Under Indiana law any individual who has a reason to believe a child is a victim of abuse or neglect has the duty to make a report; therefore, each citizen of Indiana is considered a “mandated reporter.”  While reporting child abuse is everyone’s responsibility, Indiana law requires a more stringent standard of reporting in some professions. These professional reporters are staff members in a medical or other public or private institution, school, facility, or agency. These reporters are legally obligated by their profession to report alleged child abuse or neglect. School professionals are required to make a report to the Department of Child Services (DCS) or to cause a report to be made immediately by their school or corporation designee. 

Student teachers must be aware of the warning signs of child abuse. If a student teacher observes these warning signs, he or she must talk with the supervising teacher and/or the school’s principal immediately and follow the school’s protocol for making a report or having a report made. In addition, he or she must notify the university supervisor of the situation.