UConn Issues New Child Abuse Reporting Policy

The UConn Board of Trustees recently adopted a new child abuse reporting policy. Under the new policy, any UConn employee who has reasonable cause to believe that a sexual assault has occurred, regardless of the victim’s age, must comply with the sexual assault policy that previously applied only to the sexual assault of UConn students. This means that the employee must report the incident, including the identities of the victim and perpetrator as soon as possible to any of the following: UConn’s (1) Title IX coordinator, (2) Office of Community Standards, (3) Office of Diversity and Equity, or (4) Health Center.

Additionally, the policy directs UConn employees who are mandated reporters of child abuse or neglect to comply with the state mandated reporter law. The policy also provides the statutory definition of child abuse and neglect, a link to the Department of Children and Families’ (DCF) summary of the reporter law, and DCF’s 24-hour reporting hotline number.

Finally, it encourages UConn employees who are not mandated reporters also to report when they suspect child abuse or neglect, and mentions the law’s protections for good faith reporting when the abuse or neglect is not substantiated.