Frequently Asked Questions Reporting Child Abuse and Neglect in ...

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$SYLLABUS FALL 2011 MATH 110 SECTIONS - University of ...$

academic instruction, counseling and other therapeutic services, etc. In these situations, children are in the custody of coaches, teachers, camp counselors, resident assistants, police officers, or professional counselors, and you should regard them as caregivers who are responsible for the care and supervision of children for reporting purposes. B. What if an essay submitted by an applicant for admission includes a vague statement that suggests the applicant was “abused” as a child, but doesn’t give any information about nature of the conduct or the alleged abuser? In general, an essay that makes reference to “abuse” but provides no further information does not rise to the level of reporting to authorities. The word “abuse” refers to a wide range of behaviors (e.g., bullying, verbal abuse, a spanking that leaves no injury) that may not constitute child abuse; and the “abuser” is not identified and could be among a range of individuals who are not in the caregiver capacity (e.g., a friend, classmate, neighbor, or stranger). Unless there is something more about the child’s admission application that leads you to suspect actual child abuse, you are not required to report. Conversely, if the applicant writes, “I was raped as a child by my stepfather,” this statement obviously triggers the reporting requirement. C. What if a student turns in a creative writing assignment that describes a vivid incident of child neglect and does not indicate that it is at all autobiographical? In writing assignments in which there are descriptions of child abuse or neglect, you must determine whether you have reason to believe that child abuse or neglect actually occurred. If you do not have “reason to believe” that the account is factual, then there is no obligation to make a report. However, even if you have just a “gut feeling” that the student is describing events that actually occurred, you are encouraged to report. D. What if a student turns in an assignment, stating that a “friend” was abused by a relative, without specific information to identify the friend? Based on the information provided, you should report if the account gives you “reason to believe” that the abuse occurred and you have other information that would allow child protective services to investigate further, such as: 1) the identity or a clear description of the person who caused the abuse or neglect; 2) other information about the victim; 3) the nature, location and extent of the abuse or neglect. If at least some of this information is not provided, the information is insufficient to require reporting. Again, however, you may still make a report if the information provided gives you reason to believe that child abuse occurred. In this situation, child 10
protective authorities would then weigh the circumstances to determine whether to contact the student who disclosed the friend’s abuse for additional information. E. Our campuses sponsor events, such as “Take Back the Night,” where students and others are encouraged to describe past experiences of abuse, assault or harassment. Do the reporting requirements apply at such an event, where students have an expectation that they should be able to speak candidly and without repercussions? Reporting requirements may apply at these events if a speaker’s disclosure creates “reason to believe” child abuse actually occurred and there is sufficient information to prompt a report. Planners of these events may want to inform participants that there is an obligation to report detailed disclosures of past child abuse and neglect in their promotional materials and/or at the beginning of the event. F. What if a young woman, whom I do not know, emerges from the crowd at a campus event and describes past child abuse but does not identify herself at all? Event sponsors do not have an obligation to report if the speaker does not identify herself, or provide sufficient information about the abuse or the abuser for child protective authorities to take any action in response. However, for example, if the individual describes past child sexual abuse that involved his/her high school science teacher and provides identifying information about the school and/or the teacher, you must report. Such a report would give child protective authorities sufficient information to investigate further and, most importantly, to determine if any children currently may be at risk of abuse. G. At such an event or in a classroom setting, does everyone present who hears a disclosure of abuse have an independent obligation to report it? In settings where many people are present during a disclosure of child abuse or neglect, only one report must be made. The USM expects that the event’s sponsors and/or supervisors will take responsibility for making a report under these circumstances. If you have questions or concerns about your obligation to report child abuse or neglect that are not answered in the USM policy, the institution’s procedures or this FAQ, please feel free to contact your institution’s designee for reporting child abuse and neglect for assistance. 11
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Frequently Asked Questions Reporting Child Abuse and Neglect in ...

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