Services and Support

Awareness and Prevention of Child Sexual Abuse and Grooming (Faith's Law)

Student Handbook Language

Compliance with Board Policy 4:165

Awareness and Prevention of Child Sexual Abuse and Grooming Behaviors

Sexual abuse, grooming behaviors, inappropriate employee-student relationships, and other boundary violations harm students, their parents/guardians, the District’s environment, the school community and the community at large while diminishing a student’s ability to learn. Such conduct and other sexual misconduct are prohibited pursuant to Board Policy 5:120. To increase awareness and understanding of these issues, the District encourages parents/guardians, students, and all members of the school community to closely review Board Policy 5:120, Employee Ethics, Conduct, and Conflict of Interest, Board Policy 4:165, Awareness and Prevention of Child Sexual Abuse and Grooming Behaviors, and the information listed below.

Warning Signs of Child Sexual Abuse

Warning signs of child sexual abuse include, but are not limited to, the following behaviors:

Physical signs:

Sexually transmitted infections (STIs) or other genital infections
Signs of trauma to the genital area, such as unexplained bleeding, bruising, or blood on the sheets, underwear, or other clothing
Unusual weight gain or loss

Behavioral signs:

Excessive talk about or knowledge of sexual topics
Keeping secrets
Not talking as much as usual
Not wanting to be left alone with certain people or being afraid to be away from primary caregivers
Regressive behaviors or resuming behaviors that the child had grown out of, such as thumb sucking or bedwetting
Overly compliant behavior
Sexual behavior that is inappropriate for the child’s age
Spending an unusual amount of time alone
Trying to avoid removing clothing to change or bathe

Emotional signs:

Change in eating habits or unhealthy eating patterns, like loss of appetite or excessive eating
Signs of depression, such as persistent sadness, lack of energy, changes in sleep or appetite, withdrawing from normal activities, or feeling “down”
Change in mood or personality, such as increased aggression
Decrease in confidence or self-image
Anxiety, excessive worry, or fearfulness
Increase in unexplained health problems such as stomach aches and headaches
Loss or decrease in interest in school, activities, and friends
Nightmares or fear of being alone at night
Self-harming behaviors or expressing thoughts of suicide or suicidal behavior
Failing grades
Drug or alcohol use

Grooming Behavior & Warning Signs

A person commits “grooming” when the person knowingly uses a computer online service, Internet service, local bulletin board service, or any other device capable of electronic data storage or transmission, performs an act in person or by conduct through a third party, or uses written communication to seduce, solicit, lure, or entice, or attempt to seduce, solicit, lure, or entice, a child, a child's guardian, or another person believed by the person to be a child or a child's guardian, to commit any sex offense as defined in Section 2 of the Sex Offender Registration Act, to distribute photographs depicting the sex organs of the child, or to otherwise engage in any unlawful sexual conduct with a child or with another person believed by the person to be a child.

Warning signs of grooming include, but are not limited to, the following behaviors:

Sexual or romantic invitations to a student via any form of communication
Dating or soliciting a date from a student
Engaging in sexualized or romantic dialog with a student through any form of communication
Making sexually suggestive comments that are directed toward or with a student
Self-disclosure or physical exposure of a sexual, romantic, or erotic nature through any form of communication
Sexual, indecent, romantic, or erotic contact with a student
Failing to respect boundaries or listening when a student says “no”
Engaging in touching that a student or student’s parents/guardians have indicated is unwanted
Trying to be a student’s friend rather than filling an adult role in the student’s life
Talking with students about personal problems or relationships
Expressing unusual interest in a student’s sexual development, such as commenting on sexual characteristics or sexualizing normal behaviors
Giving a student gifts without occasion or reason
Restricting a student’s access to other adults

Inappropriate Relationships and Other Boundary Violations by Adults & Warning Signs

All District personnel, employees, volunteers, and visitors are expected to maintain professional and appropriate relationships with students based on students’ ages, grade levels, and developmental levels. Adults in schools breach adult-student boundaries when they misuse their position of power over a student in a way that compromises the student’s health, safety, or general welfare.

Warning signs of boundary violations include, but are not limited to, the following behaviors:

Favoring a certain student by inviting the student to “hang out” or by granting special privileges
Engaging in peer-like behavior with a student
Discussing personal issues with a student
Spending time alone with a student outside of their role in the student’s life or making up excuses to be alone with a student
Failing to maintain age-appropriate relationships with a student
Meeting with a student off-campus without parent/guardian knowledge and/or permission
Dating, requesting, or participating in a private meeting with a student (in person or virtually) outside of a professional role
Transporting a student in a school or private vehicle without administrative authorization
Giving gifts, money, or treats to an individual student
Sending a student on personal errands
Intervening in a serious student problem instead of referring the student to an appropriately trained professional
Taking and using photos/videos of students for non-educational purposes
Initiating or extending contact with a student beyond the school day in a one-on-one or non-group setting
Inviting a student to an employee’s home
Adding a student on personal social networking sites as contact when unrelated to a legitimate educational purpose
Privately messaging a student
Maintaining intense eye contact with a student
Making comments about a student’s physical attributes, including excessively flattering comments
Disclosing confidential information
Invading personal space

Reporting & Referral Information for Sexual Abuse, Grooming, and/or Boundary Violations

If you/your student believe you/your student is a victim of child sexual abuse, grooming behaviors, or boundary violations, immediately contact the Building Principal, a school social worker or another trusted adult employee of the District.

To make a report of alleged child sexual abuse or grooming, parents/guardians may also contact:

Local Police

Illinois Department of Children and Family Services Hotline at 1.800.25.ABUSE (2873)

Available Resources & Assistance Information

For parents/guardians and students seeking counseling services or other resources for children affected by sexual abuse, the following resources are also available:

National Sexual Assault Hotline at 800.656.HOPE (4673)

National Sexual Abuse Chatline at online.rainn.org

DuPage County Child Advocacy Center

Parents/guardians and students may also contact the school counselor or school social worker for more information regarding available resources and support services for children affected by sexual abuse.

English Language Learners (ELL)

D181 English Language Learners Board of Education Policy

Illinois State Board of Education Resources for Families of English Learners

WIDA Website: WIDA advances academic language development and academic achievement for linguistically diverse students through high quality standards, assessments, research, and professional development for educators.

ACCESS Test Information

Fee Waiver Applications

Health Services

Administration of Medication

Administering medication to students remains the responsibility of parents and should, if at all possible, be given at home. Any pupil required to take medication during the regular school day must comply with the following:

All medications must have written orders from a physician detailing the name of the drug, dosage, and time interval. These orders must be renewed annually.
The parent / guardian must complete the school district’s form requesting that the school comply with the physician’s orders.
Medication must be brought to school in a container appropriately labeled by the pharmacy or the physician.

Concussion Policy

The Youth Sports Concussion Safety Act supports the health and safety of all students. Preventing concussions as well as supporting students recovering from concussions is an integral part of this new law. Supporting a student recovering from a concussion requires a collaborative approach among school professionals, health care providers and parents. This approach includes return to learn and return to play protocols. Please access the Resources tab for details on District 181's Concussion Policy.

CPR Training

Health Records

Physical Exam & Immunization

Illinois State Law requires each public school student to present proof of physical examination and immunization on entering school in kindergarten or 1st grade, transferring to a new school, and in 6th grade. The Department of Public Health requires evidence of immunity against poliomyelitis, diphtheria, tetanus, whooping cough, measles (rubeola), rubella (German or three-day measles), mumps, chicken pox, and hepatitis B.

Community Consolidated School District 181 will exclude children on the first day of school until such time as proof of physical examinations and immunizations are presented. If there are objections on religious grounds, a signed statement detailing the grounds for objections is required. If the physical condition of a child precludes immunizations on medical grounds, the examining physician must indicate the reasons.

Dental Exam

Illinois State Law requires each public student to present proof of dental exam by May 15 of each school year, at the kindergarten, 2nd, and 6th grade levels.

Vision Exam

Illinois State Law requires eye exams within one year prior to entering kindergarten starting in the fall and for students entering a school in Illinois for the first time. Proof of the required vision examination by an optometrist or ophthalmologist must be submitted by October 15 of each school year.

Physical Exams, Interscholastic Athletics

The Illinois State Board of Education requires all students who participate in interscholastic athletics to have an annual physical examination. The proper form must be completed and returned prior to the first day of the activity.

Vaccination Requirement

All STUDENTS entering 6th grade are required to receive the Meningococcal Conjugate Vaccine, MCV4, MPSV4 or other variants.

Sixth grade students must receive 1 dose of MCV4 at 10 years of age or older for entry into 6th grade. Evidence of receiving 1 dose of MCV4 should be documented on the State of Illinois Certificate of Child Health Examination form with all other immunizations mandated for 6th grade entry.

Vision and Hearing Screenings

School Screening

School health personnel perform vision and hearing screening of students. The parents of a child may request a screening at any time. Vision screening will be done, as mandated, for preschool, kindergarten, 2nd grade, and 8th grade students; special education students; teacher referrals; and new students. Hearing screening will be done, as mandated, for preschool, kindergarten, 1st grade, 2nd grade, and 3rd grade students; special education students; teacher referrals; and new students.

Screenings & Required Exams

Vision and hearing screenings are not substitutes for a complete eye and ear examination by an appropriate doctor. Your child will not be required to undergo this vision screening if an optometrist or ophthalmologist has completed and signed a report form indicating that an examination has been administered within the previous 12 months and that an evaluation is on file at the school.

Your child will not be required to undergo this hearing screening if an audiologist has completed and signed a report form indicating that an examination has been administered within the previous 12 months and that evaluation is on file at the school. This notice is not a permission to test and is not required to be returned.

Vision and hearing screening is not an option. If a vision or hearing examination report is not on file at the school for your child, your child in the mandated age, grade, or group will be screened.

Homeless Information

If you are homeless and in need of assistance, please refer to the resources listed below. If additional help is needed, please contact your school Social Worker.

Community Consolidated School District 181