The Diocese of Pensacola-Tallahassee is committed to the safety and well-being of those we serve. Therefore, the faculty, staff, administration and volunteers of Sacred Heart Cathedral School must meet requirements of the Bishops' Charter to help protect the children with whom we come into contact. More information is available from the Diocese of Pensacola-Tallahassee's Office of Safe Environment
The Diocese of Pensacola-Tallahassee is committed to healing the hurting hearts of sexual abuse victims and has established Victims Assistance Coordinators who are experienced and trained counselors and are available to help persons who have been sexually abused. The Coordinator for the Pensacola / Ft Walton area is Louis M. Makarowski, Ph.D., P.A., he can be reached at 850-477-7181.
Child Abuse
Look for the signs
Dial 1-800-96-ABUSE
Signs of Physical Abuse
The child may have unexplained:
-bruises, welts, cuts, or other injuries
-broken bones
-burns
A child experiencing physical abuse may:
-seem withdrawn or depressed
-seem afraid to go home or may run away
-shy away from physical contact
-be aggressive
-wear inappropriate clothing to hide injuries
Signs of Sexual Abuse
The child may have:
-torn, stained or bloody underwear
-trouble walking or sitting
-pain or itching in genital area
-a sexually transmitted disease
A child experiencing sexual abuse may:
-have unusual knowledge of sex or act seductively
-fear a particular person
-seem withdrawn or depressed
-gain or lose weight suddenly
-shy away from physical contact
-run away from home
Signs of Neglect
The child may have:
-unattended medical needs
-little or no supervision at home
-poor hygiene
-appear underweight
A child experiencing neglect may:
-be frequently tired or hungry
-steal food
-appear overly needy for adult attention
Look for the Patterns
Serious abuse usually involves a combination of factors. While a single sign may not be significant, a pattern of physical or behavioral signs is a serious indicator and should be reported.
If a child tells YOU about abuse:
Be a good listener. Show that you understand and believe what the child tells you. Encourage, but don’t pressure him/her to talk. Ask open ended questions.
Be supportive. Tell the child he/she did the right thing by coming to you. Stress that he/she is not to blame. Let the child know that you want to help.
Don’t overreact. This can frighten the child or prevent him/her from telling you more. Do not talk negatively about the suspected abuser in front of the child.
Document and report it. Document your conversation as soon as you can. If possible, write down the child’s exact words.
Don’t delay. Never assume someone else will report the abuse. The sooner it’s reported, the sooner the child and their family can be helped.
WHO MUST REPORT ABUSE?
Doctors
Nurses
Social Workers
Police Officers
Child Care Workers
Any Witnesses
Any/All School Personnel
Call or Report it online at: http://www.dcf.state.fl.us/abuse/report/
Link To Florida Department of Education Abuse Information
http://www.fldoe.org/core/fileparse.php/7725/urlt/0072442-educatormisconductposter_landscape_all.pdf
| Florida Statutes And Rules |
| Florida Statutes s. 1006.061 states all employees and agents of the district school board, charter schools and private schools that accept scholarship students, have an obligation to report misconduct by an instructional personnel member or school administrator Florida Statutes s. 1012.33 outlines disciplinary procedures regarding district employment contracts with instructional personnel staff, supervisors and school principals Florida Statutes s. 1012.795 provides the Education Practices Commission the authority to issue disciplinary action against an individual’s Florida Educator certificate Florida Statutes s. 1012.796 provides authority for the Department of Education to investigate and prosecute allegations of educator misconduct Florida Statute s. 1012.01 defines public school instructional personnel, administrative personnel, school volunteers, education support employees and managers State Board of Education Rule 6B-1.001 defines the Code of Ethics of the Education Profession in Florida State Board of Education Rule 6B-1.006 defines the Principals of Professional Conduct of the Education Profession in Florida |
| HOW TO REPORT MISCONDUCT
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| If someone tells you about misconduct, be a LEADER: Listen Evaluate Act immediately Document Encourage Report |
| WHO SHOULD REPORT MISCONDUCT? All employees and agents of a district school board, charter school or private school have a duty to report misconduct. If you are aware of or observe misconduct REPORT IT IMMEDIATELY! |
| WHO SHOULD YOU REPORT?
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| “A teacher affects eternity…he can never tell where his influence stops.” ~Henry B. Adams |
| Failure to Report Misconduct Possible penalties for instructional personnel or site administrators who fail to report misconduct may include:
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