Reporting Child/Minor Abuse or Neglect

Reporting Child/Minor Abuse or Neglect Policy

Scope

This policy covers the responsibility of the college to comply with relevant state laws related to the mandatory reporting of suspected child/minor abuse or neglect.

Responsibilities

The Office of Human Resources is responsible for this policy.  These policy guidelines will apply to all students, employees (e.g., Security, Office of the Dean of Students, Chief HR Officer), visitors, contractors, individuals and other third parties.

Definitions

Abused or Neglected Child/Minor: Any child/minor under 18 years of age whose parent or any person responsible for their care:

• Causes or threatens to cause a non-accidental physical or mental injury, or allows such an injury;
• Allows a child/minor to be present during the manufacture of a controlled substance or during the unlawful sale of such substance where such activity would constitute a felony violation;
• Neglects or refuses to provide adequate food, clothing, shelter, emotional nurturing or health care;
• Abandons the child/minor;
• Neglects or refuses to provide adequate supervision in relation to a child’s age and level of development;
• Knowingly leaves a child/minor alone in the same dwelling with a person, not related by blood or marriage, who has been convicted of an offense against a child/minor for which registration is required as a violent sexual offender; or
• Commits or allows to be committed any illegal sexual act upon a child/minor, including incest, rape, indecent exposure, prostitution, or allows a child to be used in any sexually explicit visual material.

Student:  A person who has applied to, been accepted, and registered/enrolled at the college.

Employee:  Administrative faculty, professional faculty, teaching faculty, classified and non-classified, fulltime and part-time, salaried and hourly persons, and any and all other individuals, except independent contractors, employed by the college.

Individual:  Anyone who comes to the attention of this policy.

Third Parties: Individuals who are not state employees, such as relatives, acquaintances, strangers, contractors or visitors.

Policy

A.  All Brightpoint employees, who in their official or professional capacity, have reason to suspect that a child/minor is an abused or neglected child/minor, are required to report the matter as soon as possible, but not longer than 24 hours after having reason to suspect a reportable offense of child/minor abuse or neglect.

B.  Students are covered under additional provisions in the Brightpoint Student Handbook to include:  

   1.  19.19.10 Student Rights and Responsibilities; 

2. 19.19.11 Student Code of Conduct; 

3. 19.19.12 Student Disciplinary Actions; 

4. 19.19.13 Policy on Sexual Harassment; 

5. 6.6.21 Admissions of Individuals on the Sex Offender and Crimes Against Minors Registry; 

6. 3.19 Workplace Violence and Threat Assessment Team; 

7. 14.12 Minors on Campus, 

C.  Employees are covered under additional provisions in the Brightpoint Policy Manual to include: 

1. 19.19.13 Policy on Sexual Harassment; 

2. 3.19 Workplace Violence and Threat Assessment Team; 

3. 3.16 Standards of Conduct; 

4. 14.12 Minors on Campus; 

5. 15.21 Faculty Sanctions Policy. 

Procedures

1. Any Brightpoint faculty or staff who have reason to suspect that a child/minor is abused or neglected are required to report the matter as soon as possible, but not longer than 24 hours after having reason to suspect a reportable offense has occurred. Reporting options include contacting Security, local police, Dean of Students office, Chief HR Officer, and/or completing the Brightpoint threat assessment referral form located at https://cm.maxient.com/reportingform.php?BrightpointCC&layout_id=2. Please check child abuse/neglect on the form.

       In the event that the behavior is an immediate threat to the safety of the child/minor or safety of the college community, security and/or local police should be notified immediately. 911 may be called in addition to notifying security.

   2.  Once a report is made, the Dean of Students office will notify the Department of Social Services (DSS) toll-free child abuse and neglect hotline (1-800-552-7096). The Dean of Students office is responsible for maintaining records.

   3.  The Dean of Students or designee, or in cases involving staff or faculty, the Vice President of Operations or designee, and, if needed, the Threat Assessment Team or Title IX Review Committee, shall review the report of child/minor  abuse and determine the appropriate policy/procedures to be initiated.

1. Child/ Minor abuse by a student is a violation of the Student Code of Conduct and the Student Disciplinary Actions Policy shall be initiated.
2. Child/Minor abuse by an employee falls under the Standards of Conduct Policy and Procedures.  These policies, including those of the VCCS as appropriate, shall be initiated.
3. If an individual or student desiring admission to Brightpoint is on the Sex Offender and Crimes Against Minors Registry the policy on the Admissions of Individuals on the Sex Offender or Crimes Against Minors Registry shall be initiated.
4. If an individual or student desiring admission to Brightpoint has been convicted for child/minor abuse and is not on the Sex Offender and Crimes Against Minors Registry the Workplace Violence and Threat Assessment Team Policy shall be initiated.

Penalties for Failing to Make a Required Report

1. Any person who fails to file a report as soon as possible, but not longer than 24 hours after having reason to suspect a reportable offense of child abuse or neglect, may be fined not more than $500.00 for the first failure and, not less than $1,000.00 for any subsequent failures.  In cases involving certain crimes of sexual assault, a person who knowingly and intentionally fails to file a report may be guilty of a Class 1 misdemeanor.
2. Employees who make or cause to be made a report of child abuse or neglect that they know to be false may be guilty of a Class 1 misdemeanor.
3. The Faculty Sanctions Policy and the Standards of Conduct Policy can be used with disciplinary actions commensurate with the severity and/or frequency of the offense and may include termination of employment.