Child Protective Services Banner


You are a mandated reporter if you are one of the following

  • Health Practitioner
  • Educator
  • Human Service Worker
  • Police Officer

This does NOT require PROOF that abuse or neglect has occurred before reporting. Incidents are to be reported as soon as they are suspected. Waiting for proof may involve grave risk to the child and impede services to the family. Proof may be long in coming, witnesses to child abuse and neglect are rare, and the child's testimony may be disbelieved or inadmissible.

If you knowingly fail to report suspected abuse of a child, you may be subject to professional sanctions by licensing boards. Anyone that makes a "good faith" report is immune from civil liability and criminal penalty.

According to Section 5-704 (b), if you are mandated to report, you must make an oral and written report to the local department of social services (or in abuse cases, to the local law enforcement department and the local States Attorney) not later than 48 hours after the contact, examination, treatment or other circumstances that lead you to believe that the child had been subjected to abuse or neglect. If a copy of the report is placed in the patient' medical record (a sample Child Abuse Reporting Form (DHR/SSA 180) can be found in Appendix A), information contained in the report shall only be disclosed in accordance with the Confidentiality Law regarding child abuse and neglect (Article 88A’6(b).) See below for further information.