Which acts are considered reportable as child abuse?

• A. Non-consensual sexual acts involving a minor
• B. Certain consensual acts involving minors
• C. Non-consensual sexual acts involving a minor and certain consensual acts involving minors
• D. Truancy and neglect alone

Answer: (C)

The important idea here is that sexual abuse of a minor is defined broadly and includes both non-consensual acts and certain consensual acts involving a minor that violate age protections or involve exploitation. Because minors cannot legally consent to sexual activity in environments covered by mandated reporting, situations that are non-consensual or that involve coercion, exploitation, or illegal circumstances are reportable. Some consensual acts involving minors can still be reportable when they fall under these protections, such as when one party is significantly older or when the conduct would be illegal if an adult were involved. That’s why both categories are included in what must be reported.

Choosing only non-consensual acts would miss cases where a minor is exploited in a way that still qualifies as abuse, and choosing only certain consensual acts would miss clear cases of coercion or illegal activity. Truancy and neglect alone are not the act described here, and while neglect is a form of abuse in other contexts, the question is specifically about acts that constitute sexual abuse.