BATON ROUGE, LA (WAFB) -
It's a matter of campus law versus moral code. By university standards, former Penn State football coach Joe Paterno followed the rules, notifying his supervisor. There's another argument he didn't do enough. According to Louisiana law, all adults are obligated to report abuse: sexual or physical, and neglect.
"Anyone who works with children such as teachers, principals, nurses, doctors, counselors, social workers," said Joelle Henderson, listing the professionals bound by law to report abuse. "If they suspect any type of abuse or have any concerns of the child, they have to report that to the appropriate authorities."
Henderson works for Child Advocacy Services, a nationwide organization dedicated to preventing the abuse and neglect of children. She says the occurrence of abuse, which is more widespread than many believe, is usually first reported by the children themselves.
"In 2010, 461 children disclosed abuse happening to them," she said. That's just in Louisiana, for one year.
While every state has rules on reporting abuse, in Louisiana: if anyone working with children suspects abuse in the home, by law they are to notify the Department of Children and Family Services. If they suspect abuse outside the home, for example in school, law enforcement must be called.
"Anybody coming on campus has gone through a background check," said Southern University Chancellor Jim Llorens.
Llorens says with 7,000 students on campus, Southern University is its own community. But everyone should be watching and reporting anything suspicious.
"Whenever a situation like that occurs it reinforces the need to make your procedures are up to date, in place. More importantly, everybody on campus is aware of what procedures are."
That procedure: if abuse is reported to any administrator, it is investigated by campus police. If abuse is found, the case is turned over to local law enforcement.
"It's the adults in their lives responsibility to make sure they're in a safer place, with safe people and if they do see something going on they report it. So they can stop it for that child and all other children," said Henderson.
Henderson points out, any adult can report abuse to police. You don't have to know if it's happening, you just need to have a suspicion.
CAS will also train any adult in how to recognize signs of sexual abuse and steps to protect children. It's called Darkness to Light Stewards of Children.
Below is a list of training opportunities.
Friday, November 18, 2011: 12:30 - 3:30 PM, North Oaks - Livingston Parish Medical Complex, 17199 Spring Ranch Road, Livingston, LA
Thursday, December 15, 2011: 1:00 - 3:30 PM, Tangipahoa Tourism Commission Building, 13143 Wardline Road, Hammond, LA
Monday, January 23, 2012: 9:30 AM - 12:30 PM, Public Fire and Safety Building 724 W. Orice Roth Road, Gonzales, LA
Click here for more information on reporting child abuse.
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