What constitutes sexual abuse?

What constitutes sexual abuse?

• A. Sexual assault or sexual exploitation.
• B. Non-sexual scoldings.
• C. Neglect.
• D. Bullying.

Answer: (A)

Sexual abuse means any sexual contact with a minor or exploitation of a minor for sexual purposes. This includes sexual assault and sexual exploitation. Those elements define sexual abuse, which is why this option is correct. The other choices describe mistreatment that does not involve sexual activity or exploitation—non-sexual scoldings, neglect, and bullying—so they do not meet the definition of sexual abuse in the reporting policy. If staff have reason to believe a child is being sexually harmed, it’s a mandatory report under these procedures.

Sexual abuse means any sexual contact with a minor or exploitation of a minor for sexual purposes. This includes sexual assault and sexual exploitation. Those elements define sexual abuse, which is why this option is correct. The other choices describe mistreatment that does not involve sexual activity or exploitation—non-sexual scoldings, neglect, and bullying—so they do not meet the definition of sexual abuse in the reporting policy. If staff have reason to believe a child is being sexually harmed, it’s a mandatory report under these procedures.