Proposed UC Policy on Reporting Child Abuse and Neglect

The University invites your comments on the proposed systemwide Policy on Reporting Child Abuse and Neglect, which describes the legal requirements that the University is obligated to implement and enforce. This policy is written to facilitate compliance with the existing provisions of the California Child Abuse and Neglect Reporting Act (CANRA) as well as amendments to the law that took effect on January 1, 2013. Under CANRA, “child” is defined as any person under the age of 18 years old.

In part, CANRA requires that employers of Mandated Reporters (as defined in the Act) promote identification and reporting of child abuse or neglect. Some University positions, such as health care professionals, employees of law enforcement agencies, and athletic coaches are deemed Mandated Reporters under CANRA. Additionally, the proposed policy requires each UC campus to identify job classifications or individual academic or staff employees and administrators who, by virtue of required job qualifications or their University duties or activities (e.g., teachers, day care workers, high school internship supervisors), are Mandated Reporters.

All Mandated Reporters are required by CANRA to:

• Report observed or suspected child abuse to local Child Protective Services offices or law enforcement agencies, and
• Sign a form acknowledging that they understand this important obligation.

Further, the proposed policy encourages all members of the University community who observe, have actual knowledge of, or reasonably suspect child abuse or neglect at a University facility or perpetrated by University personnel to report the concern promptly to University officials. 

The proposed policy and appendices are posted at the following URL:

http://atyourservice.ucop.edu/employees/policies_employee_labor_relations/proposed_policies/prop_systemwide_policies.html

Non-represented academic employees who wish to provide comments on the proposed policy should direct their comments to Susan Fellows at sfellows@ucsc.edu by February 1, 2013.

Non-represented staff employees who wish to provide comments on the proposed policy should direct their comments to Cathy Schoenfeld at pafc@ucsc.edu by February 1, 2013.

A summary of these comments will be provided to the Office of the President for consideration.

For employees covered by collective bargaining agreements, comments should be directed to your union representative for consideration.