Section 3-3 - Abuse and/or Neglect Reporting (a) The organization shall develop, adopt, follow and maintain on file written policies and procedures governing all aspects of reporting abuse and/or neglect, to include: - (i) A provision that any report made to the law enforcement authorities or DFS of an allegation of abuse and/or neglect of any child in the facility/program shall result in the temporary suspension or reassignment of duties (so as not to be in contact with child(ren) of the alleged perpetrator). Such suspension or reassignment of duties shall remain in effect pending the outcome of the investigation by the appropriate authorities.
- (ii) Any caregiver or staff member in a facility who has reasonable cause to know or suspect that a child has been subjected to any abuse and/or neglect, or who has observed the child being subjected to circumstances or conditions that would reasonably result in abuse and/or neglect, must immediately report or cause a report to be made of such fact to the DFS office and/or the local law enforcement agency in the county where the abuse occurred.
- (iii) If the suspected abuse and/or neglect occurred in the facility/program, the report shall be made to the DFS field office and/or the law enforcement agency in the community or county in which the facility/program is located and to the certifying authority.
- (iv) If the suspected abuse and/or neglect did not occur in the facility/program, the report shall be made to the DFS field office in the county in which the child resides and/or to the local law enforcement agency in the community in which the incident is believed to have occurred.
(b) The organization shall require each staff person to read and sign a statement defining child abuse and/or neglect and outlining responsibilities to report all child abuse and/or neglect incidents as required by statute.