Child Abuse and Neglect Training for School Personnel
In May 2009, the CJA Task Force completed an assessment of the child-protection system and made recommendations regarding systemic improvements. The need for mandated reporter training and protocol improvement arose several times during the assessment process. The Task Force appointed a working group charged with evaluating current protocols and available training for mandated reporters of child abuse and neglect and making recommendations regarding training and protocol improvements. This RFA is the result of those working group discussions.
The Task Force working group acknowledged the need to train mandated reporters across various disciplines, but chose to focus initially on school personnel, including among others, administrators, classroom teachers, guidance counselors, and school nurses. School personnel play a vital role in recognizing, reporting, and preventing child maltreatment for several reasons. First, educators have close and consistent contact with children and adolescence. Second, school personnel are legally mandated to report suspected maltreatment. Finally, school personnel have an exceptional opportunity to offer support and promote healing for those students who have suffered abuse.
The Child Abuse and Neglect Training for Texas School Personnel Program is an attempt to improve the recognition and reporting of and the responses to suspected cases of child abuse and neglect by Texas school personnel, and to ensure school district policies meet the requirements of Texas laws, including the recently passed HB 1041.
Click here to view the Request for Application (RFA).