Before continuing through this part of our asynchronous training, please complete the Middlesex Children's Advocacy Center Online Training Module. Please print the certificate at the end of the training and submit it to an administrator.
The Massachusetts Department of Children and Families (DCF) is the state agency whose primary mission is to protect children who have been abused or neglected. DCF also provides preventative services to children and families where there is a risk of abuse or neglect.
Abuse is defined as: The non-accidental commission of any act by a caregiver which causes or creates a substantial risk of physical or emotional injury or sexual abuse of a child; or The victimization of a child through sexual exploitation or human trafficking, regardless if the person responsible is a caregiver.
Neglect is defined as: Failure by a caregiver, either deliberately or through negligence or inability, to take those actions necessary to provide a child with minimally adequate food, clothing, shelter, medical care, supervision, emotional stability and growth, or other essential care, including malnutrition or failure to thrive; provided, however, that such inability is not due solely to inadequate economic resources or solely to the existence of a handicapping condition.
51A refers a section of Massachusetts General Law (M.G.L. c. 119, § 51A) that specifically addresses the requirement to report "reasonable suspicions" of a child being abused or neglected, or when there is "reasonable cause to believe" abuse has occurred or is occurring. As school personnel, you are mandated to report suspected abuse and neglect.
A mandated reporter shall immediately communicate with the department orally and shall, within 48 hours, file a written report with the department detailing suspected abuse or neglect if, in their professional capacity, they have reasonable cause to believe that a child is:
(i) suffering physical or emotional injury resulting from abuse inflicted upon them which causes harm or substantial risk of harm to the child's health or welfare including, but not limited to, sexual abuse;
(ii) suffering physical or emotional injury resulting from neglect including, but not limited to, malnutrition;
(iii) a sexually exploited child; or
(iv) a human trafficking victim, as defined by section 20M of chapter 233; provided, however, that an indication of prenatal substance exposure shall not solely meet the requirements of this section.
If a mandated reporter is a member of the staff of a medical or other public or private institution, school or facility, the mandated reporter may instead notify the person or designated agent in charge of such institution, school or facility who shall become responsible for notifying the department in the manner required by this section.
A mandated reporter may, in addition to filing a report under this section, contact local law enforcement authorities or the child advocate about the suspected abuse or neglect.
Over time, the process of filing with DCF has been shortened to be called "filing a 51A" which means that a representative of the school system who is familiar with the case (frequently a school administrator, school psychologist, or school counselor) calls DCF to make a verbal report of the concern and then completes and faxes the state mandated form to DCF.
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