 

Methods Used to Increase Awareness

Employees

We accomplish this task through monthly training/staff meetings, individual consultations with individual staff members, and overall policy of encouraging staff to report any signs that they notice that might indicate abuse or neglect to both the office staff and the State of Ohio, Licensing Department. 

If any teachers are unsure, they are encouraged to report to the director, and at a minimum confidentially discuss the matter.  Any suspected cases of abuse or neglect are reported immediately to the appropriate authorities within the State of Texas government

Parents

Parents are made aware of these policies through ongoing communications and the yearly updated Family Handbook.  If staff feel that a family may be experiencing stress that could possibly lead to abuse or neglect, they will direct the parent to seek help.  A list of resources is provided at the end of this policy.

Part 3: Awareness of Abuse & Neglect Prevention Techniques

At Storyland, it is also our policy to assure that employees and parents are aware of prevention techniques for child abuse and neglect.  This is accomplished in some ways.

  1. Employees receive their yearly training in abuse and neglect training that includes ways to prevent abuse and neglect.  Please see the Table of Contents for our Child Abuse and Neglect training, above or refer to the link directly to he entire document.

  2. Ongoing discussions and training happen monthly at the Staff meeting where the director can present a short practice or an open debate where staff can review and participate in a dialogue about possible abuse or neglect scenarios and the best way to prevent them from occurring.

  3. Teachers are encouraged to counsel parents as appropriate about ways to prevent abuse and neglect from happening.  Parents are invited to participate in parent training programs in the community that help them with proper discipline techniques, prevention of stress and ways to identify when a situation could lead to abuse. 

Part 4: Coordinating with Outside Agencies

At Storyland, it is our policy to identify and communicate strategies that can be implemented to coordinate our center with appropriate organizations.  At Storyland, we realize that our expertise does not extend beyond the scope of intervention typical of a childcare worker. 

  1. For this reason, professionals trained in dealing with abuse and neglect are engaged to assure that anyone in need is connected with the appropriate services.  We make referrals as needed and encourage those affected get professional help.

  2. It usually is the Director or Assistant Directors that provide such references, but the Director may elect others to perform these duties when appropriate.

Part 5: Abuse or Neglect Victim Assistance

At Storyland, it is our policy to assure that anyone who may be a victim of abuse, including parents who has a child a child that is a victim of abuse or neglect have the necessary resources to obtain assistance and counseling. 

The center maintains a list of resources that can be provided to parents, teachers, or other interested parties that include both local and national agencies that may be able to provide assistance.  These are provided in the form of a hard copy in the Storyland office or can be obtained here. 

Abuse and Neglect Resources for Parents, Guardians, Staff and Others

As part of Storyland Abuse and Neglect Policy, we offer a list of national, state, and local resources for those who would like more information about child abuse and neglect. This list is not exhaustive, but rather gives you some ideas to start your research.  We added both national as well as local resources.  

National Resources

National Child Abuse Hotline:  1-800 4 A CHILD or 1-800-422-4453

Child Help

"Every year more than 3 million reports of child abuse are made in the United States. It’s a terrible epidemic that we at Childhelp are dedicated to put an end to. To do this, we need to first increase awareness of the issue itself." 

This site is devoted to helping victims of child abuse and neglect through prevention, intervention and treatment. Find up-to-date definitions and information on the problem and discover ways you too can help.

Trauma and Child Abuse Resource Center (American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry)

This site provides information and resources about child and adolescent psychiatry for families, caregivers and other professionals  including information on abuse and neglect. There is a large database of information on all aspects of abuse including physical, sexual, emotional abuse and neglect and Interpersonal violence in addition to other mental health disorders affecting young people.

Child Welfare Information Gateway:  Preventing Child Abuse

Child Welfare Information Gateway promotes the safety, permanency, and well-being of children, youth, and families by connecting child welfare, adoption, and related professionals as well as the public to information, resources, and tools covering topics on child welfare, child abuse and neglect, out-of-home care, adoption, and more.

Children’s Bureau Abuse and Neglect

The Children’s Bureau (CB) partners with federal, state, tribal and local agencies to improve the overall health and well-being of our nation’s children and families. With an annual budget of almost $8 billion, the Children’s Bureau provides support and guidance to programs that focus on strengthening families and protecting children.

Local Resources

Texas Child Protective Services

Texas Child Protective Services has a four part mission to

  • Provide services to children and families in their own homes
  • Place children in foster care
  • Provide services to help youth in foster care successfully transition to adulthood
  • Help children get adopted

This extensive website provide information and assistance to families throughout the State of Texas.

Family Support Services (FSS)

"At Family Support Services, our vision is "a community where individuals and families are healthy, stable, and violence-free."

Family Support Services offers many programs to achieve their mission in Amarillo, Canyon and across the Texas Panhandle. Their services are available at no cost or on an affordable sliding scale basis.

Information on our programs can be found on their website or through calling the main office at 806.342.2500 Monday-Thursday, 8am-8pm, and Friday, 8am-4:30pm.

They also offer a Crisis Hotline for victims of domestic violence and Sexual Assault at 806.374.5433.

"Family Support Services of Amarillo (FSS) is a private, non-profit, multi-service agency that has provided a continuum of services for over 100 years. The agency provides domestic violence/sexual assault services including a family violence shelter, a veteran resource center, counseling, and prevention/education services"

Family Support Services Domestic Violence Help

Part of FSS, the Domestic Violence Department provides emergency assistance, housing, legal and financial, counseling, support, children's services, and community outreach services. You can get information on their website or by calling the hotline at 806-374-5433 which is operated 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

Amarillo College

Amarillo College offers continuing education periodically on child abuse and neglect to area residents.  This latest training has lecture notes and resources that you can download directly from their website on the Effects of Child Abuse.

Top Amarillo Child Abuse Lawyers

This site maintains a list of attorneys in Amarillo and surrounding areas that deal directly with Child Abuse.


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