Academic Mandated Reporters

Some UC San Diego academic employees may be required by law to report crimes against children or dependent adults and elders to law enforcement or social services authorities. Employees with such an obligation are generally referred to as being "Mandated Reporters" under California's Child Abuse and Neglect Reporting Act (CANRA).

UC San Diego Policy & Procedure Manual (PPM) Section 200-26, Reporting Child abuse and Neglect Procedures, require UC San Diego identify Mandated Reporters and secure acknowledgement of status and reporting obligations.

This page serves as a resource in the identification of academic mandated reporters and the obligations attached to being identified as such.

What is CANRA?

CANRA is a California law and stands for Child Abuse and Neglect Reporting Act (“CANRA”) and requires certain University employees to report known or suspected child abuse or neglect. Employers are required to identify “Mandated Reporters” and secure acknowledgment of their reporting obligations as a condition of employment.

University of California policy follows the rule of law and is intended to comply with its obligations under the Act; to require that all University employees and administrators who are Mandated Reporters make required reports to child protection or law enforcement agencies.

CANRA Laws & Policies

California Child Abuse and Neglect Reporting Act (CANRA)

UC Policy on Reporting Child Abuse and Neglect (UC-CANRA)

UC San Diego Policy & Procedure Manual (PPM) Section 200-26, Reporting Child abuse and Neglect Procedures

What is a Mandated Reporter?

A Mandated Reporter is a university employee, official, or volunteer who is required under CANRA, due to their licensure or profession, or otherwise by virtue of their university position or activities, to report child abuse and neglect to specific authorities.

Individuals who work at UC San Diego are Mandated Reporters under CANRA and UC-CANRA if their duties bring them into contact with children (anyone under the age of 18) on a regular basis, or if they supervise individuals whose duties bring them into contact with children on a regular basis.

Who is a Mandated Reporter under CANRA?

As of January 1, 2013, Mandated Reporters include the following new categories:

Postsecondary institution	An employee or administrator whose duties bring the administrator or employee into contact with children on a regular basis, or who supervises those whose duties bring the administrator or employee into contact with children on a regular basis, as to child abuse or neglect occurring on that institution's premises or at an official activity of, or program conducted by, the institution An athletic coach, including, but not limited to, an assistant coach or a graduate assistant involved in coaching, at public or private postsecondary institution
Public or private schools	Teachers Instructional Aides Teacher's Aides Teacher's Assistants Classified Employees Administrative Officers and Supervisors of child welfare attendance Certified pupil personnel employees, administrators or presenters of or counselors in child abuse prevention programs
Community care or child day care facilities	Licensees Administrators Employees
Day camps	Administrators
Private youth centers, youth recreation programs, youth organization	Administrators or employees
Health care professionals - all licensed health professionals and certain trainees and interns, including	Physicians Psychiatrists Psychologists Dentists (and residents and interns) Podiatrists Chiropractors Licensed nurses Dental hygienists Optometrists Marriage and family therapists (and trainees and interns) Clinical social workers Professional clinical counselors (and trainees and interns) Certified EMTs, paramedics, and other emergency technicians Registered psychological assistants Alcohol and drug counselors Coroners, medical examiners, and others who perform autopsies
Law enforcement and public safety professionals	Employees of any police department, county sheriff's department, county probation department, or county welfare department Peace officers Firefighters District attorney investigators, inspectors, local child support agency caseworkers (unless the investigator, inspector or caseworker is working with certain attorneys to represent the children) Social workers Probation officers, parole officers Employees of school district police or security departments Animal control and human society officers
Clergy	Priests, ministers, rabbis, religious practitioners, or similar functionaries of any church, temple, or recognized denomination or organization; and their respective records custodians
Any public or private organization	Administrators or employees whose duties require direct contact and supervision of children
Childcare institutions	Employees (including, but not limited to, foster parents, group home personnel, personnel of residential care facilities)
State Department of Education	County Offices of Education employees whose duties bring them into contact with children on a regular basis
Head Start Program	Teachers
Commercial photography and filmmaking	Commercial film and photographic print processors (including anyone who develops exposed photographic film into negatives, slides, or prints, or who makes prints from negatives or slides, for compensation, as well as their employees), excluding public agencies
Miscellaneous	Public assistance workers State and county public health employees who treat minors for VD or other conditions Compensated child visitation monitors Employees or volunteers of Court Appointed Special Advocate program Certain custodial officers Supportive services providers delivering services to children under the Welfare & Institutions Code

* See UC-CANRA appendices for additional details

Who is an Academic Mandated Reporter at UC San Diego?

Typically, faculty, GSRs, or TAs are not considered "teachers" under the general CANRA policy, even when matriculated students under the age of 18 enroll in their classes. For example, if you work with a student who is under 18 for a limited period of time (while teaching a class, while working as an RA), but your job doesn't normally involve working with minors.

However, some academics are considered Mandated Reporters under other provisions of the Act. The nature of an individual's job that bring them into regular contact with minors is what makes them a Mandated Reporter.

The following are considered Academic Mandated Reporters under CANRA:

Academics responsible for instruction at a preschool, elementary, or high school level, for example those who teach high school seminars or who serve as mentors or supervisors in on-campus high school internship programs.

Academics whose university duties require direct contact and supervision of individuals under the age of 18. This may include faculty members or other academic employees who hire individuals under the age of 18 to assist with scholarship, research, or other academic activities as volunteers or interns.

Sr. Administrator: Any employee or official holding the title of Director or above. Sr. Administrators include, among others, all Chancellors and Vice Chancellors, Provosts and Vice Provosts, Deans, Associate Deans, and Assistant Deans, Department Chair, Division Chiefs, and Chief Executive Officers.

Academics responsible for the supervision of other mandated reporters.

Who is mandatory Mandated Reporter?

UC San Diego requires that some areas, regardless of appointment status or position, have blanket Mandated Reporter requirements. This includes individuals appointed in the areas listed below:

Birch Aquarium

CARE at SARC

Early Academic Outreach Program

Early Childhood Education Center

Human Resources/Academic Personnel

Intercollegiate Athletics

Office for Students with Disabilities

Office for the Prevention of Harassment of Discrimination

Police

Recreation

The Preuss School

TRIO Outreach Programs

Undergraduate Colleges (Staff Appointments)
VC Health Sciences: (Every employee and volunteer that falls under the Vice Chancellor of Health Sciences is a Mandated Reporter)

CANRA Reporting Requirements

A Mandated Reporter is required to make the below listed reports whenever they, in their professional capacity or within the scope of their employment, observe or have a reasonable suspicion of, as CANRA defines it, Child Abuse or Neglect.

REQUIRED External Report #1 - Child Abuse Hotline

A Mandated Reporter should immediately, or as soon as practicable, call the Child Abuse Hotline at (800) 344-6000 / (858) 560-2191.

REQUIRED External Report #2 - Local Law Enforcement

Upon contacting the Child Abuse Hotline, a Mandated Reporter must also contact one of the following local law enforcement agencies:

UC San Diego Police Department: 911 or (858) 534-HELP; or

San Diego Police Department: 911 or (619) 531-2000 or (858) 484-3154; or

San Diego County Sheriff’s Department: 911 or (858) 565-5200;

REQUIRED External Report #3 - Child Welfare Services

Upon contacting the Child Abuse Hotline and one local law enforcement agency, a Mandated Reporters should submit Form 8572 within 36 hours to the County of San Diego, Child Welfare Services, HHSA Child Abuse Hotline using one of the following three methods:

Fax to: (858) 467-0412;

Mail to: Child Welfare Services/Hotline, 8911 Balboa Ave, San Diego CA, 92123; Or

Via Web to: a web-based system link through the MRA (Mandated Reporter Application), which they will receive after making their phone report to the Child Abuse Hotline.
- See https://www.sdcda.org/helping/mandated-reporting for more information.

Please note:

Mandated Reporters at any UC San Diego healthcare facility who observe or suspect Child Abuse or Neglect in the context of their delivery of clinical services must also comply with any internal reporting obligations set forth in the facilities’ local bylaws and policies, including UC San Diego Health Policy 305.4, Abuse Screening, Assessment, and Reporting.

REQUIRED Internal Report - UC Whistleblower Hotline

In addition to completing the above listed external reports, Mandated Reporters are required to report observed or suspected Child Abuse or Neglect internally to the University of California Whistleblower Hotline or to their supervisor.

If reported to a supervisor, the supervisor must make the report to the University of California Whistleblower Hotline.

By telephone at: (800) 403‐4744; or

Online at: universityofcalifornia.edu/hotline.

The report may be anonymous; however, providing contact information for the Mandated Reporter may expedite the University’s ability to follow-up on the report.