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CHILD ABUSE - MANDATORY REPORTERS / MANDATORY REPORTING
The material provided on the 211 eLibrary is for informational purposes only. It is not intended to be and should not be construed as legal advice.
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:
- Registered Nurses
- Licensed Practical Nurses
- Licensed Physicians
- Licensed Surgeon
- Medical Examiners
- Dentists
- Dental Hygienists
- Psychologists
- School Teachers
- School Principals
- School Guidance Counselors
- School Paraprofessionals
- School coach or coach of intramural or interscholastic athletics
- Social Workers
- Police Officers
- Juvenile or Adult Probation Officers
- Juvenile or Adult Parole Officers
- Members of the Clergy
- Pharmacists
- Physical Therapists
- Optometrists
- Licensed or Unlicensed Resident Interns
- Licensed or Unlicensed Resident Physicians
- Chiropractors
- Podiatrists
- Mental Health Professionals
- Physician Assistants
- Licensed or Certified Emergency Medical Services Providers
- Licensed or Certified Alcohol and Drug Counselors
- Licensed Martial and Family Therapists
- Sexual Assault Counselors
- Battered Women’s Counselors
- Licensed Professional Counselors
- 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 licensed by the State
- 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 home or youth camps
- Child Advocate or employees of the Office of the Child Advocate
WHAT IS A MANDATED REPORTER REQUIRED TO DO?
Mandated reporters are required by law to report to either the Department of Children and Families (DCF) or the local police when, acting in their professional capacity, they have reasonable cause to suspect that a child under the age of 18, and any person under age 21 if the person is a DCF client, has been abused, neglected or is placed in imminent risk of serious harm by a person responsible for the child's health, welfare or care, or by a person given access to the child by the responsible person.
Child abuse occurs when a child has had non-accidental 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.
Reporting Sexual Activity Involving Minors
Based on the above definitions of child abuse and child neglect, the Department of Children and Families has set some criteria for reporting to the DCF Hotline when sexual activity involving minors has occurred or is suspected. It should be noted that these criteria were designed to serve as examples of situations that should be reported and are not meant to serve as an exhaustive list. The relative ages of the child and the sexual partner should always be considered when determining whether or not a report is warranted. All determinations made by mandated reporters regarding when to report must be based on whether or not they reasonably believe that a child is at imminent risk of serious harm or has been abused or neglected as defined in Connecticut General Statutes § 46b-120.
The suggested criteria for reporting sexual activity involving any minor, regardless of gender, are as follows:
1) Children under 13 years of age who are engaging in sexual intercourse, have a sexually transmitted disease, are pregnant, or are engaging in sexual activity that is developmentally inappropriate,
2) Children of any age who are engaging in sexual activity with a member of their family regardless of the age of the individuals;
3) Children of any age that are in a condition that is the result of sexual molestation or exploitation, and/or
4) Children of any age who are engaging in sexual activity and:
a) the relationship is non-consensual, hostile, contains the use of force or threatening, and one individual is being exploited, degraded, or humiliated;
b) the child has emotional, psychological, or intellectual disabilities that may preclude him/her from consenting or understanding the consequences of consenting regardless of the child’s age, and/or/
c) the child is under 16 years of age and the partner is 21 years of age or older.
An oral report must be made within 12 hours of the alleged abuse, followed by a written one (DCF 136) within 48 hours after that, both to the DCF Hotline. 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 hotline. A law enforcement agency must immediately notify DCF when it receives an oral report. Also, DCF must notify the appropriate law enforcement agency within 24 hours whenever it receives a report indicating that a child has:
- died
- been sexually assaulted
- suffered brain damage or loss or serious impairment of a bodily function or organ
- been sexually exploited
- suffered non-accidental physical injury
Mandated reporters must give their names when they make a report but may request anonymity to protect their family’s privacy. Unless a mandated reporter gives written consent to the contrary, his/her name can be disclosed only to:
- DCF employees
- law enforcement officers
- state’s attorneys
- assistant attorneys general
- judges and necessary parties in court proceedings
- state child care licensing agencies, executive directors of institutions, schools, facilities, or school superintendents
TO FIND PROVIDERS IN CONNECTICUT'S COMMUNITY RESOURCES DATABASE:
Search by service names:
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SOURCES: Conn. General Assembly, Office of Legislative Research document 2000-R-0855
Conn. Dept. of Children and Families: What Mandated Reporters Need to Know
PREPARED BY: 211/fj
CONTENT LAST REVIEWED: August2007
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