It is the policy of Joining Hands Visitation to take all reasonable steps to insure the safety and welfare of agency staff, clientele, and community citizens at large. In light of the very real and significant problems that physical, sexual, and emotion abuse and neglect creates, the agency supports and encourages an active response to prevent, intervene and treat he issues whenever possible.

All agency staff shall be aware of, and follow all Washington State laws concerning the abuse of children, and adult dependent or developmentally disable persons (RCW, Chapter 26.44). All social service staff shall also follow the guidelines stated in the Children’s Administrative Policy 97-11.

What incidents involving children must I report?
(1) You must report the following incidents immediately and in no instance later than forty-eight hours to your local children’s administration intake staff and the child’s DCYF worker:

• (a) Death, serious illness or injury, or psychiatric care that requires medical treatment or hospitalization of a child in care;
• (b) Any time you suspect physical or sexual abuse, neglect, or exploitation of a child as required under chapter 26.44 RCW;
• (c) Sexual contact between two or more children that is not considered typical play between preschool children;
• (d) Any disclosure by a child in care of sexual or physical abuse;
• (e) Any child’s suicide attempt that results in injury requiring medical treatment or hospitalization;
• (f) Any use of physical restraint that is improperly applied or excessive;
• (g) Physical assault between two or more children that result in injury requiring off-site medical attention or hospitalization;
• (h) Physical assault of a foster parent, employee, volunteer or others by children in care that results in injury requiring off-site medical attention or hospitalization;
• (i) Any medication that is given or consumed incorrectly and requires off-site medical attention; or
• (j) Property damage that is a safety hazard and is not immediately corrected or may affect the health and safety of children.

(2) You must report the following incidents related to a child in care as soon as possible or in no instance later than forty-eight hours, to the child’s DCYF worker:

• (a) Suicidal/homicidal thoughts, gestures, or attempts that do not require professional medical treatment;
• (b) Unexpected health problems outside the usual range of reactions caused by medications, that do not require professional medical attention;
• (c) Any incident of medication incorrectly administered or consumed;
• (d) Physical assault between two or more children that results in injury but did not require professional medical treatment;
• (e) Physical assault of a foster parent, employee, volunteer or others by children that results in injury but did not require professional medical treatment;
• (f) Drug and/or alcohol use by a child in your care;
• (g) Any inappropriate sexual behavior by or toward a foster child; or
• (h) Use of prohibited physical restraints for behavior management.

(3) Programs providing care to medically fragile children who have nursing care staff on duty may document the incidents described in WAC 388-147-1540 (2)(b) and (c) in the facility daily logs, rather than contacting the child’s DCYF worker or case manager, if agreed to in the child’s case plan.