Montgomery County, PA

· Serious Physical Abuse - Any recent act (within the past two years) or failure to act  which results in a non-accidental serious physical injury that causes the child severe pain or significantly impairs the child’s functioning temporarily or permanently.

· Sexual Abuse or Sexual Exploitation - Any act  or failure to act that  results in the employment, use, persuasion, inducement, enticement  or coercion of a child to engage in or assist any other person to engage in any sexually explicit conduct or any simulation of any explicit conduct for the purpose of producing any visual depiction, including photographing, videotaping, computer depicting or filming, of any sexually explicit conduct; or the rape, sexual assault, involuntary deviate sexual intercourse, aggravated indecent assault, molestation, incest, indecent exposure, prostitution, statutory sexual assault, or other form of sexual exploitation of children.

· Serious Mental Abuse - Any recent act or failure to act or series of such acts or failures to act that result in a psychological condition, as diagnosed by a physician or licensed psychologist, rendering a child chronically and severely anxious, agitated, depressed, socially withdrawn, or psychotic; or seriously interferes with the child’s ability to accomplish age appropriate developmental and social tasks.

· Serious Physical Neglect - A prolonged or repeated lack of supervision or the failure to provide the essentials of life, including adequate medical care, which endangers a child’s life or development or impairs the child’s functioning.

· Imminent Risk of Child Abuse – Any recent act or failure to act or series of such acts or failures to act which create an immediately threatening risk of serious physical injury or sexual abuse or exploitation.

· Student Abuse is defined as:

Any act or acts committed by a school employee involving a student which results in the serious bodily injury or sexual abuse or exploitation of the student.  A  school employee is defined as a person employed by or under contract with a school.

If a school employee has reasonable cause to suspect that a student is a victim of serious bodily injury or sexual abuse or exploitation by another school employee, he/she shall immediately notify the school administrator of the alleged abuse or injury.  If an administrator learns of suspected student abuse from another person, the administrator shall make a report, without screening, directly to law enforcement who notifies the Office of Children & Youth as necessary.