II. SAFETY

Child Abuse Reporting

Under Georgia law, persons volunteering at any business or organization that provides care, treatment, education, training, supervision, coaching, counseling, recreational programs, or shelter to children, are mandatory reporters for suspicions of child abuse. This includes parent volunteers at Tallulah Falls School

When acting as a Tallulah Falls School parent volunteer, if suspected child abuse has occurred, immediately report it to a Division Head or the President and Head of School. The school will then follow all legally required steps.

Georgia law defines child abuse as:

• Physical injury or death by non-accidental means, excluding physical discipline so long as there is no physical injury to the child

• Neglect

• Emotional abuse

• Sexual abuse or sexual exploitation

• An act or failure to act that presents an imminent risk of serious harm to the child’s physical, mental, or emotional health

• Trafficking a child for labor servitude

The definition of “sexual abuse” is far broader than one might realize. “Sexual Abuse” is any of the following: employing, using, persuading, inducing, enticing, or coercing any minor to engage in any sexual act.

Sexual abuse includes consensual sex acts when the sex acts are between minors if any individual is less than 14 years of age. Sexual abuse includes consensual acts when the sex acts are between a minor (under 18) and an adult more than four years older than the minor.

The laws about what constitutes child abuse and/or sexual abuse can be complicated, and one might not always know the ages of those involved. However, doing the right thing is easy. As a parent volunteer of the school, any suspicion of possible child abuse and/or sexual abuse should be immediately reported to the school.

Finally, please know that all school faculty and staff are mandatory reporters under Georgia law. We must take our obligations seriously and if we assess that a situation requires it, we will make a report to child abuse authorities of situations that we reasonably suspect constitute child abuse. Depending on thecircumstances, wemaynot be ableto communicate with parents about thereport until authorized by legal authorities to do so. We ask for your understanding as we do our best to protect the children under our care. If you have any questions regarding the school’s mandatory reporting obligations, please consult with the President and Head of School.