Q. What Information Must Be Reported?
A. When making a report, a reporter is required to provide the following information, if known:
-
names and addresses of the child and his parents or responsible caregiver(s)
- child’s age and gender
- nature and extent of injury, maltreatment or neglect
- approximate date and time 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 be helpful
Mandated reporters are required to report or cause a report to be made when, in the ordinary course of their employment or profession, they have reasonable cause to suspect or believe that a child under the age of 18 has been abused, neglected or is placed in imminent risk of serious harm. (Connecticut General Statutes §17a-101a) Child abuse occurs where a child has had physical injury inflicted upon him or her 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. (Connecticut General Statutes §46b-120) Child neglect occurs where 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. (Connecticut General Statutes §46b-120) Mandated reporters who, outside the ordinary course of their employment or profession, have reasonable cause to suspect or believe that a child under the age of 18 is in imminent risk of being abused or has been abused or neglected, can and should make a report to the Careline.
- 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 which is licensed by the State.
- Battered Women’s Counselors
- Certified substance abuser counselor
- Chiropractor
- Chiropractors
- Clergy
- Day care center
- Dental hygienist
- Dental Hygienists
- Dentist
- Dentists
- 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 homes or youth camps.
- Domestic violence counselors
- Family day care home
- Intern
- Licensed Marital and Family Therapists
- Licensed or Unlicensed Resident Interns
- Licensed or Unlicensed Resident Physicians
- Licensed Physicians
- Licensed practical nurse
- Licensed Practical Nurses
- Licensed Professional Counselors
- Licensed Surgeons
- Licensed/Certified Alcohol and Drug Counselors
- Licensed/Certified Emergency Medical Services Providers
- Marital and family therapist
- Medical examiner
- Medical Examiners
- Members of the Clergy
- Mental health professional
- Mental Health Professionals
- Optometrists
- Osteopath
- Parole Officers (Juvenile or Adult)
- Persons paid for caring for children in any public or private facility
- Pharmacist
- Pharmacists
- Physical therapist
- Physical Therapists
- Physician
- Physician assistant
- Physician Assistants
- Podiatrist
- Podiatrists
- Police officer
- Police Officers
- Probation Officers (Juvenile or Adult)
- Psychologist
- Psychologists
- Registered nurse
- Registered Nurses
- School Coaches or Coaches of Intramural or Interscholastic Athletics
- School guidance counselor
- School Guidance Counselors
- School paraprofessional
- School Paraprofessionals
- School principal
- School Principals
- School teacher
- School Teachers
- Sexual assault counselor
- Sexual Assault Counselors
- Social worker
- Social Workers
- The Child Advocate and any employee of the Office of the Child Advocate
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.
Q. What happens after I report?
A. DCF is responsible for immediately evaluating and classifying all reports of suspected abuse/ neglect/imminent risk. If the report contains information to warrant an investigation, DCF must make its best effort to begin an investigation within two hours if there is an imminent risk of physical harm to a child or another emergency; and within three days for all other reports. In all cases, DCF must complete the investigation in 30 calendar days. When conducting a child abuse or neglect investigation, DCF or a law enforcement agency must coordinate activities to minimize the number of interviews with any child. DCF must obtain consent from the parent, guardian or person responsible for the child’s care for any interview, unless DCF has reason to believe such person or a member of the child’s household is the alleged perpetrator. When such consent is not required, the interview must be conducted in the presence of a ‘disinterested adult’ (typically, a person who is impartial and has no self-interest in the case). If a disinterested adult is not available after reasonable search and immediate access is necessary to protect the child from imminent risk of serious harm, DCF or a law enforcement agency will still interview the child. If, after the investigation has been completed, serious physical abuse or sexual abuse is substantiated, DCF must notify the local police, and either the Chief State’s Attorney/designee or a state’s attorney in the judicial district where the child lives or in which the abuse occurred. A copy of the investigation report must also be sent.
Q. Will my report be Confidential?
A. Mandated reporters are required to give their name when they make a report to DCF, however, reporters may request anonymity to protect their privacy. This means that DCF would not disclose their name or identity unless mandated to do so by law (Connecticut General Statutes, Sections 17a-28 and 17a-101). Unless a reporter gives written consent, his or her name will not be disclosed except to:
- a DCF employee
- a law enforcement officer
- an appropriate state’s attorney
- an appropriate assistant attorney general
- a judge and all necessary parties in a court proceeding
- a state child care licensing agency, executive director of any institution, school or facility or superintendent of schools
If DCF suspects or knows that the reporter knowingly makes a false report, his or her identity shall be disclosed to the appropriate law enforcement agency and the person may be subject to the penalty described in the next section.
Q. Do I have to notify the parents that I made a report?
A. Mandated reporters are under no legal obligation to inform parents that they have made a report to DCF about their child. However, depending on the circumstances, it may be necessary and/or beneficial to do so.
- When a child is suspected of being abused, neglected or placed at imminent risk of serious harm by a member of the staff of a private or public school or an institution that cares for the child, the person in charge of the school or facility must notify the child’s parent or other person responsible for the child’s care that a report has been made. It is DCF’s responsibility to notify the head of such school, facility or institution that a report has been made.
- Health care professionals may need to talk with parents to assess the cause of the child’s injury(ies). Mental health professionals or members of the clergy may want to talk with the parents to offer support and guidance.
However, in cases of serious physical abuse or sexual abuse, it may not be wise to talk with parents before reporting the case to DCF. This may put the child at greater risk and could interfere with a potential criminal investigation.
