OAR 407-047-0270
Investigations in Schools: Abuse Determination

(1) Except as provided in OAR 407-047-0260 (Investigations in Schools: Exception to Completing an Investigation) (Exception to Completing an Investigation), an abuse determination must be made for all reports of abuse that are determined to require an investigation under OAR 407-047-0220 (Investigations in Schools: Determining Response).
(a) When making an abuse determination the standard of proof is reasonable cause to believe.
(b) Based on the available evidence after conducting an investigation, the possible abuse determinations are:
(A) "Founded,” which means there is reasonable cause to believe the abuse occurred.
(B) "Unfounded,” which means there is no evidence the abuse occurred.
(C) "Unable to Determine,” which means there is insufficient evidence to conclude that there is reasonable cause to believe the abuse occurred. “Unable to Determine” may only be used in the following circumstances:
(i) After extensive efforts have been made, the OTIS investigator is unable to locate the alleged victim; or
(ii) After completing the investigation, there is insufficient information to support an abuse determination of founded or unfounded; and the alleged victim is unable or unwilling to provide consistent information; or there is conflicting information from collateral contacts.
(2) Except as provided in section (3), abuse of a child, for the purpose of making an abuse determination on a report subject to ORS 419B.005 (Definitions), includes, but is not limited to:
(a) Child selling, including the selling of a child that consists of buying, selling, bartering, trading, or offering to buy or sell the legal or physical custody of a child.
(b) Mental injury (psychological maltreatment), including cruel or unconscionable acts or statements made, threatened to be made, or permitted to be made by the respondent that has a direct effect on the child. The respondent’s behavior, intentional or unintentional, must be related to the observable and substantial impairment of the child’s psychological, cognitive, emotional, or social well-being and functioning.
(c) Neglect, including failure, through action or omission, to provide and maintain adequate food, clothing, shelter, medical care, supervision, protection, or nurturing. Neglect includes each of the following:
(A) Physical neglect, which includes each of the following:
(i) Failing to provide for the child’s basic physical needs including adequate shelter, food, and clothing.
(ii) Permitting a child to enter or remain in or upon premises where methamphetamines are being manufactured.
(iii) Unlawful exposure of a child to a substance that subjects a child to severe harm to the child’s health or safety. When the OTIS investigator is making a determination of physical neglect based on severe harm to the child’s health due to unlawful exposure to a substance, this determination must be consistent with medical findings.
(B) Medical neglect is a refusal or failure to seek, obtain, or maintain necessary medical, dental, or mental health care. Medical neglect includes withholding medically indicated treatment from infants who have disabilities and life-threatening conditions. However, failure to provide a child with immunizations or routine care alone does not constitute medical neglect. When the OTIS investigator is making a determination of medical neglect, this determination must be consistent with medical findings.
(C) Lack of supervision and protection, including failure to provide supervision and protection appropriate to the child’s age, mental ability, and physical condition.
(D) Desertion, which includes the respondent leaving the child with another person and failing to reclaim the child, or respondent failure to provide information about their whereabouts, providing false information about their whereabouts, or failing to establish a legal guardian or custodian for the child.
(E) Psychological neglect, which includes serious inattention to the child’s need for affection, support, nurturing, or emotional development. The respondent’s behavior must be related to the observable and severe harm of the child’s psychological, cognitive, emotional, or social well-being and functioning.
(d) Physical abuse, including an injury to a child that is inflicted or allowed to be inflicted by non-accidental means that results in harm. Physical abuse may include injury that could not reasonably be the result of the explanation given. Physical abuse may also include injury that is a result of discipline or punishment. Examples of injuries that may result from physical abuse include, but are not limited to:
(A) Head injuries;
(B) Bruises, cuts, lacerations;
(C) Internal injuries;
(D) Burns or scalds;
(E) Injuries to bone, muscle, cartilage, and ligaments;
(F) Poisoning;
(G) Electrical shock; and
(H) Death.
(e) Sexual abuse, which includes:
(A) A person’s use of a child for the person’s own sexual gratification, the sexual gratification of another person, or the sexual gratification of the child. Sexual abuse includes incest, rape, sodomy, sexual penetration, fondling, and voyeurism.
(B) Sexual exploitation, including, but not limited to, the use of a child in a sexually explicit way for personal gain to make money, in exchange for goods, services, or drugs, or to gain status. Sexual exploitation also includes using children in prostitution or using children to create pornography.
(C) Sex trafficking.
(f) Threat of harm, including all activities, conditions, and circumstances that place the child at threat of severe harm of physical abuse, sexual abuse, neglect, mental injury, or other abuse.
(3) Abuse does not include reasonable discipline unless the discipline results in one of the conditions described in section (2) of this rule.

Source: Rule 407-047-0270 — Investigations in Schools: Abuse Determination, https://secure.­sos.­state.­or.­us/oard/view.­action?ruleNumber=407-047-0270.

407‑047‑0200
Investigations in Schools: Purpose and Scope 407‑047‑0205
Investigations in Schools: Definitions 407‑047‑0210
Investigations in Schools: Screening Activities 407‑047‑0220
Investigations in Schools: Determining Response 407‑047‑0240
Investigations in Schools: Notifications at the Conclusion of Screening 407‑047‑0250
Investigations in Schools: Investigating Reports of Abuse 407‑047‑0260
Investigations in Schools: Exception to Completing an Investigation 407‑047‑0270
Investigations in Schools: Abuse Determination 407‑047‑0280
Investigations in Schools: Abuse Investigation Report 407‑047‑0290
Investigations in Schools: Notifications at the Conclusion of an Investigation 407‑047‑0295
Investigations in Schools: Confidentiality 407‑047‑0300
Investigations in Schools: Contested Case Hearings 407‑047‑0305
Investigations in Schools: Lay Representative 407‑047‑0400
Investigations in Child Care: Purpose and Scope 407‑047‑0410
Investigations in Child Care: Definitions 407‑047‑0420
Investigations in Child Care: Screening Activities 407‑047‑0430
Investigations in Child Care: Determining Response 407‑047‑0440
Investigations in Child Care: Notifications at the Conclusion of Screening 407‑047‑0450
Investigations in Child Care: Investigating Reports of Abuse 407‑047‑0460
Investigations in Child Care: Exception to Completing an Investigation 407‑047‑0470
Investigations in Child Care: Abuse Determination 407‑047‑0480
Investigations in Child Care: Abuse Investigation Report 407‑047‑0490
Investigations in Child Care: Notifications at the Conclusion of an Investigation 407‑047‑0500
Investigations in Child Care: Confidentiality 407‑047‑0510
Investigations in Child Care: Contested Case Hearings 407‑047‑0520
Investigations in Child Care: Lay Representative 407‑047‑0600
Investigations of Third-Party: Purpose and Scope 407‑047‑0610
Investigations of Third-Party: Definitions 407‑047‑0620
Investigations of Third-Party: Screening Activities 407‑047‑0630
Investigations of Third-Party: Determining OTIS Response for Third-Party Professionals 407‑047‑0640
Investigations of Third-Party: Determining OTIS Response for Other Third-Party 407‑047‑0650
Investigations of Third-Party: Notifications at the Conclusion of Screening 407‑047‑0660
Investigations of Third-Party: Investigating Reports of Abuse 407‑047‑0670
Investigations of Third-Party: Exception to Completing an Investigation 407‑047‑0680
Investigations of Third-Party: Abuse Determination 407‑047‑0690
Investigations of Third-Party: Abuse Investigation Report 407‑047‑0700
Investigations of Third-Party: Notifications and Report Distribution 407‑047‑0710
Investigations of Third-Party: Confidentiality 407‑047‑0720
Investigations of Third-Party: Contested Case Hearings 407‑047‑0730
Investigations of Third-Party: Lay Representative
Last Updated

Jun. 8, 2021

Rule 407-047-0270’s source at or​.us