WHERE TO REPORT
Health practitioners are required to notify the local department of social services about suspected cases of child abuse. Appropriate law enforcement agencies must also be notified. Reporting form DHR/SSA 180 must be completed in addition to calling (select the ldss in your area) telephone numbers to make a report.
If the reporter is employed by a hospital, the head of the institution or their designee must also be notified immediately (Section 5-704(a)(2).) and the report must be added to the child’s record.
CONTENTS OF THE REPORT:
Section 5-704(c) requires that the oral and written reports contain:
- the name, age, and home address of the child;
- the name and home address of the child’s parent or party responsible for the child’s care;
- the whereabouts of the child;
- the nature and extent of the abuse or neglect of the child
- any evidence or information available to the reporter concerning possible previous instances of abuse or neglect and;
- any information that would help to determine the cause of the suspected abuse or neglect
- the identity of any individual responsible for the abuse or neglect.
- any observable, identifiable and substantial impairment of a child’s mental or psychological ability to function.
- as much as the person making the report is able to furnish.
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