VI-1.50(A)

Procedures for Reporting Suspected Child Abuse and Neglect

Administration   |   Approved November 2, 2012   |   Reviewed April 23, 2024

---

Responsible VP/AVP

Susan C. Buskirk, DM, MS

---

Applies to Faculty, Staff, Students

---

Revision History

Effective November 2, 2012,

Revised to update link and Responsible VP on 04/23/2024

---

Purpose

These procedures provide the process and guidance for the University of Maryland Baltimore ("UMB") community on the application of Maryland mandatory child maltreatment laws and is intended to implement the University System of Maryland's Policy on the Reporting of Suspected Child Abuse and Neglect (VI-1.50).

Policy Statement

As a member of the UMB campus community, you are required to make a report whenever you have reason to believe that a current or past incident of child abuse or neglect has occurred.

 

Definitions

"Professional employee" means a person employed by the USM as a: (1) faculty member; (2) administrator; (3) coach; or (4) other employee who provides academic support, student service, or institutional support activities, whose duties require either a college degree or comparable experience.

Scope and Exceptions

Child Abuse or Neglect

Under Maryland law, you must make an oral report immediately and follow up with a written report within forty-eight (48) hours if you have "reason to believe that a child has been subjected to abuse or neglect" to the appropriate CPS office.  

You are only required to report information that is witnessed by you, disclosed to you, or which you have learned as part of your regular professional responsibilities (e.g., a health care practitioner's review of medical reports or records). You are not expected or encouraged to interview the child or conduct any independent inquiry into the incident or disclosure that led to the belief that abuse or neglect has occurred. Reporters should not initiate their own investigation of the alleged maltreatment.

When making a report of suspected abuse or neglect, the report should include, at a minimum:

1. The name and home address of the child and the parent or other individual responsible for the care of the child;
2. The present location of the child;
3. The age (or approximate age) of the child;
4. Names and ages of other children in the home;
5. The nature and extent of the abuse or neglect of the child;
6. Any possible previous abuse or neglect;
7. Any information that might aid in establishing the cause of the abuse or neglect; and
8. The identity of the individual(s) responsible for the abuse or neglect.

In some cases, you will not have sufficient information to complete the form. Simply report the information that you have and leave the other items blank.

Making an Initial Oral Report

Call the CPS Hotline or the police in the locality where the suspected abuse or neglect took place immediately.

A.  A link to local Child Protective Services Reporting Hotline Numbers appears on the CPS website at: http://dhr.maryland.gov/child-protective-services/reporting-suspected-child-abuse-or-neglect/local-offices/ . Some CPS Hotline Numbers are as follows:

Anne Arundel County	(410) 421-8400
Baltimore City	(410) 361-2235 or 443-423-7002
Baltimore County	(410) 853-3000 (Option 1) After hours: (410) 583-9398
Cecil County	(410) 996-0100 (Option 3) After hours: (410) 996-5350
Harford County	(410) 836-4713 After hours: (410) 838-6600 Sheriff's Office
Howard County	(410) 872-4203 After hours: (410) 313-2929 Police Dept.
Montgomery County	(240) 777-4417
Prince George's County	(301) 909-2450 After hours: (301) 699-8605

 

B.  You can report to the police by calling 911.

C.  If you are unsure of the location where the suspected maltreatment occurred, contact the Baltimore City CPS Hotline or the Baltimore City Police Department or by calling (800)917-7383.

D.  Always call 911 immediately if you witness child abuse or neglect actually taking place.

Written Report

You must follow up your oral report with a written report within 48 hours of when you suspected that an incident of abuse or neglect occurred.

1. Complete the State of Maryland, Child Protective Services, Report of Suspected Child Abuse/Neglect (DHR Form 180). The form is available at http://dhr.maryland.gov/documents/Child%20Protective%20Services/180%20Form%20with%20instructions-fillable.pdf.
2. This form should be sent to the appropriate CPS or the police, if appropriate under Section 2.b.ii. Every effort should be made by those making a report to protect the privacy of the child, the child’s family, and the information exchanged. Reports sent hard copy should be in a sealed envelope marked "confidential."
3. The completed form should also be submitted to the Chief Accountability Officer through the UMB Hotline to promote confidentiality.

Reporting Past Abuse Disclosed by an Adult Victim

Maryland citizens are required to follow the State's reporting requirements for suspected child abuse or neglect, even if they learn about the maltreatment for the first time from an adult victim who was under the age of 18 when the incident occurred.

USM institutions (including UMB) are obligated to follow this requirement. This is set forth in the official Attorney General's Opinion interpreting Maryland's child abuse reporting laws ( see https://www.marylandattorneygeneral.gov/Opinions%20Documents/1993/78oag189.pdf).

The reporting requirements are the same for information about past abuse. According to CPS, these reports are important to "determine whether children in the household or care of the alleged abuser or neglector are currently in need of protection." (Department of Human Resources Circular Letter SSA 95-14).

In many instances of past abuse disclosed by an adult victim, the information disclosed to you may be incomplete.  It is not necessary for you to approach or interview the victim to obtain additional information. Simply report the information that you do have available, especially any information that helps CPS to determine whether children currently are at risk of abuse or neglect:

• The identity and whereabouts, if known, of the alleged abuser or neglector;
• The identity and whereabouts of any children who may currently require protection from the alleged abuser or neglector; and
• Any other information that would help to determine the nature and cause of the suspected maltreatment and the identity of the suspected abuser/neglector.

You are required to report the name and contact information that you have regarding the adult victim. However, if you have any reason to be concerned that the adult victim may be distressed or will otherwise experience negative consequences as a result of your report:

• Make that concern clear when you make your report orally and, if required, in writing; and
• Consult with the UMB Chief Accountability Officer.

While it is not required that you inform the adult victim that you are making a report, you should feel free to do so.

Reporting to UMB

After making a report of child, you are required to promptly report to the UMB Chief Accountability Officer via the UMB Hotline.

Reporting Follow-Up

1. Depending upon the specific circumstances of the alleged child maltreatment, you may be contacted by CPS, Social Services, the UMB Chief Accountability Officer, or the UMB Police for more information after making a report.
2. Your identity as a reporter of suspected child abuse or neglect will be kept confidential by both CPS and UMB.
3. Maryland law and USM Policy offer immunity from reprisal to any member of the campus community for making a good faith report of child maltreatment.
4. Under State and Federal child abuse confidentiality laws, it is possible that you will not be informed of the results of the child maltreatment investigation that was initiated in response to your report. If you are not contacted by CPS, the UMB Chief Accountability Officer, or the UMB Police, please do not assume that the concern which you reported was not investigated or addressed.
5. By following the provisions of the USM Policy and these procedures in good faith, you will have met your obligations under the law and the USM Policy to report suspected child maltreatment.

Duplicate Reporting

Duplicative reporting is not required under the law or USM Policy in these situations:

1. If you are a UMB employee or student working at a location off-campus (such as a hospital, public health agency, child care institution, juvenile detention center, school, or similar institution), and are acting as a staff member of that facility, you are only required to report the suspected maltreatment to the appropriate agencies (CPS or department of human services) and the head of that facility. You are not required to report it to the UMB Chief Accountability Officer, unless the suspected abuser or neglector is an employee, contractor, or volunteer of UMB.
2. If you and another UMB colleague develop a reason to believe that child abuse or neglect has occurred in the process of your work together (e.g., as members of a treatment team, or through an employee/supervisor relationship), you may file a single, joint report.
3. If a disclosure of past abuse or neglect is made in a public group setting (e.g., in class or at a campus event), the individual(s) responsible for convening the group or event is responsible for making the report on behalf of the other attendees.

Guidance and Support

Please visit https://www.umaryland.edu/oac/report-a-concern/report-suspected-child-abuse-or-neglect/for useful guidance and web links regarding the specific reporting requirements; the legal definitions of child abuse and neglect; indicators of different forms of child maltreatment; USM reporting forms; frequently asked questions (FAQs); and other information that will help you meet your responsibilities under Maryland law and USM Policy.

1. If you have any concerns or doubts as to whether to report an incident, feel free to direct any questions to CPS or to consult with the UMB Office of Accountability and Compliance.

Office of Accountability Compliance

620 West Lexington Street, 5th Floor

Baltimore, MD 21201

Phone: (410) 706-2281

oac@umaryland.edu