Abuse Reporting Acknowledgement for Child Care Workers
Abuse Reporting Acknowledgement for Child Care Workers Under the "Child Protection Act of 1987" (C.R.S. 19-3-301) in the Colorado Children's Code, workers in any facility that is licensed or certified pursuant to the Child Care Licensing Act (C.R.S. 26-1-101) are required to report suspected child abuse or neglect. The law at 19-3- 304 states that if a child care worker has "reasonable cause to know or suspect that a child has been subjected to abuse or neglect or who has observed the child being subjected to circumstances or conditions which would reasonably result in abuse or neglect shall immediately upon receiving such information report or cause a report to be made of such fact to the county department or local law enforcement agency."
"Abuse" or "child abuse or neglect", means an act or omission in one of the following categories that threatens the health or welfare of a child: Any case in which a child exhibits evidence of skin bruising, bleeding, malnutrition, failure to thrive, burns, fracture of any bone, subdural hematoma, soft tissue swelling, or death and either: Such condition or death is not justifiably explained: the history given concerning such condition is at variance with the degree or type of such condition or death; or the circumstances indicate that such condition may not be the product of an accidental occurrence: Any case in which a child is subjected to unlawful sexual behavior as defined in section 16-22-102 (9), C.R.S. :Any case in which a child is a child in need of services because the child's parents, legal guardian, or custodian fails to take the same actions to provide adequate food, clothing, shelter, medical care, or supervision that a prudent parent would take :Any case in which a child is subjected to emotional abuse: Any act or omission described in section 19-3-102 (1) (a), (1) (b), or (1) (c): Any case in which, in the presence of a child, or on the premises where a child is found, or where a child resides, a controlled substance, as defined in section 18-18-102 (5), C.R.S., is manufactured or attempted to be manufactured
If at any time a child care worker reasonably suspects child abuse, it is the responsibility of that child care worker to report or to cause a report to be made immediately upon receiving such information to the local county department of social or human services ator the police/sheriff’s department. It is not the child care worker’s role to investigate suspected abuse--only to report it. Persons who make a good faith report are immune from civil and criminal liability. Additionally, the law provides for the protection of the identity of the reporting party.
A child care worker who fails to report suspected child abuse or neglect commits a class 3 misdemeanor and will be punished as provided in section 19-3-304(4)(a)(b), C.R.S. The staff person could also be liable for damages "proximately caused thereby."
I have read and understand the above requirements concerning my responsibility regarding child abuse reporting.
