Working with Children

Reporting Child Abuse

If you are volunteering with children off campus and suspect that a child you are working with has been the victim of child abuse or neglect, it is your responsibility to report your suspicions to your site supervisor as soon as possible. You shuold also share your suspicion with your CCE program manager or with another CCE staff person.

Child abuse/neglect is defined as any child under the age of 18 whose parent or other person responsible for the child's care:

• Causes or threatens to cause a nonaccidental physical injury or mental injury.
• Neglects or refuses to provide adequate food, clothing, shelter, emotional nurturing or health care.
• Abandons the child.
• Fails to provide adequate supervision in relation to the child's age and developmental level.
• Commits or allows to be committed any sexual act upon a child including incest, rape, fondling, indecent exposure, prostitution, or to be used in any explicit visual material.

As a volunteer working with children, you have a duty to immediately report suspicions of child abuse/neglect. As a mandatory reporter acting in good faith, you are immune from civil and criminal liability.