Reporting Child Abuse/Neglect Flowchart - Mandated Reporter · 07/01/2013  · • In cases of...

Reporting Child Abuse/Neglect Flowchart

You Suspect Child Abuse or Neglect • Youhavereasontosuspectthatchildabuseorneglecthasoccurred.Forinstance,achild

eitherdisclosedtoyouoryourecognizedthesignsofchildabuseorneglect.

Call the Hotline: 1-800-482-5964 • Organizetheinformationforyourreport • ImmediatelynotifytheHotline:

* Phone:1.800.482.5964 * Fax:1.501.618.8952 Faxreportsmayonlybemadebyamandatedreporterprovidinghisorhercontact

information.Faxreportsmayonlybemadeinnon-emergencysituationsusingtheCACDHotlineForm.

* IftheHotlineworkerisNOTavailable,youwillhearthefollowingrecordingwhileonhold:“Pleasehold,allcallsareansweredintheordertheyarereceived.”

• AHotlineworkeracceptsyourcall. • Youreportinformationonwhatyouhaveseenandheard. • Youwillbetoldwhether the report will be accepted. • IfaHotlineworkerdoesNOTacceptyourreportandifyoudisagree,youmayaskto

speaktotheHotlineSupervisor.Youmayrequestreferencestoappropriateresources.

Investigation • Onceacallisaccepted,theinvestigationwillbeginwithin24-72hoursdependingon

theseverity. • Theinvestigatordetermineswhether the report is valid.

* Ifthereportisvalid,thelocalpolicedepartmentandtheProsecutor’sofficewillbenotifiedoftheallegedcrime.ApoliceinvestigatormaycontactyouinadditiontothestatepoliceorDCFSinvestigator.

* IfthereportisNOTdeterminedtobevalidforchildabuseorneglect,theinvestigatordeterminesifanysafetyconcernsexistforthechild.

• DCFSinvestigatordeterminesiftherearesafetyconcernsforthechild. • DCFSworkswiththefamilytodevelopasafetyplan. • Aninvestigatorinterviewsyouandmayspeaktootherfamilymembers,potential

witnessesorprofessionalsaspartoftheirinvestigation.

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Finding • Investigatordetermines“bypreponderanceoftheevidence”whethertheperpetrator

committedtheabuseorneglect. * Ifnoabuse/neglectoccurred,thecaseisunsubstantiated.However,DCFSmayrefer

thechildandfamilytoappropriatecommunityservices. * Ifyes,childabuse/neglectoccurred,thecaseissubstantiated.

• ThereportisretainedinthestateCentralRegistryandDCFSwillrecommendservicestostabilizethefamilyandprotectthechild.

• Incasesofseriousabusereportedbyschoolpersonnel,DCFSsendanotificationoftruefindingstothechild’sschool.Thereportisconfidential.

• AsaMandatedReporter,youwillreceivealetterinformingyouofthefindinginacaseyoureport.Otherspecificinformationaboutthereportcannotbereleased.

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