Ways to Report Suspected Child Abuse
1. Verbal Report to ChildLine at 1-800-932-0313
Complete a Report of Suspected Child Abuse (CY-47) Form. Please make every effort to answer each question to the greatest degree possible. CY-47 Forms are available from the school nurse and guidance counselor. This form is also available online and may be downloaded by clicking here (form may be printed and completed or completed using the fillable boxes and then printed).
Once you have completed the CY-47, obtain a blank copy of the West Shore School District Child Abuse Cover Sheet from the school nurse, counselor or by downloading it below. Have the completed CY-47 and the Child Abuse Cover Sheet with you when you call ChildLine.
With both documents in front of you, place a call to ChildLine. Make sure to obtain the name of the ChildLine representative with whom you are speaking and to ask if the referral will be logged as a Child Protective Services (CPS) referral or a General Protective Services (GPS) referral. This information should be noted on the Child Abuse Cover Sheet in the “Submitted Via Telephone” section.
Once you have completed your call, fax the completed CY-47 to the Children and Youth Services Office in the county where the suspected abuse occurred.
Fax Numbers
York County Children & Youth: 717-771-9884
Cumberland County Children & Youth: 717-240-6433
If the suspected abuse occurred in another county, please be sure to ask the Child Line representative for that county’s fax number when you call.
Give the completed CY-47, the completed West Shore School District Child Abuse Reporting Cover Sheet and any notes related to your report to the building principal.
2. Use the Child Welfare Portal
The Child Welfare Portal can be accessed at https://www.compass.state.pa.us/cwis/public/home
Prior to making a report electronically, you will need to create an account. This process typically takes five minutes. Once your account is set up and you have logged in, follow the directions to click on the “Create Abuse Referral” button.
Complete the ChildLine Report of Suspected Abuse and Neglect template and submit it. Once you have done this, click on the “Access My Referrals” button and then click on the link for the “e-Referral ID” number in the Child Welfare Portal. This will generate a PDF document, a ChildLine Report of Suspected Abuse and Neglect, for you to print.
Submitting this referral will generate an email to you confirming that your submission was successfully received. Print a copy of this email.
Obtain a blank copy of the West Shore School District Child Abuse Cover Sheet from the school nurse, counselor, or as a related file below. Complete the “Submitted Electronically” section of the Child Abuse Reporting Cover Sheet. Give paper copies of the ChildLine Report of Suspected Abuse and Neglect, your confirmation email and completed West Shore School District Child Abuse Reporting Cover Sheet to the building principal.
Questions
If you have any questions about making a report, building administration, central office administration, guidance counselors, and school nurses are all available and happy to assist you.
Emergency Safety Physical Interventions
Restraining a student is a measure of last resort and may only be used after less restrictive measures, including de-escalation techniques, have be used by school staff. Restraints are not to be used for punishment or incidents of non-compliance that do not pose a clear and present threat of harm to the student or others.
Building staff must report on the use of restraints within twenty-four (24) hours of any restraint involving any student. Questions regarding this procedure should be directed to the Director of Student Services.