Has your child been abused by a daycare teacher or instructor? Tell us about it for free and learn your legal options by calling 1-877-403-9378.
As two-income families become more frequent, so do the numbers of children enrolled in some form of day care. Unfortunately, this has also led to more cases of abuse. Up until the 1980s, states did not have any type of systematic examination of abuse allegations within the child care setting. The public and professional concern about abuse has developed since that time, such that it has now become necessary for public officials, parents, and educators to become more observant about allegations of child abuse and neglect within childcare settings.
The Problem
It’s important for parents to be aware that no child care setting is immune from the threat of child abuse and/or neglect. Even though most facilities in the 21st century claim to have policies and procedures in place in order to minimize any risk of child maltreatment, there is no guarantee that a staff member will not violate those policies and resort to abusing a child under their care.
Stress and even a lack of skills may sometimes cause a teacher to lash out inappropriately or cause injury to a child. It happens all-too-frequently, and because it does happen, it’s important for those in charge of these teachers and instructors to have policies in place for responding to any allegations of maltreatment, neglect or abuse.
It is certainly appropriate to make the well-being of the child a top priority, but officials must also consider the rights of the caregiver and teachers (the reporting agencies have the resources and training to ensure both). It’s important to keep in mind that when a parent calls the director with a complaint about a teacher’s handling of a child’s misbehavior, it may not be handled in the same manner as a complaint of child abuse filed with Child Protective Services or the Department of Family and Protective Services.
The Obligation of the Director
Controlling the behavior of teachers and other staff members is the responsibility of the daycare director. When a child care facility hires a new teacher, it is important for the director to make sure that the new staff member is aware of all the policies and procedures related to the treatment of each child under her care. She should also be aware of any special needs or problems of individual children. Sometimes this lack of education is the very trigger that can progress into an allegation of child abuse.
It is also the responsibility of the director to ensure that each teacher (and other staff members) follow the procedures and policies that are in place. There also needs to be a policy in place for handling situations that arise as the result of any violations of the policies and procedures. This might include any of the following:
- A disciplinary warning for a first time, low-level offense.
- Disciplinary action.
- Retraining.
- Termination of employment.
- Reporting allegations of abuse to CPS.
Since the director is the one who is ultimately going to be held responsible for the actions of his or her staff, thay must play an active role in controlling the actions of the staff and ensuring the children within the facility do not suffer from child abuse or neglect.
If you suspect that your child is being abused by one of his or her daycare teachers, our firm can help you take further action against the teacher or the facility itself. Don’t let the abuse continue; let us put a stop to it right now! Call us to discuss the facts of your situation for free by calling 1-877-403-9378.