Child Abuse and Neglect

Wisconsin law requires all employees of Wisconsin public school districts to report suspected child abuse and neglect, Wis. Stat. sec. 48.981(2)(a)16m. In addition, school boards are to ensure all employees receive training provided by the Department of Public Instruction within six months of initial hiring and at least every five years thereafter, Wis. Stat. sec. 118.07(5). Initial training of all public school employees must occur no later than June 9, 2012, in order to comply with Wisconsin Act 81. Employees are considered to be anyone who receives an annual statement of wages for tax purposes (W-2 form) from the school district. Some school districts contract with a Cooperative Educational Service Agency (CESA) or other organizations for different kinds of services. In such cases, school districts may wish to consider requiring these contracted personnel to participate in the required training, if they work with students (e.g., school psychologist, physical therapist, special education teacher, bus driver).

School districts may select one of two methods to ensure their employees complete the training requirement:

1. View the Mandatory Reporting of Child Abuse and Neglect – Training for All School Employees webcast. At the end of the webcast, participants will be able to print out a dated completion certificate to document their viewing. This webcast is available to be watched at any time and is 16 minutes in length.



2. Download the Mandatory Reporting of Child Abuse and Neglect – Training for All School Employees PowerPoint presentation to use in the delivery of a local in-service. Speaker notes are provided in each PowerPoint slide, as well as references to relevant questions in the Department of Public Instruction (DPI) publication The School’s Role in Preventing Child Abuse and Neglect. The entire PowerPoint must be utilized in order to meet the statutory requirement of completion of DPI training. The Department recommends that anyone using the PowerPoint for a local in-service also view the Mandatory Reporting of Child Abuse and Neglect – Supplemental Information webcast (18 minutes in length). Local presenters may incorporate any and all of the slides from the Mandatory Reporting of Child Abuse and Neglect – Supplemental Information PowerPoint presentation into a local in-service. School districts using a local in-service to ensure their employees complete the training requirement may use whatever means they wish to document employees’ participation.

Resources

• Mandatory Reporting of Child Abuse and Neglect – Training for All School Employees
• Mandatory Reporting of Child Abuse and Neglect – Training for All School Employees
• Mandatory Reporting of Child Abuse and Neglect – Supplemental Information
• Mandatory Reporting of Child Abuse and Neglect – Supplemental Information
• Completion Certificate for Mandatory Reporting of Child Abuse and Neglect – Training for All School Employees
• The School’s Role in Preventing Child Abuse and Neglect
• Reporting Requirements for Sexually Active Adolescents: Suggested Procedures for Educators
• Confidential Services Available to Minors
• Department of Children & Families – Child Protective Services
• Children’s Trust Fund
• Prevent Child Abuse Wisconsin
• State and Federal Laws Related to the DPI's Student Services Prevention and Wellness Team Programs

For questions about this information, contact Nic T. Dibble (608) 266-0963

Last updated on 3/16/2012 10:08:13 AM