Calling child protective services is undoubtedly one of the worst parts of the job. We know how much stress it causes children and their families, we know how limited child protective services is in their ability to provide the support needed, and it is heavy to hear about the abuse and neglect that children we care about are subjected to. It doesn’t help that there are sometimes gray areas when it comes to whether or not a report needs to be made or that we’re not exactly sure what procedures we need to protect ourselves from potential liability.
 
Making the call is hard enough! You should have a tight procedure and forms that are ready to go when you need them, and that is exactly what this resource provides. You can customize them if you wish but everything is ready to print and go (or customize with the editable version):
A fact sheet for teachers and staff so that they know how to handle their own suspicions of abuse or neglect
A worksheet for you to gather all of the information you will need in one place before you make a report
A response form for your records
A home safety plan to fill out with students who will be returning home but have remaining safety concerns
 
While I can’t make calling child protective services a positive experience, this toolkit should remove any confusion or procedural stress.
 
Looking for more guidance on how to lead your students through crisis and trauma? Check out the Crisis & Safety Plan Bundle. With this bundle of 80 pages and 20 unique resources, you will have an assessment protocol, documentation form, action plan, student followup reflection, and staff fact sheet for any possible crisis that might come up.