Our materials and posts often mention the words “mandated reporter.” You may be wondering what this term actually means, and whether you or those who work with your children are mandated to report child sexual abuse.
A mandated reporter is a person who is required by law to report suspicions of child abuse or neglect to the proper designated authorities. All 50 states require that professionals who work with children report reasonable suspicions of child abuse, and some states require anyone with suspicions to report.
The list below, provided by the US Dept. of Health and Human Services, includes the reporting requirements for each state. It’s important to note that whether or not you are required to report by law, reporting child sexual abuse is the right thing to do. Less than 5% of sexual abuse disclosures by children are false.
To find our more about how to report suspicions or disclosure of child sexual abuse, visit the D2L website.
http://www.childwelfare.gov/systemwide/laws_policies/statutes/manda.pdf
