- Describe and follow internal and external reporting procedures for your workplace.
- List the information that should be provided when making a report of suspected child abuse or neglect.
- Prepare yourself for the emotions and events that follow a report of child abuse or neglect.
Learn
Know
Think about Timothy, the child in the Explore section of the previous lessons. Think about the day his caregiver noticed the burns on his shoulders. If he were a child in your program, would you know what to do to help? Would you know exactly who to call and what to say? Would you take action like Timothy’s caregivers did?
By the end of this lesson, we hope you will answer “yes” to all these questions. The specific procedures and policies for reporting suspected child abuse and neglect varies across states . This lesson will provide an overview of reporting procedures, but you will be responsible for identifying your specific reporting procedures in the Apply section of this lesson.
You play a key role in ensuring the health, safety, and well-being of the children and youth under your care and supervision. If you suspect child abuse, reporting to your installation's Family Advocacy Program,
How to Report Child Abuse
If you suspect a child is being abused or neglected, you must make a report to local Child Protective Services or law enforcement. You can find out where to call by visiting the Child Welfare Information Gateway’s state reporting numbers website.
- Name of victim
- Age of victim
- Name and contact information for parents or guardians
- Reasons for suspected abuse or neglect
- Description and location of victim’s physical injuries (if applicable)
- Information freely disclosed by victim
- Current location of victim
- Known information regarding incident or chronology of events
- You may be asked if you are a mandated reporter (several states require mandated reporters to disclose their identity)
- You may be asked if you would like to disclose your identity
As a mandated reporter, it is good practice to document your call with details such as:
- Who you spoke to
- What time you made the call
- What information you were able to provide
After the Call
Reporting suspected child abuse or neglect can be a stressful event. It is important to mentally prepare yourself for what happens after the call.
In most states, your report will be evaluated by CPS. If there is enough evidence to warrant an investigation, a caseworker will initiate the investigation. Children, families, and caregivers may be contacted and interviewed. CPS will determine whether the claim is substantiated and whether the child is safe in the home. If the report of abuse involves alleged criminal acts, law enforcement will be contacted, and the investigation will be conducted jointly.
Regardless of where you work, it is unlikely you will ever hear the results of your report. Confidentiality laws protect families’ privacy. Also know that it is not uncommon for families to withdraw their child from the program after an allegation of abuse. The report you made may be the last piece of information you have about a child’s situation, but you should feel confident that you fulfilled your responsibilities. If the child and the family remain in your program, your team can continue to help and support the family by focusing on enhancing protective factors in the family and community.
Sometimes caregivers worry that they could be sued or punished for making a report. This is not the case. You are protected by law as a mandated reporter. A family cannot sue you for making a report in good faith. Likewise, you cannot be retaliated against for making a report in good faith about a suspected incident in your program.
Common Concerns That Prevent Staff Members From Making Reports
Child and youth professionals often face difficult decisions when reporting suspected child abuse or neglect. Below are some common concerns — and the facts that can help you make a report with confidence.
1. We live in a small community. Will my report ruin the parent’s career?
Child care providers sometimes worry that reporting suspected child abuse or neglect might impact a family member's career or get the individual “fired.” This can make staff members hesitant to make a report but you should know that Child Protective Services want to keep victims of abuse safe. They want to help families work through their parenting issues so individuals can develop healthier relationships . Thinking about what happens to the career of a family member has no legal bearing on the requirement to report suspected child abuse or neglect.
2. I don’t want to “turn in” my co-worker.
When you suspect a co-worker or program partner of child abuse or neglect, you might find yourself in an uncomfortable situation. You might feel like you are “turning in” your co-worker, and this is hard. Remember, though, that it is your job to keep children safe. You are a mandated reporter and must report your suspicions. Failure to do so can have devastating consequences for children and for yourself. Remember, you cannot be retaliated against in the workplace for your report. Talk to someone you trust if you need support.
3. What if I'm wrong, what if it's not abuse?
It is your duty to report, even if it is just a suspicion. You are not responsible to fully investigate the situation. It is your role to report observed and suspected abuse or neglect. It is your responsibility to keep children safe. Remember, you do not need to make the call alone, however you must personally make the call. You can seek guidance on reporting from a trainer, coach, or administrator. If your trainer, coach, or administrator is involved in the abuse or neglect, follow the chain of command to the person above them. The important thing is to make the call, even if it is suspicion, to protect the safety of the child.
4. Will they tell the family I was the one to make the report?
All jurisdictions have provisions in statute to maintain the confidentiality of abuse and neglect records. The identity of the reporter is specifically protected from disclosure to the individual suspected of abuse in 44 States, the District of Columbia, American Samoa, Guam, the Northern Mariana Islands, and Puerto Rico. This protection is maintained even when other information from the report may be disclosed.
Release of the reporter’s identity is allowed in some jurisdictions under specific circumstances or to specific departments or officials, for example, when information is needed for conducting an investigation or family assessment or upon a finding that the reporter knowingly made a false report. In six States, the District of Columbia, and Guam, the reporter can waive confidentiality and give consent to the release of their name.
See
How Reporting Abuse or Neglect Might Affect You
You will feel a range of emotions after making a report: frustrated, angry, disappointed, nervous, relieved. All of these emotions are expected. Make sure you talk to someone to help you deal with the emotions you are feeling. The following video helps explain what you might experience after a report and how you can get help.
After the Report: Emotions
Watch this video to learn more about reporting procedures from the Family Advocacy Program.
Family Advocacy Program: Reporting Procedures
Now learn about what to expect after the call.
Family Advocacy Program: What to Expect After the Report
Do
As you learned in Lesson 1, you have a responsibility to report a suspected case of abuse or neglect. It is not your job to identify the abuser. If you suspect abuse, you need to make a report and allow investigators to determine if abuse or neglect is occurring.
- Observe children for signs of abuse or neglect.
- Be familiar with reporting procedures for your state .
- Post reporting procedures in your classroom or know where they are posted in your program.
- Prepare yourself for the call. Be sure you have the correct spelling of the child’s legal name, the address of the child’s parents or guardians, and all the details outlined earlier in this lesson.
- If you suspect abuse or neglect, you can call the Childhelp National Child Abuse Hotline at 1-800-4-A-CHILD (1-800-422-4453). This line is open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week and can help you find emergency resources.
Explore
In the Infant Case Study: Part 3 activity read the expanded scenarios in which individuals suspected Timothy was being abused. Be sure to note the additional information about what the adults in each situation did. Then answer the reflection questions and share your responses with a coach, trainer, or administrator.
Apply
Because reporting requirements and procedures vary widely, you must know the specific procedures for making a report in your workplace. Review how to complete each section of the My Program’s Reporting Procedures activity with a trainer, coach, or administrator. Store or print a completed sample of this document in an accessible area of your room.
Understanding your legal obligation and reporting process for suspected child abuse or neglect is critical in keeping children safe from harm. Staff working toward their CDA credential should complete the Child Abuse & Neglect Legal Requirements and Mandatory Reporting Guidelines activity to provide summaries of the legal requirements regarding child abuse, neglect, and mandatory reporting.
Glossary
Demonstrate
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (n.d.). Violence prevention. https://www.cdc.gov/violenceprevention/
Center for the Study of Social Policy (2025). Protective factors framework. About-Strengthening-Families.pdf
Child Welfare Information Gateway. (2019). Mandatory reporters of child abuse and neglect. U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Children's Bureau. https://www.childwelfare.gov/resources/mandatory-reporting-child-abuse-and-neglect/
Military OneSource. (n.d.). Domestic Abuse, Child Abuse and Neglect. https://www.militaryonesource.mil/leaders-service-providers/child-abuse-and-domestic-abuse/
Seibel, N. L., Britt, D., Gillespie, L. G., & Parlakian, R. (2006). Preventing child abuse and neglect. Zero to Three: Center for Infants, Toddlers and Families.