ADDENDUM: RELATED TO, AND IN SUPPORT OF, ADMINISTRATIVE RULE C3125
POLICY: All LBCC employees must report to Department of Human Services or to a law enforcement agency when there is a reasonable cause to believe that any unmarried person under the age of 18 with whom the employee comes in contact has suffered abuse.
ADMINISTRATIVE RULE:Procedure for Reporting Suspected Child Abuse
A. In the interest of health and safety of the children we serve, it is the intent of LBCC to fully cooperate with law enforcement agencies in the protection of children against abuse. The following procedures must be used, however, to insure your own and the District's protection.
B. Definitions:
1. Child is anyone under 18 years of age and unmarried.
2. Child abuse (ORS 419B.005):
a. Physical Abuse - "Any physical injury to a child which has been caused by other than accidental means, including any injury which appears to be at variance with the explanation given of the injury."
b. Mental Injury - "Any mental injury to a child, which shall include only observable and substantial impairment of the child's mental or psychological ability to function caused by cruelty to the child, with due regard to the culture of the child."
c. Rape - "Rape of a child, which includes but is not limited to rape, sodomy, unlawful sexual penetration, and incest, as those acts are defined in ORS Chapter 163."
d. Sexual Abuse - "Sexual abuse, as defined in ORS Chapter 163."
e. Sexual Exploitation - "Sexual exploitation including but not limited to: contributing to the sexual delinquency of a minor, as defined in ORS Chapter 163, and any other conduct which allows, employs, authorizes, permits, induces, or encourages a child to engage in the performing for people to observe or the photographing, filming, tape recording, or other exhibition which, in whole or in part, depicts sexual conduct or contact as defined in ORS 167.002 or described in ORS 163.665 and 163.670, or sexual abuse involving a child or rape of a child, but not including any conduct which is part of any investigation conducted pursuant to ORS 419B.020 or which is designed to serve educational or other legitimate purposes; and allowing, permitting, encouraging, or hiring a child to engage in prostitution, as defined in ORS Chapter 167."
f. Neglect - "Negligent treatment or maltreatment of a child, including but not limited to the failure to provide adequate food, clothing, shelter, or medical care. However, any child who is under care or treatment solely by spiritual means pursuant to the religious beliefs or practices of the child or the child's parent or guardian shall not, for this reason alone, be considered a neglected or maltreated child under this section."
g. Threatened Harm - "Threatened harm to a child, which means subjecting a child to a substantial risk of harm to the child's health or welfare."
h. Buying or selling a person under 18 years of age as described in ORS 163.537
C. Reporting Procedures:
1. Any District employee will orally report suspected child abuse to the local office of Department of Human Services or the appropriate law enforcement agency. (This oral report should be documented by sending a written report.)
2. The report should include as much of the following information as possible:
a. Name and address of the child and parents or other persons responsible for care of the child
b. Child's age
c. Nature and extent of the abuse, including any evidence of previous abuse
d. Any other information which might be helpful in establishing the cause and the identity of the perpetrator.
3. It is the employee's responsibility to notify his/her supervisor as soon as possible following the abuse report.
4. Questions from parents or other members of the public must be referred to Department of Human Services or a law enforcement agency.
DATE OF APPROVAL: 5/26/98
DATE OF REVISION: 12/14/04