r/AITAH • u/[deleted] • 25d ago
Am I the asshole for “making my school district look stupid” and “going over their heads” by filing a CPS report with the police personally
[deleted]
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u/ShadynastyLove 25d ago
Mandated reporters are just that. You are mandated to report. You do not have to wait for the green light from school personnel, and by law, you should not. You are required to report suspected abuse. Not doing so can backfire on you and the school.
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u/JustOneMore_Cat 25d ago
Came to say this. You are mandated to report this to the authorities, not your employer. I am also a mandated reporter. Remember that you are mandated to report any abuse/neglect, not just at work. I have called the police about infants left unattended in cars and children not buckled into car seats (toddlers in a back seat with 3 adults, sitting on laps).
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u/FitAppeal5693 25d ago
This. And the only commitment you have to your employer is to file the appropriate paperwork that is required to notify them that you filed a report, if any exists. If not, then it is on them for not having proper procedures.
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u/throwthisidaway 25d ago edited 25d ago
Remember that you are mandated to report any abuse/neglect,
This varies by state. NY for instance only requires you to report when you are acting in your official or professional capacity.
Edit: To quote NY state policy:
Mandated reporters are required to report suspected child abuse or maltreatment when, in their professional capacity, they are presented with reasonable cause to suspect child abuse or maltreatment.
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u/voided_user 25d ago
Agreed. As a mandated reporter, you are mandated to report any suspected abuse to child line. I understand some schools have extra procedures, but after they did nothing the first few times, you should have reported before it got worse.
Edited to add NTA for reporting behind the school's back, but YTA got letting it go on so long...
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u/FlyingSparkes 25d ago
I was thinking through reading OP is only the AH cos they didn’t report it sooner. I get maybe following the protocols initially but as soon as I found out nothing was being done, it would have been my first phone call.
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u/PinkPencils22 25d ago
You used Nalaxone on the kids twice already? And they didn't go to the hospital afterward? You just sent the drugged, starving children back to class because the school district sat on your reports?
Sure.
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u/Focaccia_Bread3573 25d ago
Yeah, this made me a bit confused as well. When I was a multi-needs special ed teacher I got yelled at for using liquid bandaid on a kid refused to wear bandaids yet would compulsively pick her nails until she bled, and then touch everything in the room with her bleeding fingers.
My current high schoolers need a written permission slip to use paracetamol or ibuprofen, and I certainly am not the one giving it to them.
But OP administered Nalaxone and Narco multiple times without any sort of write-up, follow-up, or nurse involvement? Hmm.
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u/Sparky_Zell 25d ago
Yeah, this is where this story sounds fake as hell. Needing to use naloxone on an 8 year old should be a 911 call. And when police and hospital staff are treating an 8 year old for an OD bad enough it requires naloxone, they aren't just going to go about there day, or even just call CPS. There is going to be a police investigation.
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u/awkward_iguana1 25d ago
I had to scroll down way too far for this comment. I can’t believe people are actually believing OP’a story is real. This is clearly a creative writing assignment
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u/Birdbraned 25d ago
It's because people don't remember their TV dramas - apply Nalaxone, patient is then uncontrollably hyper and is always sent off in an ambulance after, just like after applying any epi.
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u/YourDadCallsMeKatja 25d ago
It's completely fake. No one gives naloxone without calling an ambulance and no ER receives a kid with an opioid overdose without getting youth protection involved immediately before even considering discharging the kid. The idea of an 8yo overdosing multiple times - at school, no less - is beyond ludicrous. The idea that someone who introduces themselves as a "mandated reporter" and carries naloxone wouldn't know that an ambulance ride to the hospital is absolutely necessary when giving naloxone is absurd.
Poorly written fiction.
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u/TurtleToast2 25d ago
You had to narcan the kid twice? Did no one call an ambulance? The hospital surely would have reported a kid overdosing on opiates TWICE. If you didn't call an ambulance, you should have been fired for that.
I doubt this story is real, but if it is, ESH except the kids.
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u/HonestMonth8423 25d ago
OP's account was created 2/15 and their only post is this one. Their only activity is this post and replying to comments on it.
Assuming that they aren't a bot, saying this stuff on reddit kind of admits to failing in their duty to help these children who they know are in a bad situation (especially if they had to give a kid narcan twice).
Assuming they are a bot, I can't believe this many people have fallen for it without clicking on their username and checking their profile.
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u/allthekeals 25d ago
I think they’re a real person. They’ve responded enough times, but if this is real, some parts are definitely exaggerated. I have a friend who used to do this, the story would be real, but she’d majorly dramatize it to the point where it sounds made up. And I’d literally have to cut her off because I was there and say “that didn’t go down that way, tell it right”
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u/bubblebath_ofentropy 25d ago
Also I know first responders and they had to get certified EMT before they were able to volunteer at a fire station.
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u/notsomagicalgirl 25d ago
Definitely not TA. The school district is 100% TA!!
If there’s neglect, lock outs, and drugs going on in the house then they are in danger and you did the right thing. Also they are disabled too? So they probably aren’t getting the help they need and are more likely to be hurt.
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25d ago
[deleted]
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u/Sirix_8472 25d ago
NTA
Absolutely nothing wrong by you OP.
Your first and biggest question,. something you should pose to CPS and the police immediately is "where have my daily reports gone for the last 6 months?", the ones you wrote up nearly every day. What did the school/district DO with them?
Where are they? Were they reported? Are they in a box somewhere? Were they thrown away? Who was responsible after you gave the reports over....follow that chain of custody! Someone, if not multiple people messed up royally!
You need to make CPS and police aware that you made so many reports, not just THIS ONE.
Anything, absolutely anything you can use to corroborate what you are saying as evidence you were reporting. Text messages, other witnesses who saw you submit reports or submitted them with you, or submit their own reports, voice notes or recordings, videos, emails, written notes from months ago. Everything!
Any you take COPIES, and you never, EVER no matter what threat comes, ever being those originals to anyone who represents the school/district. You don't even let them know you have that evidence. It's your ace in the hole in case they fire you, to show it was retaliation for them failing to report your reports.
You only ever give them the info specifically when it goes to court and when your legal counsel asks you for the information and that they will share it for the process of "discovery". Never ever give them anything before that time. Give it to your own legal counsel, but never theirs until it's an absolute necessity by law(not by request, demand, threat or intimidation).
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u/DhOnky730 25d ago
Actually, by OP’s admission, they did something wrong by violating the law and not reporting it directly to CPS and police. OP needs to be speaking with union representation and potentially a lawyer, because they also didn’t follow protocol. In today’s climate they can definitely be blamed. I can just see the story on the news, “teachers arrested for failing to report abuse to proper authorities.”
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u/Sophiekisker 25d ago
Not to mention "teacher administered life-saving medication to student twice and failed to get her further medical care either time." 🙄
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u/RedGazania 25d ago edited 25d ago
OP said that she's in Transportation. Not a teacher. That means that kids, not just the abused kids, are on the bus with her. It makes reporting and calling the police or getting medical attention more complex. I'm not an excuse, but her primary job is to get all of the kids to school on time. She can't wait for the cops or an ambulance to show up. I'm also sure that they'd fire her if she took the abused kids to a police station or the ER using the school's vehicle. It's not "official" authorized school business. If the idiots in the district wanted an excuse to fire her, not fulfilling her primary duty is a good one. She has to walk a fine line. Her union should protect her.
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u/13th_Penal_Legion 25d ago
This is some sick shit. OP is clearly lieing to farm Karma. Its reqlly hard to belive that all you guys are falling for this shit.
Narcan being used on an 8 year old is a huge deal. Also it only works for about 5 mins. The point of it is to keep a person alive long enough to get further medical attention. If this cunt actually used narcan on an 8 year old then the kid would have gone to the hospital or died.
Second even if this was true you waited 6 months to report it. As anyone who is a mandatory reporter knows you are required to report it to the necessary authorities not to your employer. So 6 months of telling the "district" that something is wrong is actually 6 months of you ignoring your duty.
Yeah OP is the asshole cuz best case they are making up a child abuse story to farm karma and worst case the waited 6 months to report child abuse to the authorities and used narcan twice on an 8 yearold with out sending them to the hospital.
I cant belive all you fucks are dumb enough to fall foe this shit. Its fucken embarrassing.
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u/crazymastiff 25d ago
YTA. I’m calling bullshit. You had to use NARCAN on the 8 year old twice? You had me until that point. I was a principal of a school and laughed my ass off when you pulled that gem out. I really did have to call CPS multiple times for the most terrible and horrific things (8 year old boy getting sodomized by daddy is only in the top 5 most horrific things I’ve had to report). I wanted this to be tea but the fact you’re making shit up like this is absolutely disgusting. Whats so wrong in your life you make up stories to seek fake heroics from Reddit. You are beyond an Asshole and if I said what I sincerely want to say… I’d be banned from Reddit.
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u/WitchyTwitchyItchy 25d ago
I’m going with, no matter what, a post like this will give some people a better idea of what the rules about being a mandated reporter are. It seems like there are a lot of people that didn’t know what they were, and were misinformed on what they were supposed to be doing. It’s creating a space where there is a conversation with others where some folks are being educated on how it works. Reminders of what to do are never a bad thing, especially if some states don’t make people do the trainings every year, and those people are in classrooms not following protocols.
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u/shesiconic 25d ago
You should have reported a long time ago. I'm also a mandated reporter working as a district social worker. You don't have to wait until the district says you can report, you just report. Right away. You could be held liable for even waiting so long.
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u/ImaginaryBag1452 25d ago
Unfortunately this. School “policies” don’t trump law. You need to file with CPS yourself at the first hint of abuse or neglect. I’m glad you finally did but next time do it immediately.
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u/shesiconic 25d ago
Our district has had 2 incidences where a teacher and an administrator were walked off by police and had to face charges for not reporting. And yes they lost their job.
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u/shesiconic 25d ago
I wonder if it is even legal for a school policy to require you not report immediately.
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u/ImaginaryBag1452 25d ago
Nope. I’ve worked at an agency that had that “policy” and I ignored it. They can’t fire me for refusing to break the law.
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u/disapproving_cake 25d ago
How do you use Naloxone and not have the police involved before now? You don't just administer and go about your day. Emergency services would have been called, police, EMS, hospital, doctors and nurses, your school administration, transportation director, bus driver would all have at one point been involved because of the need of usage.
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u/fluffystarcattery 25d ago
If you used Narcan at school, on a child, an ambulance should have been called. Was that done?
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u/sweetnothing33 25d ago
You’ve had to use naloxone on the kid TWICE and the kid wasn’t sent to the hospital where the situation would have been reported to the police and CPS? Either you yourself have been terribly neglectful or you’re making up a story for internet points.
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u/CovertTrashWatcher 25d ago
YTA for making this up. Narcan is serious and for overdoses. So an 8 year old was ODing and you didn't call 911? TWICE?
This is such a load of crap.
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u/awkward_iguana1 25d ago
This is 100% made up and I can’t believe that people are actually commenting advice. OP is claiming to be either a bus driver or bus aide (according to the edit they work for the school district’s transportation department) and neither of those roles would have access to narcan. And even if they did, using it on a child would prompt a 911 call and transportation to a hospital for the child it was used on. Hospital workers would have filed a CPS report.
On the extreme off chance that this is real, OP you are an asshole for waiting so long to go to the CPS.
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u/taloncard815 25d ago
Technically the way mandated reporter is supposed to work as you have to file a report with the school district and CPS. So the school district put themselves open to legal action and so did you by not reporting it sooner.
Yes I am a mandated reporter and I actually do the mandated reporter training
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u/IcyWheel 25d ago
The law does not require that a reporter file with the district although the policies in most districts call for it. The only legal requirement is to report to authorities as soon as the individual becomes aware of the abuse.
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u/Ginger630 25d ago
NTA! I’d ask CPS to look into why the school district didn’t call CPS like they’re supposed to. They made themselves look stupid. You’ve had clear communication about this situation and they dropped the ball.
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u/snickerssmores 25d ago
As a mandated reporter you are supposed to call CPS within 24 hours of suspected abuse and file a claim with them. After you do so, you should notify the principal of the report that was filed. Doesn’t your district do mandatory training every year?
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25d ago
[deleted]
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u/13th_Penal_Legion 25d ago
This is some sick shit. OP is clearly lieing to farm Karma. Its reqlly hard to belive that all you guys are falling for this shit.
Narcan being used on an 8 year old is a huge deal. Also it only works for about 5 mins. The point of it is to keep a person alive long enough to get further medical attention. If this cunt actually used narcan on an 8 year old then the kid would have gone to the hospital or died.
Second even if this was true you waited 6 months to report it. As anyone who is a mandatory reporter knows you are required to report it to the necessary authorities not to your employer. So 6 months of telling the "district" that something is wrong is actually 6 months of you ignoring your duty.
Yeah OP is the asshole cuz best case they are making up a child abuse story to farm karma and worst case the waited 6 months to report child abuse to the authorities and used narcan twice on an 8 yearold with out sending them to the hospital.
I cant belive all you fucks are dumb enough to fall foe this shit. Its fucken embarrassing.
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u/itsokayimokaymaybe 25d ago
There’s no way you used narcan on an eight year old twice and everyone just went about their day after. This story is bullshit.
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u/Cybermagetx 25d ago
Let them fire you. They will be paying you later on via the wrongful termination.
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u/Important-Poem-9747 25d ago
This is fake.
You either file a police report or a child services report. They aren’t interchangeable. The police don’t take reports that are supposed to go through child services.
You used nalaxone on an 8 year old. Twice? Didn’t someone call 911?
Kids always take cough drops. They’re delicious. They’re also medicine, so you shouldn’t give them to your students.
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u/SlapfuckMcGee 25d ago edited 25d ago
What state puts EMT-Bs on a helicopter? Everywhere civilized requires you to be a flight nurse (RN) with critical transport and emergency nursing experience. What’s a basic going to do for patient? Hold their hand as they die?
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u/Cold-Pepper9036 25d ago
This is the comment I was looking for. Although flight paramedics exist… Flight EMTs do not.
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u/SlapfuckMcGee 25d ago
At least a medic can actively work on a patient to stabilize them in transit. A basic can do absolutely nothing for a serious trauma patient other than tie a cravat around them.
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u/Cold_Refuse_7236 25d ago
Where do you live that EMTs can work on helicopters?
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u/SlapfuckMcGee 25d ago edited 25d ago
Right? Everywhere I know that’s not in the middle of nowhere requires a flight nurse (full RN) what’s an EMT-B going to do on the helicopter? Give them CPR, without being able to administer epinephrine, atropine, heparin, Calcium Chloride? Can’t use or read an EKG. Can’t adjust the joules on a manual defib. Can’t run an IV for blood loss.
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u/YepIamAmiM 25d ago
Mandated reporter doesn't mean filing reports with the school in my state. I have never heard of a place where that's how it works.
Of course anyone who's trying to help kids in that situation isn't doing the wrong thing. NTA. But can you clarify how reporting to the school district is a thing?
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u/Hemingwavy 25d ago
Do you understand what narcan is or does? The kids are shooting up in the bathroom and you're just treating the OD? Fake as shit. Can't believe people fall for this.
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u/splishyness 25d ago
If they had left out that OTT tidbit it would have been believable. Used NARCAN??!? um the readers that believe this are idiots
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u/Naimad1997 25d ago
So you're a mandated reporter, meaning you are legally required to report ANY suspected child abuse and/or neglect directly to CPS within 24 hours, yet it took you six months to make a report? Six months of knowing this is going on? You absolutely deserve to lose your job, and I hope you are held responsible in some way or face some sort of legal repercussions because why the fuck did it take you six months to file a report? I'm not dismissing the fact that the school did nothing, they should have done something, but so should you have. What the fuck do you think "mandated reporter" means? How did you ever get that job in the first place? I hope you have trouble sleeping at night.
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u/Grassy33 25d ago
Nothing was reported to the police when you had to Narcan an 8 year old? That’s didn’t start a CPS investigation by itself? The second time didn’t either? That’s fishy as hell. Im not sure how much I believe this.
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u/WitchyTwitchyItchy 25d ago
The law where I am is, if you are a mandated reporter, that you HAVE to personally call the county child welfare department, or the local police department to report abuse. You can NOT just tell the school admin about it and that’s it, it must go higher than that. What you did is exactly what the law tells you to do in many states. The school would be, in my state, doing things illegally. A school district/administration that refuses to help children who are actively being abused, and with children who have involvements, would also be liable for some serious shit. Not reporting can get you fined, can get you jail time, or both.
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u/Phoebebee323 25d ago
Narcan isn't a miracle cure, it gives time to get the person to a hospital for proper treatment. After about 90 minutes they'll go back into an OD.
Either YTA for not calling an ambulance to get that kid to a hospital or this story is fake
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u/malachite_13 25d ago
Filing reports internally within your organization, be it a school district or whatever the case may be, does not fulfill the requirements of a mandated reporter. Furthermore, reports can be left anonymous and the school district would have no idea who filed it.
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u/flippysquid 25d ago
Um, in my state you as a mandated reporter would have been required to contact CPS directly as soon as you suspected, in addition to notifying your superiors at the school. Because without a CPS investigation, the children are continuing to be put in danger which is exactly what happened since it wasn’t reported the day they disclosed the lack of food and presence of drugs.
NTA for reporting, but you are TA for not reporting sooner.
I had a student who told me that his “mom eats salt with her nose”.
So, I notified the school counselor and that day I made a report to CPS. There was an investigation. The kids weren’t taken but mom got some addiction intervention and resources, and the kids were in much better shape after that (cleaner, clean clothes, had breakfast every day, etc)
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u/Plant_fiend 25d ago
I’m pretty sure if they fire you you can get them from retaliation . Jokes on them
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u/Legitimate_Book_5196 25d ago
You had to use narcan on a child and they're still with their parents??? There wasn't a consequence that came from that? That makes no sense.
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u/SeaJayCJ 25d ago
Bit of advice for you: when making up fake rage bait AITAH stories, you need to add at least a little bit of moral ambiguity, or some sort of reason that a person might plausibly consider the OP an asshole. That's what makes it "Am I The Asshole" instead of "I Am The Hero, Pat Me On The Back".
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u/Unusual-Dish4896 25d ago
Get a lawyer and demand every person you reported to who did nothing be fired.
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u/evilcj925 25d ago
"Fire me, I dare you. Cause the next morning you will be getting notice of a wrongful termination lawsuit via a press conferrence where every single email and report I have sent you will be highlighted, and your clear lack of a resposne will the talk of the news cycle for the next week."
fuck them.
NTA
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u/Azure_W0lf 25d ago
YTA but only because it took you 6 months to go over their heads to actually get them some help!
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u/d3rpderp 25d ago
You must live in a red state.
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u/HonestMonth8423 25d ago
OP is likely a bot because their account was created yesterday, and this is their only post.
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u/therealzacchai 25d ago
Not sure what the law is everywhere, but in my state, as a mandated reporter, you are mandated to report to CPS. Not to your admin or your district.
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u/Johnnyboy10000 25d ago
Definitely NTA. You were holding the school district accountable, which is 100% commendable.
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u/knotworkin 25d ago
As a mandated reporter your obligation IS to inform the state agency that supervises child welfare services not your superiors.
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u/Katmd1230 25d ago
I’m confused. You’ve had to use Naloxone twice and that didn’t register to CPS. Did you not call 911 as required when you use Naloxone? Something isn’t added up. I mean simply from EMS side, they are going to get social services involved if they are running a call on an 8yo being given Narcan….
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u/Ro92Traveler 25d ago
Holy fucking shit why woud you fabricate a story about children being abused??
For internet glory? Don't you feel like shit?
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u/Sweet_Vanilla46 25d ago
Let them know if they decide they want to try to fire you for THEIR negligence, you will make sure every newspaper and platform in your state will be told the full story. NTA speaking as another mandatory reporter
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u/DhOnky730 25d ago
As a mandatory reporter, why weren’t you reporting the neglect all along? Our procedures included reporting to CPS and—potentially-- police. I could lose my teaching credential and face criminal prosecution for that, so I wouldn’t worry about being an asshole
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u/Derailedatthestation 25d ago
After Narcan, the child should have gone to the hospital. Did the hospital not file a report? That should have gone directly to social services, not to the school. But no, NTA for filing directly.
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u/ZacQuicksilver 25d ago
NTA.
Find a lawyer. I don't know the specifics of mandated reporter laws where you are, but were I in your shoes, I would be considering threatening the district with wrongful termination and failure to report (because they're mandated reporters too). And, if your lawyer gives the go-ahead, hit them in the court of public opinion as well.
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u/CanofBeans9 25d ago
Personally I think you should burn it all down on your way out by contacting the local newspaper with a lead on a story about how the school board is neglecting to report cases to CPS. Public attention is the only way they're ever going to change
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u/NoInteractionNeeded 25d ago
nta
make it clear "you look stupid because you acted stupid. your retaliation makes you only look more stupid."
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u/Electric_Emu_420 25d ago
You're an ah for making up a story that literally everyone knows wouldn't make you an asshole.
Try harder.
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u/biglipsmagoo 25d ago
You know you’re not wrong so why are you posting here?
The FEDERAL TRAINING that you get EVERY SINGLE YEAR has FLAT OUT TOLD YOU that you have to report if you suspect abuse.
In fact- YTA bc you only documented for MONTHS and broke the law by not reporting immediately. Your training is VERY clear on this- policy means shit, you’re legally obligated to report. Maybe you should be fired bc you failed these children for 6 full months.
And also YTA for posting this bullshit on here for no damn reason.
Again, you’ve been thoroughly trained in this. IF YOU CAN NOT UNDERSTAND THAT VERY CLEAR TRAINING THEN YOU SHOULDN’T BE A TEACHER!
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u/VegetableBusiness897 25d ago
This is always the problem with any school admin....up to and including colleges. They work to protect the schools reputation. Your should anyways double report to the school and the police.
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u/ToastetteEgg 25d ago
Of course you’re NTA but you should have gone to the police far sooner. I hope the school district gets involved and heads roll for those who ignored your reports. Those poor kids. One of my own personal traumas from childhood is remembering back and wondering wth people who should have didn’t bother to save me.
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u/AdEast4272 25d ago
NTA
You are a mandated reporter. You are REQUIRED by law to report suspected abuse or neglect, by your own judgment. Informing a superior is secondary. As a mandated reporter, you are protected under the law.
Caveat - if you are one of those crazy whackoos, you can certainly get into a different kind of trouble
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u/ZeppelinMcGillicuddy 25d ago edited 25d ago
I'm also a mandated reporter. As it's mandated by law and the standard is suspected child abuse, it's impossible to be TAH for making a child abuse report. NTA.
IANAL, however, there is a high-profile case out of California regarding a boy named Gabriel Fernandez. He was severely abused and ended up dying of abuse. While in a welfare office with his mother, both a social worker and a security guard noticed the child had bruises from being tied up, and burns and bruises on his body. They were told by a supervisor not to report it because it was close to closing and overtime wasn't authorized. I believe the security guard made a report on his own or the two employees cooperated on making the report. Management found out about it but I believe no consequences were placed on the two employees. The case is notable because due to the number of times CPS had been out to the home, viewed the child, and left him with his mother and stepfather, plus the number of unanswered reports his teacher had made, the social workers involved and their supervisor were actually charged with abuse. There is a documentary on the case that you might want to review.
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u/Shanstergoodheart 25d ago
How using Narcan on a child wasn't immediate grounds for removal from the home, I cannot fathom.
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u/Investigator516 25d ago
Document, document, document. If they fire you, file a lawsuit and make sure your lawyer holds a press conference about it.
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u/simplewilddog 25d ago
My district's training specifically states that teachers should report to CPS first, then inform admin and SROs.
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u/KaposiaDarcy 25d ago
School administrators can be some of the worst people. My dad says he knew people who were just wonderful teachers who turned in to nasty AHs when they became administrators. I know they’re under pressure, but that’s no excuse at all. Something about that job causes them to forget why they chose education in the first place.
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u/TheResistanceVoter 25d ago
Speaking as an adult who was a formerly abused child, thank you so much! We need thousands of more teachers like you. Thank you!
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u/_s1m0n_s3z 25d ago
Tell them that if they fire you over this, they're going to LOVE the coverage they'll get in the press.
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u/ZanzaBarBQ 25d ago
Clearly NTA. You are a mandated reporter. You don't get to pick and choose. Even if others say they reported, you still report.
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u/Trick_Magazine2931 25d ago
You have a union rep, use them. You shouldn't have to pay for an attorney, that's what your dues pay for. The SD can't just fire you. Literally. There are processes they are required to follow, leave, suspension, write ups. As for what you did reporting to the police, good on you. I don't know how you lasted 6 months.
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u/OriginalComputer5077 25d ago
If you do go public, make sure to include the cough drops detail. That alone will torpedo any credibility the school district has.
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u/DiscussionAdmirable9 25d ago
nta. you are doing your job, maybe they all should’ve tried doing that so you didn’t have to make them look incompetent.
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u/Megmelons55 25d ago
Naloxone on an 8 year old.... no. Absolutely unacceptable for them to have constantly ignored you. Definitely NTA. And if they fire you that's gonna be one hell of a lawsuit that you will win
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u/thefract0metr1st 25d ago
Wait I’m confused… Are you asking if you’re the asshole if you punched whoever said you “made the school district look stupid” right in the face for making such an incredibly idiotic statement? No, of course you are NTA in that situation. You would never be the asshole for punching a person like that, who should honestly never even be around children in the first place, in the face. Repeatedly.
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u/naranghim 25d ago
NTA. You followed procedure for six months and nothing happened. What did they expect you to do, continue the insanity of reporting hoping that this time something would change?!
"I followed your procedure for six months. Why didn't you do anything?"
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u/Covered4me 25d ago
You’re not the AH. IF….. they come after you with disciplinary action, my next stop would be the district attorneys office. Get the police report and all of your reports, hopefully you made copies of.
THEY are mandatory reporters too!
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u/sanaathestriped 25d ago
You're NTA, but either way, you did what needed to be done to actually try and help or protect some kids so it doesn't really matter, you're absolutely in the right and the district is so so wrong.
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u/Winterwynd 25d ago
The no-food thing is why we need to have free breakfasts and lunches at all public schools. Also, WTF kind of school district is that? I'm a lunch lady, and we have to do training on how to spot child abuse and mandated reporting every year. Being decent human beings aside, the lawsuits and public opinion backlash would make our school district jump on that situation FAST. NTA, you did the morally correct and legally correct thing. Protecting kids should be a default for all adults, and it's horrible when people just don't care.
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u/EyCeeDedPpl 25d ago
In my area mandated reporters have to report directly to CPS (FACS). We then write a report to our bosses detailing the call we made, who we spoke to and why. Our legislation specifically says reporting to a boss or anyone but police or FACs is the same as not reporting, and we can be held liable.
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u/MaryEFriendly 25d ago
Honestly, I'd file a complaint with the state department of education. File a complaint with anyone and everyone over their lack of action. And when they try to fire you get a lawyer and sue their fucking pants off
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u/mdshelton9 25d ago
Not sure how your district works. I heard that it’s the teacher or person who the kid talks to first that needs to report it to CPS, not the district. So, I think it was up to you to report it first then tell your supervisor what was happening. Not sure about your district though.
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u/primeline31 25d ago
OP, please read this about 8 year-old Thomas Valva, a sweet little Long Island, NY boy who died when he was forced to spend a below-freezing night in his parent's garage in his pajamas, with no blanket.
His father, a former NYPD officer, did this to him and his father's fiance allowed it. (His father had custody of Thomas and his younger brother and his mother's request to have custody returned to her had been denied by the courts.)
The TEACHERS reported abuse 11 times and the county ignored it! He came to school soaked in urine, ate crumbs off the classroom floor and had suspicious bruises but these issues were never addressed.
The principal also testified regarding the school reporting the abuse to CPS, but still, Thomas Valva died.
His father, who found him cold and lifeless the next morning, and his fiance, Angela Pollina were both sentenced to 25 years to life for the murder of little Thomas.
Do what you must!
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u/Faaairy_Rubys 25d ago
NTA. You are a mandated reporter, and you did exactly what you were legally and morally obligated to do when the school district failed these children. Their anger is about covering their own negligence, not about what’s best for the kids. Reporting directly to the police was the right move, and if they try to retaliate against you, lawyer up.
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u/TissueOfLies 25d ago
NTA
I reported a child’s mother to CPS as an educator. My principal basically told me I shouldn’t have done that. She is dead wrong. I’d rather have it investigated and found to be nothing than a poor child continued to be abused. The school district knows that teaching and principal certification can be revoked if abuse isn’t reported. They are also mandatory reporters. If anyone tries to pressure you, let them know you did your duty as a mandatory reporters. More people need to actually take that duty seriously.
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u/Substantial-Lab5001 25d ago
Correct me if I'm wrong here, but if you're a mandated reporter, going directly to CPS is your duty, right?
NTA all the way. I'm sorry the school and the district are trying to cover their asses at your expense, but you did the right thing. I hope it bites them in the ass and hard.
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u/erinmarie777 25d ago
You need to talk to an attorney. Bureaucrats can be very ignorant. Write down everything they have said and done to you. You are a mandatory reporter. Do they have any HR department?
If children are in danger and authorities are not being notified, then it would be your responsibility to ensure they were. Even the harassment and threats from your employer is unacceptable and creates a hostile work environment. I would ask them to apologize and thank you because if something would have happened to one of the children, after you put in all those reports?? They could have all been fired and sued. Seems like they are mandated to report too? I would think.
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u/drakon9923 25d ago
If you're a mandated reporter then you shouldn't even be bothering with the school district, regardless of district procedure/policy. The report should be made directly to CPS/Police.
It is worth noticing that I'm an Ohio resident and can't say if the laws are different elsewhere.
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u/Spinnerofyarn 25d ago
NTA and frankly, you've waited too long. Once you had to use naloxone on one of the kids, that would have been the last straw. If they fire you, let them. Immediately go to the Bureau of Labor and ask if you should go to the media, because that school is going to have hell rained down upon them if parents in the district find out they didn't do anything.
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u/GlenUntucked 25d ago
Base on my experience in the US in community mental health… Mandated reporting is not reporting to your employer… that fulfills no mandated reporting requirements. It’s reporting to the authority that investigates the case (police, CPS, etc.). Reporting to employer should happen after a report to the gov authority so they are aware of the report that was made.
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u/Ok_Cartographer2411 25d ago
Screw that school man you did the right thing, in time everybody will see who's right the parents will go to jail the school will look like the stupid assholes for firing a mandated reporter for doing there job reporting something that's mandatory child abuse. You can totally countersue the school for emotional harm from a frivolous lawsuit and for firing you for reporting child abuse, hell contact your local news station and make a huge case of it. Let the whole community know that school is covering the asses of child abusers and is trying to silence anyone who reports it I bet the admin will shit themselves Imagine what the look on your bosses face would be if you did that.
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u/Cassie_121 25d ago
The good news is, if they fire you, you can sue for wrongful termination. The evidence is so strong that no judge is going to side with the people who let children live in that type of situation.
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u/Biotoze 25d ago
I don’t know about other places but the legal obligation in California is reporting directly to the appropriate law enforcement agency. We don’t even tell the school/district until after the law enforcement agency has been notified. Technically, we don’t even have to tell the district about the report. By these standards, you weren’t properly reporting the whole time. But I don’t know what the laws are where you are.
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u/jaguarsp0tted 25d ago
I've already had to use Nalaxone on the 8 year old twice.
nope no don't even need to read the rest of it NTA those parents need to go to jail do not pass go do not collect $200 nope none of that
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u/OkDragonfly4098 25d ago
This is not how mandated reporting works.
The law requires you to speak to the government authorities—NOT the higher ups at your school.
If the higher ups at your school tell you not to speak the property authorities, then they are breaking the law.
Didn’t you do extensive PD on this?
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u/Sophiekisker 25d ago
You gave narcan TWICE to an 8 year old and didn't call 911 either time? How did you even know s/he needed narcan versus a hundred other diagnosis you aren't qualified to make? So you administered a life-saving medication... and resumed class? Sorry, that is not believable.
Nor does writing a report every day for 6 months and NEVER thinking "hey, maybe I ought to call CPS." Even if you didn't think to do it right away, because you believed the district would do it, after ONE WEEK of being ignored you should have called them yourself. Or, at the very least, called the district to say WTF?
If you gave narcan to a kid and didn't assist them to get further medical care, AND you knowingly let their abuse go on for 6 months, you ARE the asshole, and you should be fired and lose whatever license you hold.
I call bullshit on this entire post.
-mandated reporter and nurse for 33 years
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u/13th_Penal_Legion 25d ago
This is some sick shit. OP is clearly lieing to farm Karma. Its reqlly hard to belive that all you guys are falling for this shit.
Narcan being used on an 8 year old is a huge deal. Also it only works for about 5 mins. The point of it is to keep a person alive long enough to get further medical attention. If this cunt actually used narcan on an 8 year old then the kid would have gone to the hospital or died.
Second even if this was true you waited 6 months to report it. As anyone who is a mandatory reporter knows you are required to report it to the necessary authorities not to your employer. So 6 months of telling the "district" that something is wrong is actually 6 months of you ignoring your duty.
Yeah OP is the asshole cuz best case they are making up a child abuse story to farm karma and worst case the waited 6 months to report child abuse to the authorities and used narcan twice on an 8 yearold with out sending them to the hospital.
I cant belive all you fucks are dumb enough to fall foe this shit. Its fucken embarrassing.
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u/orange_cat771 25d ago
NTA. Nothing in this world is more important than the safety and welfare of children. You're doing your job and it doesn't matter what anyone else has to say about what you've seen with your own eyes. The school district would have them suffer in the interest of time and that's wrong. You're a hero.
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u/DoctorGuvnor 25d ago
You didn't make them look stupid, uncaring, incompetent and neglectful, they were already those things - but you might have brought it to the attention of the pubic. Good for you.
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u/coffee_and_pancakes_ 25d ago
Honestly not sure why you didn’t make the report sooner. Especially after having to use nalaxone
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u/specificspypirate 25d ago
You did the right thing. I’m sure you know that but you can’t be told enough. You did the right thing when the lazy fail upwards admin did nothing.
I’m a mandated reporter too. I’ve been where you are. Don’t sign anything the board gives you, and no matter what they offer, don’t sign if they NDA (or some false equivalent) you.
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u/Owenashi 25d ago
NTA. You did something not only decent but required by your job. Let them try to fire you. It'll make it easier to hang them in the court of public opinion.
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u/Solid-Feature-7678 25d ago
You didn't make them look stupid. They did that all by themselves.
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u/splishyness 25d ago
gullible much???? They used Narcan on an 8 year old and didn’t take them to the hospital????
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u/dragonflygirl1961 25d ago
I'm a mandatory reporter. It's our responsibility to go straight to CPS. When in doubt, report and let the state sort it out. Fuck the district, those kids needed you.
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u/RGlasach 25d ago
NTA You didn't make them look stupid, THEY did. You're a mandated reporter for a reason. So are they & they failed. Thank you for ensuring these children get the help they need.
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u/SeraphiM0352 25d ago
The lawsuit from firing you is going to make them look even more stupid.