J-6250 © JLFREPORTING CHILD ABUSE /
CHILD PROTECTION
J-6250 © JLFAll School District personnel, school employees, school volunteers, contractors and contractors' employees shall be required to complete training in the detection and reporting of child abuse and neglect, ethical misconduct, professional responsibilities, sexual abuse and assault, and substance abuse. This requirement shall be completed within the School District employee's, school employee's, school volunteer's, contractors and contractors' employees first year of employment. The training information shall be available through the department of education.
Every person, including any school employee licensed or unlicensed, who has information that is not privileged as a matter of law, who knows or has a reasonable suspicion that a child is an abused or a neglected child shall report the matter immediately to:
• New Mexico Child Abuse Hotline (1-855-333-SAFE or #SAFE from a cell phone [#SAFE = #7233]);
• a local law enforcement agency;
• the department office in the county where the child resides; or
• a tribal law enforcement or social services agency for any Indian child residing in Indian country.
The report shall contain the following information:
• The names and addresses of the minor, the parents, or the person or persons having custody of such minor, if known.
• The minor's age and the nature and extent of any injuries or physical neglect, including any evidence of previous injuries or physical neglect.
• Any other information that such person believes might be helpful in establishing the cause of the injury or physical neglect.
The school administrator should be informed following the immediate report abuse, and the "Agency Referral Form and Procedure" should be used in order to have documentation and follow up (see the following exhibit).
A school administrator and/or their designee may permit a member of a law enforcement agency or an employee of the Human Services Department to interview the child with respect to a report without the permission of the child's parent, guardian or custodian.
A person who fails to report abuse as provided in 30-6-4 NMSA 1978 is guilty of a misdemeanor.
Adopted: August 10, 2021
LEGAL REF.: 22-10A-32 NMSA (1978)
22-5-4.2 NMSA (1978)
32A-4-2 NMSA (1978)
32A-4-3 NMSA (1978)
30-6-4 NMSA (1978)
CROSS REF.: GBEB - Staff Conduct
GBEBB - Staff Conduct With Students