It is important to consider that after you’ve shared programs like “Child Sexual Abuse: A Solution” with your students, one or more of them might disclose to you the fact of a prior or ongoing abuse situation involving them, a sibling, or a friend. Determine what the procedures for reporting suspected child sexual (and other types of abuse or neglect) are in your school or district. We suggest that teachers, counselors, and administrative staff be clear about the legal requirements and procedures of your state and jurisdiction for reporting incidents of sexual abuse that you become aware of.
Child sexual abuse is a crime. Child sexual abuse is illegal in every state, as well as under federal law. Ensure each teacher has a copy of your state’s mandatory reporting statutes and established school procedures. Teachers and many other school employees are mandated reporters (required by law to report suspected child abuse). In some states, every employee of a school district is considered a mandated reporter, legally obligated to report any signs of abuse or neglect of a child.
Teachers (and other school staff members) are not required to, and further should, not prod a student or analyze whether sexual abuse has occurred, but instead take steps to report in a timely manner (in most cases immediately) the reasonable suspicion of abuse. Again, it is not your job to investigate a disclosure made to you. You are not a detective. The primary goal of this series is to teach children to protect themselves, not to search out children who’ve already been victimized. But you must take appropriate action if you encounter it.
We suggest you enlist Children’s Protective Services (or an equivalent agency in your community) to review reporting procedures. Consider inviting a representative from child social services or the police to speak with teachers and other staff members to walk them through the process of reporting suspected abuse and provide them with information on what happens once a report is made. Reporting can be difficult in small communities or situations where the alleged perpetrator is known to you. Your discomfort does not excuse you from reporting.
Before making a report, you might call the National Sexual Assault Hotline for support at 800-656- HOPE (4673) to discuss your concerns. This part of the process can be anonymous. Actual reporting is not anonymous. You will be asked to identify yourself as you share the specifics of your concern.
MANDATORY REPORTING CONSIDERATIONS:
- Suspected abuse reports are made to child protective services or the police.
- Teachers are protected from liability when a report is made in good faith.
- Without outside intervention, the child will most likely continue to be abused.