Who is required to report child abuse or neglect?

Anyone who has reasonable cause to believe that a child has suffered abuse or neglect can, in good faith, report. If you are identified as a mandated reporter, you are required by law to report your concerns to the local Children's Administration (CA) office, Child Abuse Hotline or law enforcement (RCW 26.44.030).

• Medical practitioners
• Professional school employees
• Social services counselors
• Psychologists
• Placement and liaison specialists
• Host home programs employees or volunteers
• Coroners, medical examiners and licensed pathologists
• Pharmacists
• Licensed or certified childcare providers or their employees
• Department of Social and Health Services employees
• Department of Early Learning employees
• Department of Corrections employees who become aware of possible child abuse or neglect during the course of their employment
• State and private higher education employees
• Juvenile probation officers
• Law enforcement
• Licensed foster parents
• Licensed or certified group care providers and their employees
• Responsible living skills programs or HOPE centers employees
• Family and Children's Ombuds Office employees or volunteers
• Guardians ad litem (GALS)
• Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASAS)
• Any adult who resides with a child who he or she suspects to have suffered severe abuse, and who is capable of making a report
• Any supervisor with a nonprofit or for-profit organization who has a reasonable cause to believe that a child has suffered abuse or neglect caused by a person over whom he or she regularly exercises supervisory authority provided that the person alleged to have caused the abuse or neglect is employed by, contracted by or volunteers with the organization and coaches, trains, educates or counsels a child or children or regularly has unsupervised access to a child or children as part of the employment, contract or voluntary service.

What circumstances Justify a report and when should I report?

If there is reasonable cause to believe that a child has suffered abuse or neglect or may be at risk of abuse or neglect, the report must be made at the first opportunity but in no case longer than 48 hours. "Reasonable cause" means a person witnesses or receives a credible written or oral report alleging abuse, including sexual contact, or neglect of a child (RCW 26.44.030).

What is reportable?

• Physical abuse (defined in WAC 388-15-009)
• Sexual abuse (defined in WAC 388-15-009)
• Sexual exploitation (defined in WAC 388-15-009)
• Negligent treatment or Maltreatment (defined in WAC 388-15-009)
• Abandonment (defined In WAC 388-15-011)

Where do I report suspected child abuse and neglect?

To a law enforcement agency or CA Child Protective Services (CPS) Intake. CA offers several ways to report abuse, Including calling 866-END-HARM (866-363-4276)

• Daytime: Contact a local CA CPS office: https://fortress.wa.gov/dshs/f2ws03apps/ caofficespub/offices/general/OfficePick.asp
• Nights and Weekends: Call the Child Abuse and Neglect Hotline at 866-END-HARM (866-363-4276). This number is Washington state's toll-free, 24-hour, 7-day- a-week hotline for reporting suspected child abuse or neglect.
• Information about reporting abuse and neglect of children can be located at: www.dshs.wa.gov/ca/child-safety-and-protection/how-report-child-abuse-or-neglect

What Information will I be asked to provide?

• The name, address and age of the child and parents, stepparents, guardians or other persons caring for the child.
• Whether the mother or father is of American Indian/ Alaska Native ancestry.
• The nature and extent of the alleged child abuse, neglect or sexual abuse, Including the nature and extent of any alleged Injury or injuries and previous Injuries.
• Any other information that may be helpful in establishing the cause of the child's death, Injury or injuries and the identity of the alleged perpetrator or perpetrators.

If a crime has been committed, law enforcement must be notified. Mandated reporters who knowingly fall to make a report or cause a report to be made shall be guilty of a gross misdemeanor (RCW 26.44.080).