OCR Text |
Show District sets down policy on reporting of child abuse All employees of the Alpine School District, including administrators ad-ministrators and "teachers, have received instructions concerning the reporting of child abuse to the proper authorities. The provisions of the child Abuse Report Act of Utah Code 78-3b-3 were reviewed by Stanford Stubbs, Director of Support Services for the Alpine School District, who states that the language of the law makes it mandatory for teachers and other school personnel who suspect or observe child abuse, to report it immediately to a law enforcement agency or to the Division of Family Services. "This law helps provide protection to children who may be abused by parents or others," said Stubbs. "In effect, it makes it a crime to not report suspicions of child abuse. The intent, of the legislation is to safeguard students from emotional and physical damage." The law reads as follows: "Whenever any person including but not limited to, persons licensed under the medical practice act, or the nurse practice act, has reason to believe that a child has been subjected sub-jected to incest, molestation, sexual exploitation or sexual abuse, has been physically abused or neglected or observes a child being .subjected to conditions or circumstances which would reasonably result in sexual abuse, physical abuse or neglect, they shall immediately notify the nearest peace officer, law enforcement agency or office of the division." |