WHO REPORTS
University of Florida personnel are required to abide by the Mandatory Reporting rules as outlined in F.S. 39.201. This reporting requirement applies to all University, DSO, or Affiliate Entity faculty, staff, students, and volunteers regardless of their participation in a UF or non-UF youth activity.
General Mandatory Reporter
Any person who knows, or has reasonable cause to suspect, that a child is abused, abandoned, or neglected by a parent, legal custodian, caregiver, or other person responsible for the child’s welfare must report such abuse, abandonment, or neglect to the DCF Florida Abuse Hotline. Secondary reporting requirement to UF Youth Compliance.
Professional Mandatory Reporter
Anyone who, in their professional capacity, is legally obligated to report known abuse and must also identify themselves when reporting. These include:
- Physician, osteopathic physician, medical examiner, chiropractic physician, nurse, paramedic, emergency medical technician, or hospital personnel engaged in the admission, examination, care, or treatment of persons.
- Health or mental health professional other than listed in paragraph above.
- Practitioner who relies solely on spiritual means for healing.
- School teacher or other school official or personnel (child).
- Social worker, day care center worker, or other professional childcare, foster care, residential or institutional worker (child).
- Nursing home staff; assisted living facilities staff; adult day care center staff etc. (vulnerable adults).
- Employees of Department of Business and Professional Regulation conducting inspections of public lodging establishments.
- Law enforcement officer
- Animal control officer
- Mediators
State University System Administrator
BOG 3.002- State of Florida law requires a state university administrator and law enforcement agency upon receiving information from another institution employee to report known or suspected child abuse, neglect, or abandonment (including physical, sexual and/or emotional abuse) that occurred on university property or at a university-sponsored event directly to the DCF Florida Abuse Hotline.
A fine of $1 million shall be assessed against a university in the event the Board determines that a university administrator or law enforcement agency knowingly and willfully failed to report known or suspected child abuse, abandonment, or neglect to the DCF Florida Abuse Hotline or knowingly and willfully prevented another person from doing so.
University Administrators:
- President
- Provost
- Senior/Executive Vice Presidents
- Vice Presidents
- Associate Vice Presidents
- Associate/Vice Provosts
- Deans
- Chief of Police
- Equal Opportunity Programs Director
- Intercollegiate Athletics Director
- Internal Audit Director
- Title IX Coordinator
- University Compliance Officer
HOW TO REPORT
Step 1: Report abuse to the Department of Children and Families (DCF) Florida Abuse Hotline
Immediately report the abuse to the DCF Florida Abuse Hotline via one of the following methods and provide your UF email:
- Telephone: 1-800-962- 2873 (24-hour hotline)
- Fax: 1-800-914-0004
- TTY: 1-800-955-8771 or 711 (Florida Relay)
- Online Report (professional reporters encouraged to create an account)
Step 2: Save DCF Florida Abuse Hotline intake email and all electronic correspondence.
The DCF Florida Abuse Hotline will provide reporters with an intake email. The email informs the reporter if the abuse report was accepted or denied for investigation.
Step 3: Notify your supervisor
Discuss the details of the child abuse report with your direct supervisor.
Step 4: Report child abuse to UF Youth Compliance
- Submit Incident Report Form
- Upload Hotline intake email and all electronic correspondence from DCF
ADDITIONAL RESOURCES
Tips for Successful Fax Reporting
Vulnerable Persons Reporting training video from the UF Police Department
Please see the Definitions, Policies & Laws Related to Reporting, and Additional Resources tab for additional information.