CHILD ABUSE - MANDATORY REPORTERS / MANDATORY REPORTING

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The following information is taken from the Connecticut Department of Children and Families
Q&As ABOUT REPORTING CHILD ABUSE AND NEGLECT

WHO IS A MANDATED REPORTER?     

Under Connecticut law, the following professionals are "mandated reporters" and are therefore required to report known or suspected incidents of abuse or neglect of any child under age 18 and any child under age 21 if the child is a DCF client:

• Any person paid to care for a child in any public or private facility, child day care center, group day care home or family day care home which is licensed by the State
• Battered Women’s Counselors
• Chiropractors
• Dentists and Dental Hygienists
• Department of Children and Families employees
• Department of Public Health employees responsible for the licensing of child day care centers, group day care homes, family day care homes or youth camps.
• Foster parents
• Judical Department Employees (Family Relations Counselors, Family Counselor Trainees, Family Services Supervisors
• Licensed or Unlicensed Resident Interns
• Licensed or Unlicensed Resident Physicians
• Licensed Physicians, Surgeons
• Licensed Practical Nurses
• Licensed Professional Counselors
• Licensed/Certified Alcohol and Drug Counselors
• Licensed/Certified Emergency Medical Services Providers
• Licensed/Certified Marital and Family Therapists
  
• Medical examiners
• Members of the Clergy
• Mental health professionals
• Optometrists
• Parole Officers (Juvenile or Adult)
• Pharmacists
• Physical therapists
• Physicians
• Physician Assistants
• Podiatrists
• Police Officers
• Probation Officers (Juvenile or Adult)
• Psychologists
• Registered Nurses
• School Coaches or Coaches of Intramural or Interscholastic Athletics
• School Employees
• Sexual Assault Counselors
• Social Workers
• The Child Advocate and any employee of the Office of the Child Advocate

WHAT IS A MANDATED REPORTER REQUIRED TO DO?

Mandated reporters are required to report or cause a report to be made when, in the ordinary course of their employment or profession, they have reasonable cause to suspect or believe that a child under the age of 18 and any child under the age of 21 if the child is a DCF client, has been abused, neglected or is placed in imminent risk of serious harm.

Child abuse occurs when a child has had physical injury inflicted upon him other than by accidental means, has injuries at variance with history given of them, or is in a condition resulting in maltreatment, such as, but not limited to, malnutrition, sexual molestation or exploitation, deprivation of necessities, emotional maltreatment or cruel punishment.

Child neglect occurs when a child has been abandoned, is being denied proper care and attention physically, emotionally, or morally, or is being permitted to live under conditions, circumstances or associations injurious to his well-being.

An oral report must be made within 12 hours of the alleged abuse, followed by a written one (DCF 136 form) within 48 hours after that, both to the DCF Careline. The written report form is available on the DCF website at http://www.ct.gov/dcf/lib/dcf/child_welfare_services/pdf/child_abuse_neglect_dcf_136.pdf or one can be requested when an oral report is made to the DCF Careline. A law enforcement agency must immediately notify DCF when it receives an oral report.

Mandated reporters are required to give their name when they make a report to DCF, however, reporters may request anonymity to protect their privacy. This means that DCF would not disclose their name or identity unless mandated to do so by law (Connecticut General Statutes, Sections 17a-28 and 17a-101). Unless a reporter gives written consent, his or her name will not be disclosed except to:

• a DCF employee
• a law enforcement officer
• an appropriate state's attorney
• an appropriate assistant attorney general
• a judge and all necessary parties in a court proceeding
• a state child care licensing agency, executive director of any institution, school or facility or superintendent of schools

If DCF suspects or knows that the reporter knowingly makes a false report, his or her identity shall be disclosed to the appropriate law enforcement agency and the person may be subject to the penalty described in the next section.

TO FIND PROVIDERS IN CONNECTICUT'S COMMUNITY RESOURCES DATABASE:

Search by service names:

• Child Abuse Hotlines
• Children's Protective Services

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SOURCE:
Connecticut Department of Children and Families: What Mandated Reporters Need to Know
PREPARED BY: 211/kq
CONTENT LAST REVIEWED: April2013