delinquent. “Recent” is defined as an abusive act within two (2) years from the date the report is made to ChildLine. Sexual abuse, serious mental injury, serious physical neglect and deaths have no time limit. A “perpetrator” of child abuse can be a: • child’s parent, • spouse or former spouse of the parent, • paramour or former paramour of the parent, • person 14 years of age or older responsible for the welfare of a child such as a babysitter or day care staff person, • individual residing in the same home as the child who is at least 14 years of age, or • relative who is 18 years of age or older who does not reside in the same home as the child but is related within the third degree of consanguinity or affinity by birth or adoption to the child. In cases of a failure to act, a “perpetrator” of child abuse can be a: • child’s parent, • spouse or former spouse of the parent, • paramour or former paramour of the parent, • person 18 years of age or older who is responsible for the child’s welfare or who resides in the same home as the child. “Mandated reporters” include all College employees, volunteers and independent contractors/third-party vendors. M ANDATORY R EPORTING R EQUIREMENT Mandated reporters are required to make a report of suspected child abuse if they have reasonable cause to suspect that a child is a victim of child abuse under any of the following circumstances: • They come into contact with the child in the course of employment, occupation and practice of a profession or through a regularly scheduled program, activity or service. • They are directly responsible for the care, supervision, guidance or training of the child, or are affiliated with an agency, institution, organization, school, regularly established church or religious organization or other entity that is directly responsible for the care, supervision, guidance or training of the child. • A person makes a specific disclosure to the mandated reporter that an identifiable child is the victim of child abuse. • An individual 14 years of age or older makes a specific disclosure to the mandated reporter that the individual has committed child abuse. It is not required that the child come before the mandated reporter in order to make a report of suspected child abuse, nor is the reporter required to identify the person responsible for the suspected abuse in making the report. Mandated reporters also do not have to determine whether the person
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