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EO 56 Frequently Asked Questions

Reporting requirements for UW employees and volunteers

Reporting requirements for UW employees and volunteers

All employees and volunteers at UW are required to report suspected child abuse or neglect. ‘Employees’ includes full and part-time staff, faculty and other academic personnel, temporary employees, and student employees. ‘Volunteers’ includes anyone who is performing an unpaid service on behalf of UW.

A mandated reporter is anyone who is required by law or policy to report suspected child abuse or neglect. All UW employees and volunteers are mandated reporters.

UW employees are required by Washington State laws to report suspected child abuse or neglect regardless of whether they are in the capacity of their duties at UW or not. Specifically, employees are expected to report abuse or neglect in the capacity of their professional identity, which can often transcend work hours. An example of this would be when a coach or faculty member is involved in a community event outside of work hours or outside of their official duties.

UW volunteers are expected to report suspected child abuse or neglect they become aware of while they are functioning in their official volunteer capacity. Because volunteer tenures are varied and sometimes short-term or sporadic, it is not expected that volunteers serve as mandated reporters when they are not serving in their UW volunteer duties. That said, any person is allowed and encouraged to report any abuse or neglect that they witness.

Employees of UW Medicine, including HMC, UWMC, and other clinics or affiliates should follow the specific mandated reporting protocols outlined by UW Medicine.

Yes, if a minor is serving as an employee or volunteer, they are required to report any suspected abuse or neglect. A supervisor may choose to provide support and guidance to them, assisting them with reporting or with other aspects of the responsibility.

Historical abuse disclosed by an adult (18 years or over) does not require making a report. However, if there is a concern that a minor may currently be experiencing abuse by the same person, a report must be made.

Programs or supervisors may request an employee or volunteer notify them prior to making a report to CPS or the police, as long as it does not delay the 48-hour timeframe for reporting suspected abuse or neglect.  In addition, the employee or volunteer may not be prohibited by anyone in the institution from reporting anything they feel constitutes ‘reasonable cause’ to believe abuse has occurred.

A mandated reporter is legally responsible for reporting. Failure to make a report constitutes a gross misdemeanor. The University may also be institutionally liable for impeding the reporting process. For example, Penn State University was found negligent and incurred significant penalties for not communicating information about abuse committed by Assistant Football Coach Jerry Sandusky to state and local authorities. Several top leaders, including the president, were also found to be liable for civil and criminal offenses.

Your mandated reporting duties require you to abide by Washington State laws and UW policy, regardless of your location. Contact CPS at 1-866-END-HARM (363-4276) which is available 24/7. If the abuse occurs during the trip, it is important to immediately take measures to ensure the safety of the minor and other minors in the group. A report to SafeCampus is also necessary if the abuse occurred while participating in a UW program.

Information constituting reasonable cause to report suspected child abuse or neglect

Information constituting reasonable cause to report suspected child abuse or neglect

 Yes. Disclosures may come in any form, including written, oral, or through observation. The same criteria apply for reporting: if there is ‘reasonable cause’ to believe that abuse or neglect occurred, or if you believe someone is in imminent danger of experiencing abuse.

Mandated reporters are not expected to be investigators; that role should be left to the appropriate authorities. Mandated reporters are simply encouraged to report what they have learned. If a minor discloses information to you, you may gently ask them to share as much as they feel comfortable, using non-leading questions (good examples are “and then what happened?” or “is there anything else you think I should know?”). If you suspect child abuse or neglect has occurred, contact CPS or the police. CPS or the police will determine whether or not to pursue an investigation.

In a university setting, we generally operate on an assumption that the vast majority of individuals we are interacting with are adults. If you have reason to believe, but are unsure, that an individual is a minor, you should attempt to confirm your suspicion. If you are unable to confirm age but suspect the person may be under age 18, you should report what you learned.

When it comes to minors, there are limits to confidentiality. As a mandated reporter, you are required to report information you learn about abuse or neglect, even if a minor asks you not to tell anyone. To avoid a perception of breaking trust, it is important to be upfront at the beginning with minors about your mandated reporting requirements. You may choose to use an explanation, such as, “There are laws in our community that give special protection to people under the age of 18. It’s important for you to know that if I hear about or suspect abuse that may be happening to someone under the age of 18, I am required by law to report it. There are agencies that can help keep you safe in ways that I cannot, and it’s important that you get the support you deserve.”

After making a report, there are additional ways to look out for the best interests of the minor in a potential situation of abuse, such as:

  • Referring them to an advocate or counselor who can provide support with safety planning, coping and managing stress.
  • Be available to the minor while they are participating in your program to help them deal with moments of stress or anxiety.

Where to make a report

Where to make a report

In all cases where you suspect child abuse or neglect you must call either CPS or the police. You are fulfilling your obligation as a mandated reporter of child abuse by calling either authority. You can call the CPS central intake number 1-866-END-HARM (363-4276) from anywhere within the state of Washington. If you choose to call the police, it is typically most prudent to contact the police of jurisdiction where the abuse occurred.

In situations involving a UW program, employee, volunteer, or facility you must additionally call SafeCampus.

For any situation requiring immediate intervention, call 911.

Both agencies are available to field reports of abuse or neglect 24/7, and calling either the police or CPS will fulfill your responsibility as a mandated reporter. Information is shared between agencies as necessary and often both will be involved in a child abuse investigation. The primary role of CPS is to investigate household-related abuse and neglect cases (e.g., abuse within a family unit) or in child care settings. The police primarily investigate criminal activity, e.g., sexual abuse, abandonment, and certain other forms of abuse that may constitute a crime. 

Call local law enforcement or Washington DCYF (1-866-END-HARM), as you would to make an in-state report. Either law enforcement or DCYF can guide you through the appropriate next steps based on the information you have available. This may involve reporting to another state or jurisdiction yourself, or sharing information so law enforcement or DCYF can do so. The most important thing is to report the disclosure, regardless of location of the abuse/neglect or the youth.

Concerns or reports of employee or other volunteer misconduct

Concerns or reports of employee or other volunteer misconduct

 If you suspect that child abuse is occuring, or has already occurred, you must make a report to CPS or the police.  If the abuse may have occurred in a UW program or on UW property, a second report must also be made to SafeCampus. You will provide virtually the same information in both reports, but there may be additional questions from SafeCampus regarding the University affiliation of the person who committed suspected abuse.

Immediately take action. Contact the Office for Youth Programs Development and Support (OYPDS), SafeCampus, CPS, or the police and talk through the situation. OYPDS and SafeCampus will help you determine whether a CPS or police report is required, and also whether the information fits a ‘behavior of concern’ [pdf] per APS 10.13. If you contact CPS or the police, they will let you know whether your information is enough to prompt further investigation. Refer to EO 56 and the CPS handbook, Protecting the Abused or Neglected Child [pdf], for definitions of abuse. Remember, if suspected abuse occurs in a UW program or on UW property, in addition to reporting to CPS or the police you must also contact SafeCampus to make an internal report.

Concerns or reports of UW student misconduct with minors

Concerns or reports of UW student misconduct with minors

If you become aware of an allegation of child abuse committed by a UW student, follow EO 56 as stated for situations involving a UW program or facility, i.e. two-step reporting. More information on two-step reporting is available on UW’s ‘Report Suspected Child Abuse or Neglect’ web page.

Additionally, students are required to follow the Student Conduct Code. Contact the Community Standards & Student Conduct Office at 206-685-6194 or cssc@uw.edu to report the incident.

Responding to suspected abuse of older youth (ages 16-17)

Responding to suspected abuse of older youth (ages 16-17)

Although 16 is the age of consent in Washington State, this does not preclude a report if abuse occurred, even by a peer. The 16-year-old is still a minor, sexual assault is a crime and fits the definition of abuse, and thus we are legally required to report crimes/abuse of any minor. Consider providing context to the minor that explains why you must make a report, and where they can go for further support. For example, you might say, “There are laws in our community that give special protection to people under the age of 18. It’s important for you to know that if I hear about or suspect abuse of someone under the age of 18, I am required by law to report it. There are agencies that can help keep you safe in ways that I cannot, and it’s important that you get the support you deserve.”

Yes. Regardless of the age of consent, certain age differences between two parties, and a relationship where one person has a position of power over the other dictate whether a relationship can be illegal. The age of consent is 16 years old. However, people who are in supervisory positions of youth may be committing a crime of sexual assault if they are having sexual relations with them, even if youth have reached the age of consent. This Teen Info on Sexual Assault PDF published by the Harborview Abuse and Trauma Center offers more details on how age or positional differences can constitute a crime of sexual assault. It is important to make a report in a case where there is the potential that a teen may be in this situation. Reports of this nature must be made to both CPS or the police and UW SafeCampus. 

This is a case-by-case decision. You are not legally required to tell a child or their parent/guardian that you will make a report. Based on what you know about the youth, you may feel that involving them in the reporting process may help their healing process. Some teens benefit from being a part of the process of making a report. Others may feel betrayed, whether you let them know ahead of time or not. Regardless of whether you inform them yourself or invite them into the reporting process, consider the ways you can provide additional emotional support to the teen during this difficult and potentially traumatizing process. Referrals to a UW advocate or to counseling services are examples of supportive resources for teens experiencing abuse.

Dating violence may include behaviors – such as control, manipulation, and isolation, to name a few – that may not fit the legal definition of abuse, and these behaviors in and of themselves don’t constitute abuse. However, physical, sexual or extreme emotional abuse do fit the criteria for making a report. Refer to definitions of abuse in EO 56 or the CPS handbook [pdf].

If there is any chance that a minor may currently be experiencing abuse, a report must be made. Also, you should not rely solely on another person’s account of prior CPS involvement. If you suspect abuse against any child, it is important to contact CPS yourself. Remember, you do not need to have proof. Simply report what you know and are concerned about, and allow the experts to determine what next steps to take.

Additional Resources and Information

Additional Resources and Information

The Office of the Youth Protection Coordinator is available to talk with you about this policy, answer questions, and help you with a situation you are concerned about. Call us at 206-616-5153 or email uwminors@uw.edu. Note that this office is only available during regular business hours.

If you have safety concerns about a situation you can call SafeCampus 206-685 SAFE (7233) 24 hours a day. 

Additional information online:

Revised July 22, 2020