North Vancouver School District
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Policy 306: Suspected Child/Youth Abuse
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Adopted: April 4, 2007
Revised: June 21, 2011
Revised: March 8, 2016
Revised: June 20, 2018
 

Policy 

 
Child/youth safety and protection are a high priority for the North Vancouver Board of Education.

The Child, Family and Community Service Act imposes a legal duty on any person who has reason to believe that a child/youth needs protection to promptly report the matter to the appropriate authorities, as defined in the North Vancouver School District’s protocol document, Responsibilities and Procedures for Reporting Suspected Child Abuse or Neglect. “Reason to believe” means that, based on what you have seen or information you have received, you believe that a child/youth under the age of 19 has been or is likely to be at risk of harm.
 
There are three categories of abuse/neglect:
    1. Physical or sexual abuse (physical injuries, molestation, incest or sexual abuse, use of a child for sexual gratification which includes sexual touching and non-touching abuse)
    2. Physical neglect (gross lack of supervision or abandonment, gross or repeated failure to meet the child’s/youth’s nutritional needs, failure to seek or comply with needed medical advice)
    3. Emotional injury or neglect (failure to meet the emotional needs of the child/youth for normal development, refusal to recognize and seek help for a child’s/youth’s emotional disturbance).
Responding to child/youth abuse and neglect is a societal responsibility. Understanding child/youth abuse and neglect and knowing how to take appropriate action are critical in protecting our students. School district personnel share this responsibility with parents, child protection social workers, police, and every citizen. School district personnel can help with the safety and protection of our students by identifying and reporting suspected child abuse and neglect, cooperating with all investigations, and supporting our students, both emotionally and socially, in our classrooms and schools.

Administrative Procedures


Responsibilities and Procedures for Reporting Suspected Child/Youth Abuse or Neglect​


 

Resources


Reporting Abuse or Suspected Abuse - Safe Kids BC 
Child, Family and Community Service Act 
Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act 
School Act 
Responding to Child Welfare Concerns: Your Role in Knowing When and What to Report 
The BC Handbook for Action on Child Abuse and Neglect: For Service Providers 
Ayas Men Men Child and Family Services