FLOC Policies on Reporting and Corporal Punishment
FLOC is mandated by law (D.C.-Law 2-22.
Prevention of Child Abuse and Neglect Act of 1977), to report child abuse and
neglect. According to this law, an abused child is: “a child under 18 years of
age whose parent, guardian, or custodian inflicts or fails to make reasonable
efforts to prevent the infliction of physical or mental injury upon the child,
including excessive corporal punishment or an act of sexual abuse or
molestation.” Corporal punishment means the inflicting of pain or discomfort.
Prohibited actions include but are not limited to hitting with any part of the
body or with an implemented, pinching, pulling, shaking, binding a child,
forcing him/her to assume an uncomfortable position, or locking him/her in a
room or closet. “Emotional neglect is a significant impairment of the child’s
emotional stability or mental health which interferes with his/her ability to
function adequately and which is caused by action or inaction of person(s)
responsible for care.”
This prohibition is in effect whether
punishment is spontaneous or deliberate technique effecting behavioral change
or part of a behavior management.
In addition to being mandated by law, FLOC
believes that children, who have been abused (physically and sexually) and
neglected in their birth families, should not be subjected to corporal
(physical) punishment or emotional neglect in foster or adoptive homes. Therefore,
the following policy is in effect:
Agency staff and volunteers
may not use corporal (physical) punishment as a disciplinary method.
Agency staff and volunteers
may not use emotional neglect or verbal abuse as a disciplinary method.
Agency staff and volunteers
may not give others permission to use corporal punishment toward any child
under the supervision of agency’s care or responsibility.
All instances of corporal
punishment or emotional neglect must be reported to the D.C. Department of
Human Services.
FLOC supports the use of praise and positive
reinforcement to encourage students to behave appropriately. When discipline is
needed, FLOC staff and volunteers will identify and facilitate consequences
that are appropriate for the situation. FLOC staff and volunteers will NEVER
use corporal punishment for behavior management.