Ohio § 2151.421

§ 2151.421.

(A)(1)(a) No person described in division (A)(1)(b) of this section who is acting in an official

or professional capacity and knows, or has reasonable cause to suspect based on facts

that would cause a reasonable person in a similar position to suspect, that a child

under eighteen years of age, or a person under twenty-one years of age with a developmental

disability or physical impairment, has suffered or faces a threat of suffering any

physical or mental wound, injury, disability, or condition of a nature that reasonably

indicates abuse or neglect of the child shall fail to immediately report that knowledge

or reasonable cause to suspect to the entity or persons specified in this division.  Except as otherwise provided in this division or section 5120.173 of the Revised Code , the person making the report shall make it to the public children services agency

or a peace officer in the county in which the child resides or in which the abuse

or neglect is occurring or has occurred.  If the person making the report is a peace officer, the officer shall make it to

the public children services agency in the county in which the child resides or in

which the abuse or neglect is occurring or has occurred.  In the circumstances described in section 5120.173 of the Revised Code , the person making the report shall make it to the entity specified in that section. (b) Division (A)(1)(a) of this section applies to any person who is an attorney;  health

care professional;  practitioner of a limited branch of medicine as specified in section 4731.15 of the Revised Code ;  licensed school psychologist;  independent marriage and family therapist or marriage

and family therapist;  coroner;  administrator or employee of a child care center;

 administrator or employee of a residential camp, child day camp, or private, nonprofit

therapeutic wilderness camp;  administrator or employee of a certified child care

agency or other public or private children services agency;  school teacher;  school

employee;  school authority;  peace officer;  humane society agent;  dog warden, deputy

dog warden, or other person appointed to act as an animal control officer for a municipal

corporation or township in accordance with state law, an ordinance, or a resolution;

 person, other than a cleric, rendering spiritual treatment through prayer in accordance

with the tenets of a well-recognized religion;  employee of a county department of

job and family services who is a professional and who works with children and families;

 employee of an entity that provides home visiting services under the help me grow

program established by the department of children and youth pursuant to section 5180.21 of the Revised Code ;  superintendent or regional administrator employed by the department of youth services;

 superintendent, board member, or employee of a county board of developmental disabilities;

 investigative agent contracted with by a county board of developmental disabilities;

 employee of the department of developmental disabilities;  employee of a facility

or home that provides respite care in accordance with section 5123.171 of the Revised Code ;  employee of an entity that provides homemaker services;  employee of a qualified

organization as defined in section 2151.90 of the Revised Code ;  a host family as defined in section 2151.90 of the Revised Code ;  foster caregiver;  a person performing the duties of an assessor pursuant to Chapter

3107. or 5103. of the Revised Code;  third party employed by a public children services

agency to assist in providing child or family related services;  court appointed special

advocate;  or guardian ad litem. (c) If two or more health care professionals, after providing health care services to

a child, determine or suspect that the child has been or is being abused or neglected,

the health care professionals may designate one of the health care professionals to

report the abuse or neglect.  A single report made under this division shall meet the reporting requirements of

division (A)(1) of this section. (2) Except as provided in division (A)(3) of this section, an attorney, physician, or

advanced practice registered nurse is not required to make a report pursuant to division

(A)(1) of this section concerning any communication the attorney, physician, or advanced

practice registered nurse receives from a client or patient in an attorney-client,

physician-patient, or advanced practice registered nurse-patient relationship, if,

in accordance with division (A) or (B) of section 2317.02 of the Revised Code , the attorney, physician, or advanced practice registered nurse could not testify

with respect to that communication in a civil or criminal proceeding. (3) The client or patient in an attorney-client, physician-patient, or advanced practice

registered nurse-patient relationship described in division (A)(2) of this section

is deemed to have waived any testimonial privilege under division (A) or (B) of section 2317.02 of the Revised Code with respect to any communication the attorney, physician, or advanced practice registered

nurse receives from the client or patient in that relationship, and the attorney,

physician, or advanced practice registered nurse shall make a report pursuant to division

(A)(1) of this section with respect to that communication, if all of the following

apply: (a) The client or patient, at the time of the communication, is a child under eighteen

years of age or is a person under twenty-one years of age with a developmental disability

or physical impairment. (b) The attorney, physician, or advanced practice registered nurse knows, or has reasonable

cause to suspect based on facts that would cause a reasonable person in similar position

to suspect that the client or patient has suffered or faces a threat of suffering

any physical or mental wound, injury, disability, or condition of a nature that reasonably

indicates abuse or neglect of the client or patient. (c) The abuse or neglect does not arise out of the client's or patient's attempt to have

an abortion without the notification of her parents, guardian, or custodian in accordance

with section 2151.85 of the Revised Code . (4)(a) No cleric and no person, other than a volunteer, designated by any church, religious

society, or faith acting as a leader, official, or delegate on behalf of the church,

religious society, or faith who is acting in an official or professional capacity,

who knows, or has reasonable cause to believe based on facts that would cause a reasonable

person in a similar position to believe, that a child under eighteen years of age,

or a person under twenty-one years of age with a developmental disability or physical

impairment, has suffered or faces a threat of suffering any physical or mental wound,

injury, disability, or condition of a nature that reasonably indicates abuse or neglect

of the child, and who knows, or has reasonable cause to believe based on facts that

would cause a reasonable person in a similar position to believe, that another cleric

or another person, other than a volunteer, designated by a church, religious society,

or faith acting as a leader, official, or delegate on behalf of the church, religious

society, or faith caused, or poses the threat of causing, the wound, injury, disability,

or condition that reasonably indicates abuse or neglect shall fail to immediately

report that knowledge or reasonable cause to believe to the entity or persons specified

in this division.  Except as provided in section 5120.173 of the Revised Code , the person making the report shall make it to the public children services agency

or a peace officer in the county in which the child resides or in which the abuse

or neglect is occurring or has occurred.  In the circumstances described in section 5120.173 of the Revised Code , the person making the report shall make it to the entity specified in that section. (b) Except as provided in division (A)(4)(c) of this section, a cleric is not required

to make a report pursuant to division (A)(4)(a) of this section concerning any communication

the cleric receives from a penitent in a cleric-penitent relationship, if, in accordance

with division (C) of section 2317.02 of the Revised Code , the cleric could not testify with respect to that communication in a civil or criminal

proceeding. (c) The penitent in a cleric-penitent relationship described in division (A)(4)(b) of

this section is deemed to have waived any testimonial privilege under division (C) of section 2317.02 of the Revised Code with respect to any communication the cleric receives from the penitent in that cleric-penitent

relationship, and the cleric shall make a report pursuant to division (A)(4)(a) of

this section with respect to that communication, if all of the following apply: (i) The penitent, at the time of the communication, is a child under eighteen years of

age or is a person under twenty-one years of age with a developmental disability or

physical impairment. (ii) The cleric knows, or has reasonable cause to believe based on facts that would cause

a reasonable person in a similar position to believe, as a result of the communication

or any observations made during that communication, the penitent has suffered or faces

a threat of suffering any physical or mental wound, injury, disability, or condition

of a nature that reasonably indicates abuse or neglect of the penitent. (iii) The abuse or neglect does not arise out of the penitent's attempt to have an abortion

performed upon a child under eighteen years of age or upon a person under twenty-one

years of age with a developmental disability or physical impairment without the notification

of her parents, guardian, or custodian in accordance with section 2151.85 of the Revised Code . (d) Divisions (A)(4)(a) and (c) of this section do not apply in a cleric-penitent relationship

when the disclosure of any communication the cleric receives from the penitent is

in violation of the sacred trust. (e) As used in divisions (A)(1) and (4) of this section, “cleric” and “sacred trust”

have the same meanings as in section 2317.02 of the Revised Code . (B) Anyone who knows, or has reasonable cause to suspect based on facts that would cause

a reasonable person in similar circumstances to suspect, that a child under eighteen

years of age, or a person under twenty-one years of age with a developmental disability

or physical impairment, has suffered or faces a threat of suffering any physical or

mental wound, injury, disability, or other condition of a nature that reasonably indicates

abuse or neglect of the child may report or cause reports to be made of that knowledge

or reasonable cause to suspect to the entity or persons specified in this division.  Except as provided in section 5120.173 of the Revised Code , a person making a report or causing a report to be made under this division shall

make it or cause it to be made to the public children services agency or to a peace

officer.  In the circumstances described in section 5120.173 of the Revised Code , a person making a report or causing a report to be made under this division shall

make it or cause it to be made to the entity specified in that section. (C) Any report made pursuant to division (A) or (B) of this section shall be made forthwith

either by telephone, in person, or electronically and shall be followed by a written

report, if requested by the receiving agency or officer.  The written report shall contain: (1) The names and addresses of the child and the child's parents or the person or persons

having custody of the child, if known; (2) The child's age and the nature and extent of the child's injuries, abuse, or neglect

that is known or reasonably suspected or believed, as applicable, to have occurred

or of the threat of injury, abuse, or neglect that is known or reasonably suspected

or believed, as applicable, to exist, including any evidence of previous injuries,

abuse, or neglect; (3) Any other information, including, but not limited to, results and reports of any

medical examinations, tests, or procedures performed under division (D) of this section,

that might be helpful in establishing the cause of the injury, abuse, or neglect that

is known or reasonably suspected or believed, as applicable, to have occurred or of

the threat of injury, abuse, or neglect that is known or reasonably suspected or believed,

as applicable, to exist. (D)(1) Any person, who is required by division (A) of this section to report child abuse

or child neglect that is known or reasonably suspected or believed to have occurred,

may take or cause to be taken color photographs of areas of trauma visible on a child

and, if medically necessary for the purpose of diagnosing or treating injuries that

are suspected to have occurred as a result of child abuse or child neglect, perform

or cause to be performed radiological examinations and any other medical examinations

of, and tests or procedures on, the child. (2) The results and any available reports of examinations, tests, or procedures made

under division (D)(1) of this section shall be included in a report made pursuant

to division (A) of this section.  Any additional reports of examinations, tests, or procedures that become available

shall be provided to the public children services agency, upon request. (3) If a health care professional provides health care services in a hospital, children's

advocacy center, or emergency medical facility to a child about whom a report has

been made under division (A) of this section, the health care professional may take

any steps that are reasonably necessary for the release or discharge of the child

to an appropriate environment.  Before the child's release or discharge, the health care professional may obtain

information, or consider information obtained, from other entities or individuals

that have knowledge about the child.  Nothing in division (D)(3) of this section shall be construed to alter the responsibilities

of any person under sections 2151.27 and 2151.31 of the Revised Code . (4) A health care professional may conduct medical examinations, tests, or procedures

on the siblings of a child about whom a report has been made under division (A) of

this section and on other children who reside in the same home as the child, if the

professional determines that the examinations, tests, or procedures are medically

necessary to diagnose or treat the siblings or other children in order to determine

whether reports under division (A) of this section are warranted with respect to such

siblings or other children.  The results of the examinations, tests, or procedures on the siblings and other

children may be included in a report made pursuant to division (A) of this section. (5) Medical examinations, tests, or procedures conducted under divisions (D)(1) and (4)

of this section and decisions regarding the release or discharge of a child under

division (D)(3) of this section do not constitute a law enforcement investigation

or activity. (E)(1) When a peace officer receives a report made pursuant to division (A) or (B) of this

section, upon receipt of the report, the peace officer who receives the report shall

refer the report to the appropriate public children services agency, in accordance

with requirements specified under division (B)(6) of section 2151.4221 of the Revised Code , unless an arrest is made at the time of the report that results in the appropriate

public children services agency being contacted concerning the possible abuse or neglect

of a child or the possible threat of abuse or neglect of a child. (2) When a public children services agency receives a report pursuant to this division

or division (A) or (B) of this section, upon receipt of the report, the public children

services agency shall do all of the following: (a) Comply with section 2151.422 of the Revised Code ; (b) If the county served by the agency is also served by a children's advocacy center

and the report alleges sexual abuse of a child or another type of abuse of a child

that is specified in the memorandum of understanding that creates the center as being

within the center's jurisdiction, comply regarding the report with the protocol and

procedures for referrals and investigations, with the coordinating activities, and

with the authority or responsibility for performing or providing functions, activities,

and services stipulated in the interagency agreement entered into under section 2151.428 of the Revised Code relative to that center; (c) Unless an arrest is made at the time of the report that results in the appropriate

law enforcement agency being contacted concerning the possible abuse or neglect of

a child or the possible threat of abuse or neglect of a child, and in accordance with

requirements specified under division (B)(6) of section 2151.4221 of the Revised Code , notify the appropriate law enforcement agency of the report, if the public children

services agency received either of the following: (i) A report of abuse of a child; (ii) A report of neglect of a child that alleges a type of neglect identified by the department

of children and youth in rules adopted under division (L)(2) of this section. (F) No peace officer shall remove a child about whom a report is made pursuant to this

section from the child's parents, stepparents, or guardian or any other persons having

custody of the child without consultation with the public children services agency,

unless, in the judgment of the officer, and, if the report was made by a physician

or advanced practice registered nurse, the physician or nurse, immediate removal is

considered essential to protect the child from further abuse or neglect.  The agency that must be consulted shall be the agency conducting the investigation

of the report as determined pursuant to section 2151.422 of the Revised Code . (G)(1) Except as provided in section 2151.422 of the Revised Code or in an interagency agreement entered into under section 2151.428 of the Revised Code that applies to the particular report, the public children services agency shall

investigate, within twenty-four hours, each report of child abuse or child neglect

that is known or reasonably suspected or believed to have occurred and of a threat

of child abuse or child neglect that is known or reasonably suspected or believed

to exist that is referred to it under this section to determine the circumstances

surrounding the injuries, abuse, or neglect or the threat of injury, abuse, or neglect,

the cause of the injuries, abuse, neglect, or threat, and the person or persons responsible.  The investigation shall be made in cooperation with the law enforcement agency and

in accordance with the memorandum of understanding prepared under sections 2151.4220 to 2151.4234 of the Revised Code .  A representative of the public children services agency shall, at the time of initial

contact with the person subject to the investigation, inform the person of the specific

complaints or allegations made against the person.  The information shall be given in a manner that is consistent with division (I)(1)

of this section and protects the rights of the person making the report under this

section. A failure to make the investigation in accordance with the memorandum is not grounds

for, and shall not result in, the dismissal of any charges or complaint arising from

the report or the suppression of any evidence obtained as a result of the report and

does not give, and shall not be construed as giving, any rights or any grounds for

appeal or post-conviction relief to any person.  The public children services agency shall report each case to the uniform statewide

automated child welfare information system that the department of children and youth

shall maintain in accordance with section 5180.40 of the Revised Code .  The public children services agency shall submit a report of its investigation,

in writing, to the law enforcement agency. (2) The public children services agency shall make any recommendations to the county

prosecuting attorney or city director of law that it considers necessary to protect

any children that are brought to its attention. (H)(1)(a) Except as provided in divisions (H)(1)(b) and (I)(3) of this section, any person,

health care professional, hospital, institution, school, health department, or agency

shall be immune from any civil or criminal liability for injury, death, or loss to

person or property that otherwise might be incurred or imposed as a result of any

of the following: (i) Participating in the making of reports pursuant to division (A) of this section or

in the making of reports in good faith, pursuant to division (B) of this section; (ii) Participating in medical examinations, tests, or procedures under division (D) of

this section; (iii) Providing information used in a report made pursuant to division (A) of this section

or providing information in good faith used in a report made pursuant to division

(B) of this section; (iv) Participating in a judicial proceeding resulting from a report made pursuant to division

(A) of this section or participating in good faith in a proceeding resulting from

a report made pursuant to division (B) of this section. (b) Immunity under division (H)(1)(a)(ii) of this section shall not apply when a health

care provider has deviated from the standard of care applicable to the provider's

profession. (c) Notwithstanding section 4731.22 of the Revised Code , the physician-patient privilege shall not be a ground for excluding evidence regarding

a child's injuries, abuse, or neglect, or the cause of the injuries, abuse, or neglect

in any judicial proceeding resulting from a report submitted pursuant to this section. (2) In any civil or criminal action or proceeding in which it is alleged and proved that

participation in the making of a report under this section was not in good faith or

participation in a judicial proceeding resulting from a report made under this section

was not in good faith, the court shall award the prevailing party reasonable attorney's

fees and costs and, if a civil action or proceeding is voluntarily dismissed, may

award reasonable attorney's fees and costs to the party against whom the civil action

or proceeding is brought. (I)(1) Except as provided in divisions (I)(4) and (N) of this section and sections 2151.423 and 2151.4210 of the Revised Code , a report made under this section is confidential.  The information provided in a report made pursuant to this section and the name

of the person who made the report shall not be released for use, and shall not be

used, as evidence in any civil action or proceeding brought against the person who

made the report.  Nothing in this division shall preclude the use of reports of other incidents of

known or suspected abuse or neglect in a civil action or proceeding brought pursuant

to division (M) of this section against a person who is alleged to have violated division

(A)(1) of this section, provided that any information in a report that would identify

the child who is the subject of the report or the maker of the report, if the maker

of the report is not the defendant or an agent or employee of the defendant, has been

redacted.  In a criminal proceeding, the report is admissible in evidence in accordance with

the Rules of Evidence and is subject to discovery in accordance with the Rules of

Criminal Procedure. (2)(a) Except as provided in division (I)(2)(b) of this section, no person shall permit

or encourage the unauthorized dissemination of the contents of any report made under

this section. (b) A health care professional that obtains the same information contained in a report

made under this section from a source other than the report may disseminate the information,

if its dissemination is otherwise permitted by law. (3) A person who knowingly makes or causes another person to make a false report under

division (B) of this section that alleges that any person has committed an act or

omission that resulted in a child being an abused child or a neglected child is guilty

of a violation of section 2921.14 of the Revised Code . (4) If a report is made pursuant to division (A) or (B) of this section and the child

who is the subject of the report dies for any reason at any time after the report

is made, but before the child attains eighteen years of age, the public children services

agency or peace officer to which the report was made or referred, on the request of

the child fatality review board, the suicide fatality review committee, or the director

of health pursuant to guidelines established under section 3701.70 of the Revised Code , shall submit a summary sheet of information providing a summary of the report to

the review board or review committee of the county in which the deceased child resided

at the time of death or to the director.  On the request of the review board, review committee, or director, the agency or

peace officer may, at its discretion, make the report available to the review board,

review committee, or director.  If the county served by the public children services agency is also served by a

children's advocacy center and the report of alleged sexual abuse of a child or another

type of abuse of a child is specified in the memorandum of understanding that creates

the center as being within the center's jurisdiction, the agency or center shall perform

the duties and functions specified in this division in accordance with the interagency

agreement entered into under section 2151.428 of the Revised Code relative to that advocacy center. (5) Not later than five business days after the determination of a disposition, a public

children services agency shall advise a person alleged to have inflicted abuse or

neglect on a child who is the subject of a report made pursuant to this section, including

a report alleging sexual abuse of a child or another type of abuse of a child referred

to a children's advocacy center pursuant to an interagency agreement entered into

under section 2151.428 of the Revised Code , in writing of the disposition of the investigation.  The agency shall not provide to the person any information that identifies the person

who made the report, statements of witnesses, or police or other investigative reports.  The written notice of disposition shall be made in a form designated by the department

of children and youth and shall inform the person of the right to appeal the disposition. (J) Any report that is required by this section, other than a report that is made to

the state highway patrol as described in section 5120.173 of the Revised Code , shall result in protective services and emergency supportive services being made

available by the public children services agency on behalf of the children about whom

the report is made.  The agency required to provide the services shall be the agency conducting the investigation

of the report pursuant to section 2151.422 of the Revised Code .  If a family is determined to benefit from prevention services, the agency also may

make efforts to prevent neglect or abuse, to enhance a child's welfare, and to preserve

the family unit intact by referring a report for assessment and provision of services

to an agency providing prevention services, if appropriate prevention services are

available from a local provider or other reasonable source. (K)(1) Except as provided in division (K)(4) or (5) of this section, a person who is required

to make a report under division (A) of this section may make a reasonable number of

requests of the public children services agency that receives or is referred the report,

or of the children's advocacy center that is referred the report if the report is

referred to a children's advocacy center pursuant to an interagency agreement entered

into under section 2151.428 of the Revised Code , to be provided with the following information: (a) Whether the agency or center has initiated an investigation of the report; (b) Whether the agency or center is continuing to investigate the report; (c) Whether the agency or center is otherwise involved with the child who is the subject

of the report; (d) The general status of the health and safety of the child who is the subject of the

report; (e) Whether the report has resulted in the filing of a complaint in juvenile court or

of criminal charges in another court. (2)(a) A person may request the information specified in division (K)(1) of this section

only if, at the time the report is made, the person's name, address, and telephone

number are provided to the person who receives the report. (b) When a peace officer or employee of a public children services agency receives a

report pursuant to division (A) or (B) of this section the recipient of the report

shall inform the person of the right to request the information described in division

(K)(1) of this section.  The recipient of the report shall include in the initial child abuse or child neglect

report that the person making the report was so informed and, if provided at the time

of the making of the report, shall include the person's name, address, and telephone

number in the report. (c) If the person making the report provides the person's name and contact information

on making the report, the public children services agency that received or was referred

the report shall send a written notice via United States mail or electronic mail,

in accordance with the person's preference, to the person not later than seven calendar

days after receipt of the report.  The notice shall provide the status of the agency's investigation into the report

made, who the person may contact at the agency for further information, and a description

of the person's rights under division (K)(1) of this section. (d) Each request is subject to verification of the identity of the person making the

report.  If that person's identity is verified, the agency shall provide the person with

the information described in division (K)(1) of this section a reasonable number of

times, except that the agency shall not disclose any confidential information regarding

the child who is the subject of the report other than the information described in

those divisions. (3) A request made pursuant to division (K)(1) of this section is not a substitute for

any report required to be made pursuant to division (A) of this section. (4) If an agency other than the agency that received or was referred the report is conducting

the investigation of the report pursuant to section 2151.422 of the Revised Code , the agency conducting the investigation shall comply with the requirements of division

(K) of this section. (5) A health care professional who made a report under division (A) of this section,

or on whose behalf such a report was made as provided in division (A)(1)(c) of this

section, may authorize a person to obtain the information described in division (K)(1)

of this section if the person requesting the information is associated with or acting

on behalf of the health care professional who provided health care services to the

child about whom the report was made. (6) If the person making the report provides the person's name and contact information

on making the report, the public children services agency that received or was referred

the report shall send a written notice via United States mail or electronic mail,

in accordance with the person's preference, to the person not later than seven calendar

days after the agency closes the investigation into the case reported by the person.  The notice shall notify the person that the agency has closed the investigation. (L)(1) The director of children and youth shall adopt rules in accordance with Chapter 119.

of the Revised Code to implement this section.  The department of children and youth may enter into a plan of cooperation with any

other governmental entity to aid in ensuring that children are protected from abuse

and neglect.  The department shall make recommendations to the attorney general that the department

determines are necessary to protect children from child abuse and child neglect. (2) The director of children and youth shall adopt rules in accordance with Chapter 119.

of the Revised Code to identify the types of neglect of a child that a public children

services agency shall be required to notify law enforcement of pursuant to division

(E)(2)(c)(ii) of this section. (M) Whoever violates division (A) of this section is liable for compensatory and exemplary

damages to the child who would have been the subject of the report that was not made.  A person who brings a civil action or proceeding pursuant to this division against

a person who is alleged to have violated division (A)(1) of this section may use in

the action or proceeding reports of other incidents of known or suspected abuse or

neglect, provided that any information in a report that would identify the child who

is the subject of the report or the maker of the report, if the maker is not the defendant

or an agent or employee of the defendant, has been redacted. (N)(1) As used in this division: (a) “ Out-of-home care ” includes a nonchartered nonpublic school if the alleged child abuse or child neglect,

or alleged threat of child abuse or child neglect, described in a report received

by a public children services agency allegedly occurred in or involved the nonchartered

nonpublic school and the alleged perpetrator named in the report holds a certificate,

permit, or license issued by the state board of education under section 3301.071 or

Chapter 3319. of the Revised Code. (b) “ Administrator, director, or other chief administrative officer ” means the superintendent of the school district if the out-of-home care entity subject

to a report made pursuant to this section is a school operated by the district. (2) No later than the end of the day following the day on which a public children services

agency receives a report of alleged child abuse or child neglect, or a report of an

alleged threat of child abuse or child neglect, that allegedly occurred in or involved

an out-of-home care entity, the agency shall provide written notice of the allegations

contained in and the person named as the alleged perpetrator in the report to the

administrator, director, or other chief administrative officer of the out-of-home

care entity that is the subject of the report unless the administrator, director,

or other chief administrative officer is named as an alleged perpetrator in the report.  If the administrator, director, or other chief administrative officer of an out-of-home

care entity is named as an alleged perpetrator in a report of alleged child abuse

or child neglect, or a report of an alleged threat of child abuse or child neglect,

that allegedly occurred in or involved the out-of-home care entity, the agency shall

provide the written notice to the owner or governing board of the out-of-home care

entity that is the subject of the report.  The agency shall not provide witness statements or police or other investigative

reports. (3) No later than three days after the day on which a public children services agency

that conducted the investigation as determined pursuant to section 2151.422 of the Revised Code makes a disposition of an investigation involving a report of alleged child abuse

or child neglect, or a report of an alleged threat of child abuse or child neglect,

that allegedly occurred in or involved an out-of-home care entity, the agency shall

send written notice of the disposition of the investigation to the administrator,

director, or other chief administrative officer and the owner or governing board of

the out-of-home care entity.  The agency shall not provide witness statements or police or other investigative

reports. (O) As used in this section: (1) “Children's advocacy center” and “sexual abuse of a child” have the same meanings

as in section 2151.425 of the Revised Code . (2) “ Health care professional ” means an individual who provides health-related services.  “ Health care professional ” includes all of the following:  a physician, including a hospital intern or resident;

 a dentist;  a podiatrist; a registered nurse, including such a nurse who is an advanced

practice registered nurse;  a licensed practical nurse;  a home care nurse;  a licensed

psychologist;  a speech-language pathologist;  an audiologist;  a person engaged in

social work or the practice of professional counseling;  and an employee of a home

health agency.  “Health care professional” does not include a practitioner of a limited branch of

medicine as specified in section 4731.15 of the Revised Code , licensed school psychologist, independent marriage and family therapist or marriage

and family therapist, or coroner. (3) “ Investigation ” means the public children services agency's response to an accepted report of child

abuse or neglect through either an alternative response or a traditional response. (4) “ Peace officer ” means a sheriff, deputy sheriff, constable, police officer of a township or joint

police district, marshal, deputy marshal, municipal police officer, or a state highway

patrol trooper.