REPORT CHILD ABUSE
If a minor is in imminent danger, immediately call your local law enforcement or 911.
If you suspect abuse of a minor, your first call should be to law enforcement.
The Safe Environment Policy for the Protection of Children of the Roman Catholic Diocese of San Bernardino requires all clergy, employees, and volunteers to immediately report suspected child abuse to County Child Protective Services and law enforcement.
The California Child Abuse and Neglect Reporting Law requires various categories of employees and volunteers, known as mandated reporters, such as clergy, catechetical leaders, youth ministers, and school staff, educators, and volunteers to immediately report suspected child abuse.
WHAT IS CONSIDERED CHILD ABUSE?
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Sexual abuse is the victimization of a child by sexual activities, including molestation, indecent exposure, fondling, rape, and incest.
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Exploitation means forcing or coercing a child into performing activities that are beyond the child's capabilities or which are illegal or degrading, including sexual exploitation.
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Physical abuse is bodily injury inflicted by other than accidental means on a child, including willful cruelty, unjustifiable punishment, or corporal punishment.
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Emotional abuse is nonphysical mistreatment, resulting in disturbed behavior by the child, such as severe withdrawal or hyperactivity. Emotional abuse includes willfully causing any child to suffer, inflicting mental suffering, or endangering a child's emotional well-being.
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General neglect is the negligent failure of a parent/guardian or caretaker to provide adequate food, clothing, shelter, or supervision where no physical injury to the child has occurred.
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Severe neglect refers to those situations of neglect where the child's health is endangered, including severe malnutrition.
HOW TO REPORT SUSPECTED CHILD ABUSE
Sexual abuse, or abuse of any other kind, by a priest, deacon or a staff member or volunteer of the Church within the Diocese of San Bernardino should be reported first to law enforcement, then to the diocesan Victim Assistance Coordinator at (909) 474-4954 or by email at VACoord@sbdiocese.org.
To report suspected child abuse to Law Enforcement or County Children Protective Services:
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Complete the Suspected Child Abuse Report (Also known as SCAR). Click Here to access the reporting form. Fill out the form with as much information as possible.
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Report to Law Enforcement if the abuse happened outside of the child's home. If you suspect child abuse within a family, you should call County Children Protective Services and Law-Enforcement. When in doubt, REPORT! (Scroll to the bottom of the page to view contact information for Law Enforcemnt Agencies and County Children Protective Services.)
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Ask for the intake person's name, I.D. or badge number, agency name, address, and where and how to send the report.
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Send the completed Suspected Child Abuse Report to the law enforcement agency and/or County Children Protective Services within 36 hours of making the report.
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Send a copy of the Suspected Child Abuse Report to the Office of Child and Youth Protection
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Document and file the reporting process and all relevant and related information for parish and diocesan records.
For assistance, contact the Office of Child and Youth Protection at (909) 475-5127 or (909) 475-5129.
REPORTING HISTORICAL ABUSE
To report historical abuse by a priest, deacon or a staff member or volunteer of the Church within the Diocese of San Bernardino, contact the Victim Assistance Coordinator at (909) 474-4954 or by email at VACoord@sbdiocese.org.
REPORTING SEXUAL ABUSE OF A CATHOLIC BISHOP
To report sexual abuse or related misconduct by a Catholic bishop, we encourage you to contact law enforcement. To report such abuse or misconduct to the Catholic Church, contact the Catholic Bishop Abuse Reporting (CBAR) service. CBAR is a third-party reporting service that gathers and routes reports to the appropriate Church authorities for investigation. Individuals may go to ReportBishopAbuse.org in order to make a report in English or Spanish. Reports are also accepted via phone call at 800-276-1562 in both languages.
LAW ENFORCEMENT & COUNTY AGENCIES
San Bernardino County Children and Family Services
Website: https://cfs.sbcounty.gov/how-to-report-child-abuse-2/
Riverside County Children's Services
Law Enforcement Agencies (Click on a link to access the agency's contact information.)