NSU University School Faculty, Staff and Employee Handbook

74 Appendix F: Child Abuse Policies: Risk Management MANDATORY REPORTING OF CHILD ABUSE, ABANDONMENT, AND / OR NEGLECT The NSU University School requires all employees to sign a statement mandating they report suspected child abuse and neglect immediately to the appropriate authorities. All educators are mandatory reporters of child abuse. If you suspect that a student you come in contact with is being abused, abandoned or neglected, then you have a legal responsibility to report such suspicions to the Department of Children and Families. To comply with appropriate Florida law which makes mandatory the reporting of child abuse, abandonment, and / or child neglect, any teacher or other school employee who knows or has reasonable cause to suspect that a child has been: , or responsible adult relative immediately known and available to provide supervision and care shall immediately report such knowledge or suspicion to the Department of Children and Families at the statewide toll-free hotline: 1-800-96-ABUSE.  Effective October 1, 2012 –Any person who knows, or who has reasonable cause to suspect, that a child is abused by an adult other than a parent, legal custodian, caregiver, or other person responsible for the child's welfare, as defined in this chapter, shall report such knowledge or suspicion to the department. Fla. Stat. 39.201(1)(b) WHAT MUSTBE REPORTED:  1) A child in need of supervision who has no parent, legal custodian or responsible adult. Fla. Stat. 39.201(1)(a)  2) A child abused by a parent, caregiver, guardian or other person responsible for the child’s welfare. Fla. Stat. 39.201(1)(a)s  3) Child abuse, abandonment or neglect by any adult Fla. Stat. 39.201(1)(b) – Effective 10/1/12  4) Child abuse by a known or suspected juvenile sex offender, or a child who has exhibited inappropriate sexual behavior Fla. Stat. 39.201(1)(b) - Effective 10/1/12 WHERE TO REPORT: Florida Abuse Hotline at 1-800-962-2873; (fax) to 850-922- 2993; web-based report to www.myfamilies.com