Reporting Suspected
Child Abuse or Neglect
Safety of Minors Compliance Support Program
Office of Risk Management
June 24, 2013
Objectives
• To understand the University’s commitment to
supporting a safe environment for children
• To understand your reporting responsibilities
under Washington State law and the University’s
new policy, APS 11.8: Reporting Suspected
Child Abuse
• To understand the steps for reporting
• To identify behaviors by children to watch for that
might indicate abuse or neglect
Minors at the UW
• UW academic personnel, staff, student
employees, and volunteers may have
interactions with minors in many ways:
– An estimated 100 programs for children offered by UW
or held in UW facilities annually (an estimated 24,000
children)
– Enrolled students who are under 18 years of age
– Patients in healthcare facilities
– Guests at events
– Campuses and facilities that are open to the public
Estimates by UW Division for 2012
College of the
Environment
3%
Minority Affairs
& Diversity
3%
Arts & Sciences
5%
Educational
Outreach
37%
UW Bothell
9%
Undergraduate
Education
13%
Intercollegiate
Athletics
23%
As of August 2012
Safety of Minors Committee
• Appointed by the Provost in 2012, with a charge:
– To advance the safety of minors at the UW by
providing advice and guidance related to law,
regulatory obligations and contractual commitments
through:
• Developing policies, standards, and guidelines
• Helping define roles and responsibilities
• Incident response protocols
• Training and education
• Compliance and risk assessments
Washington State Law:
Reporting Suspected Child
Abuse or Neglect
Washington State Reporting Law
• The Revised Code of Washington (RCW)
Chapter 26.44, mandates reporting by those
who are in positions to identify when children
are at risk of abuse and neglect or are victims
of abuse or neglect
• In 2012, the law was expanded to include
employees of higher education as mandatory
reporters of suspected child abuse or neglect
Legal Protections for Reporting
• A person who reports in good faith and without
gross negligence or who cooperates in an
investigation shall not be subject to civil liability
arising out of his or her cooperation
RCW 26.44.060
• Public institutions are required to indemnify
employees for good faith reports if their
judgment regarding reasonable cause to report
is challenged
RCW 26.44.032
Potential Consequences
• Failure to report may result in a gross
misdemeanor for the individual
RCW 26.44.060
• Those who make false reports may also
be found guilty of a gross misdemeanor
RCW 26.44.060
UW Administrative Policy
Statement (APS) 11.8:
Reporting Suspected Child
Abuse
APS 11.8: Reporting Policy
• To implement the requirements of the state law,
UW created Administrative Policy Statement
11.8: Reporting Suspected Child Abuse, which
includes:
– Policy statement prohibiting child abuse by University
employees, volunteers, or students or in University
facilities and programs
– Steps for University employees to report suspected
child abuse
– A description of what to report
– A prohibition against retaliation
Policy Statement
The University of Washington does not tolerate child abuse.
Suspected perpetrators of child abuse, including University
employees, volunteers, or students, may be removed from
the premises and may be subject to arrest and criminal
prosecution.
Employees, volunteers, or students who engage in child
abuse in the workplace, or who use University facilities,
property, or resources to engage in child abuse are subject
to disciplinary action, including dismissal from employment,
engagement, or from educational programs.
Administrative Policy Statement 11.8
Step 1: Report
1. All University employees and volunteers who
have reasonable cause to believe that a child
has suffered abuse or neglect must report the
suspected abuse or neglect to the police or the
Department of Social and Health Services
(DSHS)
(medical center healthcare practitioners
should also follow internal policies and procedures)
Options for Reporting
1. Call the University of Washington Police Department
(UWPD) at 206-685-UWPD (8973) (TTY accessible). If
it is outside of UWPD’s jurisdiction, UWPD will report it
to the appropriate law enforcement agency; or
2. Call the Department of Social and Health Services
(DSHS) at 1-866-ENDHARM (1-866-363-4276) (TTY
accessible); or
3. Call the police department for the location of the
suspected incident, if other than the UWPD
Step 2: Administrative Report
2. In addition to making the report to DSHS or the
police, if the suspected child abuse may be
occurring in a University program or at a
University facility, University employees and
volunteers must also notify their supervisor or
departmental administrator.
(If you do not believe that the abuse may be occurring in a
University program or at a University facility, then your
reporting obligation is completed)
Steps 3 and 4:Administrative Action
After employees or volunteers make their report
3. The supervisor or departmental administrator must
notify the administrative head of their organization
that a report has been made
4. Then, the administrative head is responsible for
ensuring that UWPD is contacted to confirm that it
has received a report and that the appropriate
Human Resources office is contacted to determine
what other actions may be necessary
What to report
• Report if you suspect that someone under
the age of 18 years of age is or has been
the victim of:
– Abuse or neglect
– Negligent treatment or maltreatment
– Sexual exploitation
Abuse or Neglect
• Sexual abuse, sexual exploitation, or injury of a
child by any person when it may cause harm to
the child's health, welfare, or safety, or the
negligent treatment or maltreatment of a child by
a person responsible for or providing care to the
child.
– Exception: physical discipline of a child is not
unlawful when it is reasonable and moderate and is
inflicted by a parent, teacher, or guardian for
purposes of restraining or correcting the child
From RCW 26.44.020
Negligent Treatment
• Means an act or a failure to act, or the
cumulative effects of a pattern of conduct,
behavior, or inaction, that evidences a serious
disregard of consequences of such magnitude
as to constitute a clear and present danger to a
child’s health, welfare, or safety.
From RCW 26.44.020
Sexual Exploitation
• Includes:
– Allowing, permitting, or encouraging a child to
engage in prostitution by any person; or
– Allowing, permitting, encouraging, or
engaging in the obscene or pornographic
photographing, filming, or depicting of a child
by any person.
From RCW 26.44.020
Retaliation Prohibited
• University policy, APS 11.8, prohibits retaliation against
any individual who makes a report in accordance with
this policy and/or RCW 26.44 or who cooperates with or
participates in any investigation of allegations of child
abuse.
• Retaliation means to take adverse action against an
individual because he or she has acted in accordance
with the law or University policy.
Common Questions
How soon must I report?
• Report suspected child abuse or neglect to
DSHS or the police at the first opportunity
• But no later than 48 hours after suspecting
that abuse has taken place
• Report internally, if the abuse may be
occurring in a UW program or facility, as
soon as possible afterward
What information do they need?
• Any information that you know
• Do not try to do your own investigation of
the concern. Instead, when you report,
you will be asked to share what you know
or have observed
What else might they ask?
You may be asked:
1. The name, address, and age of the child;
2. The name and address of the child's parents, stepparents,
guardians, or other persons having custody of the child;
3. To describe the suspected injury or injuries;
4. To describe the suspected neglect;
5. To describe the suspected sexual abuse;
6. Any evidence of previous injuries; and
7. Any other information that may be helpful in establishing the
cause and the identity of the alleged perpetrator or
perpetrators.
Can I report anonymously?
• Mandated reporters will be asked to
provide their name when making a report
– This will satisfy the reporting requirement and
– So that DSHS can contact you if more
information is needed
What will happen when I report?
• DSHS or the police will evaluate whether
what you have told them could potentially
be child abuse or neglect
– If yes, then they will initiate an investigation
– If no, then DSHS will typically make a record
of the report in case future reports are
received about the same situation
What will happen when I report to UW?
• If the report is about child abuse or neglect that
may be occurring within a UW program or
facility, the UW may also need to take action
• Once a report is made, UWPD and other
appropriate offices, such as HR, will determine
how to best respond, which includes evaluating
how to protect the child or other children in the
program
What signs do I watch for?
• The following may be signs that a child has been
the victim of abuse or neglect:
– Shows sudden changes in behavior or school
performance
– Has not received help for physical or medical
problems brought to the parents' attention
– Has learning problems (or difficulty concentrating) that
cannot be explained by other physical or
psychological causes
– Is always watchful, as though preparing for something
bad to happen
From DSHS Guidance for Mandated Reporters
What other signs do I watch for?
• Other signs, include:
– Lacks adult supervision
– Is overly compliant, passive, or withdrawn
– Comes to school or other activities early, stays late,
and does not want to go home
• The presence of a single sign does not prove child
abuse is occurring; however, when these signs appear
repeatedly or in combination you should consider the
possibility of child abuse or neglect
From DSHS Guidance for Mandated Reporters
Are there other signs?
• Children who are being sexually abused
may show unique signs, like:
– Sexual aggression or acting out
– Knowledge of sexual acts that are beyond
what might be expected for the age of the
child
– Reports nightmares or bedwetting
From the US Dept. of Health and Human Services
Child Welfare Information Gateway
What are signs of physical abuse?
• Children who are being physically abused
may show unique signs, like:
– Having unexplained burns, bites, bruises,
broken bones or black eyes
– Having fading bruises or other marks after a
noticeable absence from school or activities
– Protests or cries when it is time to go home
From the US Dept. of Health and Human Services
Child Welfare Information Gateway
What are signs of neglect?
• Children who are being neglected may
show unique signs, like:
– Frequent absences
– Begs or steals food or money
– Is consistently dirty or has strong body odor
– Lacks sufficient clothing for the weather
From the US Dept. of Health and Human Services
Child Welfare Information Gateway
What if the child tells me?
• Although you may not have witnessed it,
when you receive a credible report of
potential abuse, you must still report it
• That means that you should consider if
what the child is telling you might be true
to decide whether to report it
What if it happened long ago?
• You do not have to report if the suspected
abuse was discovered after the child has
become an adult (18 years or older)
• But, if there is reasonable cause to believe
other children are or may be at risk of
abuse or neglect by the same individual,
the reporting requirement does apply and
a report must be made
From RCW 26.44.030(2)
What if it’s a teenager?
• The purpose of the reporting law is to provide
all children with an environment free from
abuse and neglect, which includes all those
who are under 18 years old
• Potential signs of child abuse and neglect
must not be discounted because of a child’s
age or because you think older children can
protect themselves
What if I’m not sure?
• If you are in doubt about what should be
reported, it is better to make your concerns
known than to remain silent and possibly allow a
child to remain unprotected
• Discuss it with your supervisor if you are
concerned about the behavior of someone in a
UW program or facility. It may need to be
addressed regardless of whether you decide to
report to DSHS or law enforcement
Resources
UW Safety of Minors website:
http://f2.washington.edu/treasury/riskmgmt/com
pliance/minors
Dept. of Social and Health Services
EndHarm website:
http://www.dshs.wa.gov/ca/safety/abuseReport.
asp?2