CHILD ABUSE REPORTING REGULATION

Any school employee shall make an oral report by telephone to the local law enforcement authorities or the Department of Health and Human Services when that employee has reasonable cause to believe that a child has been subjected to abuse or neglect or observes a child being subjected to conditions or circumstances which reasonably would result in abuse or neglect.

"Child abuse" is defined as knowingly, intentionally or negligently causing or permitting a minor child to be:

1. Placed in a situation that endangers his or her life or physical or mental health;
2. Cruelly confined or cruelly punished;
3. Deprived of necessary food, clothing, shelter, or care;
4. Placed in a situation to be sexually exploited by allowing, encouraging, or forcing such minor child to solicit for or engage in prostitution, debauchery, public indecency, or obscene or pornographic photography, films, or depictions; or

5.   Placed in a situation to be sexually abused as defined in Neb. Statutes 28-319 or 28-320.01.

The oral report shall include the caller's name and address.

The oral report will be followed by a written report that shall include to the extent available, the following:

1. The employee's name and address;
2. The address and age of the abused or neglected child;
3. The address of the person(s) having custody of the child;
4. The nature and extent of the abuse or neglect, or the conditions and circumstances which would reasonably result in such abuse or neglect;
5. Any evidence of previous abuse or neglect, including the nature and extent; and
6. Any other information which in the opinion of the person making the report may be helpful in establishing the cause of such abuse or neglect and the identity of the perpetrator(s).

Any person making such a report as required by law will be immune from any civil or criminal liability, except for in the case of making maliciously false statements.

Failure to make such a required report, or knowingly releasing confidential information other than as permitted by law will result in a Class III misdemeanor.

It is not the responsibility of employees to prove that a child has been abused or neglected.  Employees should not take it upon themselves to investigate the case or contact the family of the child.  The Department of Health and Human Services is responsible for investigating the incident of alleged abuse.

Approved ______________ Reviewed ________________ Revised ________________