What must an employee do if they suspect another employee of child abuse?

• A. Confront the employee and demand a meeting.
• B. File a suspected child abuse report by telephone immediately and inform their supervising administrator.
• C. Wait for the administrator to notice.
• D. Document allegations privately for HR only.

Answer: (B)

When someone suspects child abuse, the immediate obligation is to trigger official protective action by reporting to the proper authorities and informing your supervisor. This ensures the child’s safety is addressed right away and the district follows its established procedures. The correct approach is to file a suspected child abuse report by telephone with the local child protective services or appropriate agency and promptly notify your supervising administrator so the school and authorities can coordinate the response. Avoid confronting the coworker, waiting for someone else to notice, or keeping private notes for HR only, because those actions do not bring in the mandated agencies or follow the required reporting process and could delay needed protection and investigation. After the initial call, follow district procedures for any required written reports and documentation.