WASHINGTON STATUTES AND CODES

28A.300.160 - Development of coordinated primary prevention program for child abuse and neglect -- Office as lead agency.

Development of coordinated primary prevention program for child abuse and neglect — Office as lead agency.

(1) The office of the superintendent of public instruction shall be the lead agency and shall assist the department of social and health services, the *department of community, trade, and economic development, and school districts in establishing a coordinated primary prevention program for child abuse and neglect.

     (2) In developing the program, consideration shall be given to the following:

     (a) Parent, teacher, and children's workshops whose information and training is:

     (i) Provided in a clear, age-appropriate, nonthreatening manner, delineating the problem and the range of possible solutions;

     (ii) Culturally and linguistically appropriate to the population served;

     (iii) Appropriate to the geographic area served; and

     (iv) Designed to help counteract common stereotypes about child abuse victims and offenders;

     (b) Training for school age children's parents and school staff, which includes:

     (i) Physical and behavioral indicators of abuse;

     (ii) Crisis counseling techniques;

     (iii) Community resources;

     (iv) Rights and responsibilities regarding reporting;

     (v) School district procedures to facilitate reporting and apprise supervisors and administrators of reports; and

     (vi) Caring for a child's needs after a report is made;

     (c) Training for licensed day care providers and parents that includes:

     (i) Positive child guidance techniques;

     (ii) Physical and behavioral indicators of abuse;

     (iii) Recognizing and providing safe, quality day care;

     (iv) Community resources;

     (v) Rights and responsibilities regarding reporting; and

     (vi) Caring for the abused or neglected child;

     (d) Training for children that includes:

     (i) The right of every child to live free of abuse;

     (ii) How to disclose incidents of abuse and neglect;

     (iii) The availability of support resources and how to obtain help;

     (iv) Child safety training and age-appropriate self-defense techniques; and

     (v) A period for crisis counseling and reporting immediately following the completion of each children's workshop in a school setting which maximizes the child's privacy and sense of safety.

     (3) The primary prevention program established under this section shall be a voluntary program and shall not be part of the basic program of education.

     (4) Parents shall be given notice of the primary prevention program and may refuse to have their children participate in the program.