Montgomery County Public Schools Child Abuse Neglect Work
Montgomery County Public Schools Child Abuse & Neglect Work Group Meeting December 17, 2014
Agenda �Welcome & Introductions �Protocol Revisions and Updates to Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) �Sub-Committee Report-Outs �Questions & Answers �Feedback �Next Steps MONTGOMERY COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS Rockville, Maryland
Protocols & Updates to MOU � Update MOU with the Child Protective Services (CPS), the Montgomery County Department of Police (MCPD), and the State’s Attorney’s Office to: � Establish a County Multidisciplinary Team, including MCPS, which convenes regularly to provide consultation and coordinated interventions. � Encourage information-sharing with County partner agencies. � Identify CPS as the primary agency for MCPS reporting. CPS, in turn, shall involve the MCPD Special Victims Investigations Division, as appropriate. � Simplify the sequence of follow-up steps required of principals and schoolbased personnel after abuse or neglect is reported. � Develop a coordinated team-based approach among MCPS offices and departments to support schools in responding to abuse and neglect. � Appoint school-based and system-wide child abuse liaisons. � Benchmark against best practices in other school districts (e. g. , Howard County Public Schools). MONTGOMERY COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS Rockville, Maryland
Protocols & Updates to MOU �It is not the role of MCPS to investigate or determine the validity of suspected abuse or neglect, prior to making a report. Thus, MCPS employees shall not undertake extensive factfinding or collect written statements prior to making a report. �After alleged abuse or neglect is reported, MCPS will not conduct internal investigation without consulting with County partner agencies to avoid interfering with or prejudicing those agencies’ pending investigations. �Decisions about notification to parents and the school community should be made by MCPS in consultation with County partner agencies. MONTGOMERY COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS Rockville, Maryland
Staff Training �Develop updated training materials �Design with county agencies, including Tree House �Focus on recognizing and reporting abuse and neglect �Design and implement mandatory training plan for all current staff, to be completed by June 2015 - Principals and School-Based Liaisons - Central Services - Professional Staff - Supporting Services Staff �New employees and substitutes complete mandatory online training prior to working with students MONTGOMERY COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS Rockville, Maryland
Human Resources �Ensure screening of new and existing employees is in alignment with best practices �Screening of volunteers who have direct and unsupervised access to students, e. g. , overnight field trips, regular classroom volunteers �Ensure updated information regarding employee background, e. g. , rescreening procedures, employee self-reporting protocols �Continue ongoing comprehensive staff/student file review �Develop a Code of Conduct for employees MONTGOMERY COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS Rockville, Maryland
Parent Awareness �Design and implement parent academies on child abuse and neglect, conducted by Tree House �Coordinate with MCCPTA on additional parental awareness workshops and activities �Support local school PTAs in providing educational activities for parents in the area of child abuse and neglect MONTGOMERY COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS Rockville, Maryland
Student Education �Enhance K-8 lessons on personal body safety and child abuse, neglect, and prevention �Review high school curriculum to ensure lessons on personal body safety and abuse prevention �Ensure consistency in lessons across all schools �Develop staff training plan MONTGOMERY COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS Rockville, Maryland
Policy and Regulations Revise policy and regulation to reflect the following areas: �Reporting responsibilities and procedures �Multidisciplinary approach with partner agencies �Staff training �Human resource protocols and procedures �Student education �Parent awareness MONTGOMERY COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS Rockville, Maryland
Communications �Continue to synthesize and add resources to the Department of Student Services website �Add a Tile and Drop-down links from MCPS home page on child abuse and neglect �Establish a Child Abuse and Neglect Work Group website MONTGOMERY COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS Rockville, Maryland
Next Steps �Complete working draft of recommendations by January 5, 2015 �Convene work group on January 5, 2015, to review working draft �Share recommendations to the superintendent and the Board of Education by January 13, 2015 MONTGOMERY COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS Rockville, Maryland
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