Effective, beginning in 2016, North Carolina made the DCDEE (Division of Development and Early Education) the sole agency in charge of investigating child maltreatment at the hands of caregivers. The DCDEE now keeps a registry ( § 110-105.5. ) of all caregivers who have been confirmed of the maltreatment of a child in a child care facility.
What is Child Maltreatment?
Essentially, child maltreatment is similar to child abuse or child neglect. The North Carolina General Assembly defines child maltreatment as “Any act or series of acts of commission or omission by a caregiver that results in harm, potential for harm, or threat of harm to a child. Acts of commission include, but are not limited to, physical, sexual, and psychological abuse. Acts of omission include, but are not limited to, failure to provide for the physical, emotional, or medical well-being of a child, and failure to properly supervise children, which results in exposure to potentially harmful environments” § 110-105.3.
Who is a Caregiver?
A caregiver is “The operator of a licensed child care facility or religious-sponsored child care facility, a child care provider, as defined in G.S. 110-90.2(a)(2), a volunteer, or any person who has the approval of the provider to assume responsibility for children under the care of the provider,” as stated in § 110-105.3.
What is a Child Care Facility?
The State of North Carolina defines a Child care facility as “Child care facilities. – Any of the following: a. All facilities required to be licensed under this Article. b. All religious-sponsored facilities operating pursuant to G.S. 110-106. c. All locations where children are being cared for by someone other than their parent or legal guardian that require a license under this Article but have not been issued a license by the Department“ § 110-105.3.
What are the consequences of child maltreatment?
There are a number of consequences for those who have been confirmed of the maltreatment of a child or children. These consequences include but are not limited to limited enrollment of new children, revocation of the individual and/or the facility’s child care license, and/or the shutdown of the child care facility § 110-105.6.
CONTACT NORTH STATE LAW
If you or someone you know needs help or advice when it comes to defending yourself against Child Maltreatment allegations, please contact us at North State Law Firm via phone 919-521-8810 or email nick@northstatelawfirm.com.