Secular Education Association

🚨 WHY DOES LIFEWISE WANT A CHILD’S HISTORY OF ALLEGATIONS?

🚨 WHY DOES LIFEWISE WANT A CHILD’S HISTORY OF ALLEGATIONS?

Take a step back and think about what this document is saying. A child makes an allegation against an adult associated with LifeWise.

LifeWise says allegations involving sexual or physical abuse of a minor, or clearly criminal conduct, should be reported without first trying to determine whether the allegation is credible.

Great.

But then LifeWise instructs its people to contact the child’s public school and request:

• The school’s investigative file
• Communications with law enforcement and child protective services
• Correspondence about the allegation
• And records concerning “any similar allegation made by the same [student] against any other person.”

That last one stopped us cold. 😳

Why does LifeWise need to know whether that child has accused anyone else before?

If LifeWise says it is not determining the “validity or credibility” of the allegation before reporting it, what legitimate child-safety purpose is served by gathering the child’s history of allegations against other people?

And is it appropriate for an organization whose own personnel are the subject of an allegation to be gathering information about the child making the allegation?

Then there’s the legal question.
What, exactly, is a public school permitted to give them?

FERPA restricts disclosure of personally identifiable information from student education records, and child-abuse and neglect information can be subject to additional federal and state confidentiality protections.

That does not necessarily mean LifeWise is breaking the law by asking. But asking for a record does not mean a public school can legally hand it over. And legality is only part of the question.

“Are they allowed to ask?” and “Should they be asking?” are two very different things.

Parents should know LifeWise has put this in writing.

What people are saying:

  • Facebook User: Facebook User
  • Facebook User: The fact that they felt the need to have a generic organizational template to use when allegations arise is pretty troubling… 🚩 🚩🚩
  • Facebook User: Why is the school in the middle of it at all? Any allegation that happens should be no different than an allegation towards a sports coach, scout leader, or any other non school adult who interacts with children.

    The school should refer all questions from Lifewise to the police or to the child’s parents. Especially if an allegation is made to a school official and in their capacity as mandated reporters they forward that information to the authorities they have an obligation to maintain confidentiality and they should say _nothing_ beyond what the authorities and the district’s legal council say they are allowed to disclose.

    • Secular Education Association: Facebook User Exactly. You put your finger right on the concern here. The school’s obligation is to the child, the law, and the proper authorities — not to help LifeWise build a file around the allegation.
  • Facebook User: CYA. They know that they have problem individuals and they are protecting their brand, not the children.
  • Facebook User: Wtf??!! Looks like LF is trying to pass the buck on their obligation as mandated reporters. Nothing should be disclosed to them from the public school. Smdh
  • Facebook User: The fact that they have this drafted and ready to go is absolutely disgusting. They also seem to be asking for confidential information. If CPS is called on behalf of a child, the school or other protected adult who is calling for them would remain anonymous.

View original post on Facebook

Leave a Reply