1) What information must be reported?

-The child or childrens age and gender

- The parents name, or responsible caregiver, the child or children's name, and the address

-Nature and extent of injury or injuries, maltreatment or neglect

- Approximate date and time of the injury, maltreatment or neglect occurred

-The circumstances in which the injuries, maltreatment or neglect became known to the reporter

- Previous injury, maltreatment or neglect of the child or siblings

- Name of the person suspected to have caused the injury, maltreatment or neglect

- Any action taken to treat or help the child

- Any other information the reporter believes would help.

 

2) How do I respond to a child who reports abuse to me?

Tell the child that you believe them and that you are going to contact people who can help. Respect the privacy of the child. The child will need to tell their story in detail later, so don't press the child for details. Remember, you need only suspect abuse to make a report. Don't display horror, shock, or disapproval of parents, child, or the situation. Don't place blame or make judgments about the parent or child. Believe the child if she/he reports sexual abuse. It is rare for a child to lie about sexual abuse.

 

3) Who do I need to contact if I suspect child abuse?

The Department has a single point of contact statewide for the reporting of suspected child abuse and neglect. The Child Abuse and Neglect Careline operates 24 hours a day and seven days a week. Anyone who suspects that a child has been abused or neglected or is in danger of abuse or neglect is strongly encouraged to call the Careline.   DCF is Required to tape record all reports to the Careline.

If you as a parent are concerned that your child has been abused or neglected, for example, in a day-care home or center, in school or in any other out-of-home care setting, please call the Careline.

If you would like information about services available to you and your children in your area of the state, please call the DCF Information and Referral Services through the Careline at 1-800-842-2288. The Information and Referral line is available from 8:30 am to 5:00 pm, Monday through Friday.

How to report:

Reporters must report orally to the Department of Children and Families' (DCF) Careline or a law enforcement agency within 12 hours of suspecting that a child has been abused or neglected and must submit a written report (DCF-136 form) to DCF within 48 hours of making the oral report.  DCF is required to tape record all reports to the Careline.

Special reporting requirements may apply for staff members of a public or private institution or facility that cares for such child, or a public or private school.

Police must report to DCF immediately upon receipt of any oral report of abuse or neglect.

Upon receipt of any oral report alleging sexual abuse or serious physical abuse or serious neglect, DCF must report to the appropriate state or local law enforcement agency within 12 hours.

 

4) Definitions of Child Abuse and Neglect

 

ABUSE

• is a non-accidental injury to a child which, regardless of motive, is inflicted or allowed to be inflicted by the person responsible for the child's care

• includes:

  • any injury which is at variance with the history given

  • maltreatment such as, but not limited to, malnutrition, sexual molestation, deprivation of necessities, emotional maltreatment or cruel punishment.

Physical Abuse:

• head injuries

• bruises, cuts, or lacerations

• internal injuries

• burns, scalds

• reddening or blistering of the tissue through application of heat by fire, chemical substances, cigarettes, matches, electricity, scalding water, friction, etc.

• injuries to bone, muscle, cartilage, ligaments fractures, dislocations, sprains, strains, displacements, hematomas, etc.

• death

 

Sexual Abuse and Exploitation;

Sexual abuse includes, but is not limited to, the following:

• rape

• intercourse

• sodomy

• fondling

• oral sex

• incest

• sexual penetration: digital, penile, or foreign objects.

• Sexual exploitation of a child includes permitting, allowing, coercing or forcing a child to:

  • participate in pornography

  • engage in sexual behavior.

 

Emotional Abuse or Maltreatment:

Emotional abuse or maltreatment may result from:

• repeated negative acts or statements directed at the child

• exposure to repeated violent, brutal, or intimidating acts or statements among members of the household

• cruel or unusual actions used in the attempt to gain submission, enforce maximum control, or to modify the child's behavior

• rejection of the child.

NEGLECT

 

Neglect is the failure, whether intentional or not, of the person responsible for the child's care to provide and maintain adequate food, clothing, medical care, supervision, and/or education.

A child may be found neglected who:

• has been abandoned

• is being denied proper care and attention physically, educationally, emotionally, or morally

• is being permitted to live under conditions, circumstances or associations injurious to his well-being

• is being abused.

 

Physical Neglect

• the failure to provide adequate food, shelter, and clothing appropriate to the climatic and environmental conditions

• the failure to provide, whether intentional or otherwise, supervision or a reliable person(s) to provide child care

• leaving a child alone for an excessive period of time given the child's age and cognitive abilities

• holding the child responsible for the care of siblings or others where beyond the child's ability

• the person responsible for the child's care displays erratic or impaired behavior

• the person responsible for the child’s care is unable to consistently perform the minimum of child-caring tasks

• death.

 

Medical Neglect

• the refusal or failure on the part of the person responsible for the child's care to seek, obtain, and/or maintain those services for necessary medical, dental, or mental health care

• withholding medically indicated treatment from disabled infants with life-threatening conditions.

 

Educational Neglect

 

Educational neglect occurs when, by reason of the actions or inaction on the part of the person responsible for the child's care, a child age seven (7) years old through fifteen (15) years old either:

• is not registered in school; or

• is not allowed to attend school.

Emotional and Moral Neglect

 

Emotional and Moral Neglect is the denial of proper care and attention to  the child, emotionally and/or morally, by the person responsible for the child's care that may result in the child's maladaptive functioning.

 

Harmful behaviors by the person responsible include, but are not limited to, the following:

• encouraging the child to steal or engage in other illegal activities

• encouraging the child to use drugs and/or alcohol

• recognizing the child's need but failing to provide the child with emotional nurturance

• having inappropriate expectations of the child given the child's developmental level.

 

5) What happens if the children are removed from the home?

This varies somewhat from county to county. If the county child welfare department determines that children must be removed from the home, they may be temporarily placed with an approved relative or in a licensed foster care home or facility depending on the county. If a child is removed, the case must be presented to a judge within 72 hours to determine if the removal is necessary or appropriate pending the rest of the investigation.

6) What is CANRA?

CANRA stands for the Child Abuse and Neglect Reporting Act, and can be found in sections 11164-11174.3 of the California Penal Code. CANRA is a set of laws that was passed in 1980 to provide definitions and procedures for mandated reporting of child abuse. Over the years, numerous amendments have expanded the definition of child abuse and the persons required to report.

 

7) Can I report the abuse or neglect anonymously?

No. Mandated reporters must identify themselves to the county child welfare department when making child abuse or neglect reports. However, persons who are not legally mandated may make anonymous reports.