As a licensee or an employee at a licensed family child care facility, you are required to report known or suspected child abuse.
You are a "mandated reporter."
ABUSE THAT MUST BE REPORTED
- Physical Injury inflicted by other than accidental means on a child.
- Sexual Abuse meaning sexual assault or sexual exploitation of a child.
- Neglect meaning the negligent treatment, lack of treatment, or the maltreatment of a child by a person responsible for the child's welfare under circumstances indicating harm or threatened harm to the child's health or welfare.
- Willful harming or injuring or endangering a child meaning a situation in which any person inflicts, or willfully causes or permits a child to suffer, unjustifiable physical pain or mental suffering, or causes or permits a child be placed in a situation in which the child or child's health is endangered.
- Unlawful corporal punishment or injury willfully inflicted upon a child and resulting in a traumatic condition.
Reports of suspected child abuse or neglect must be made to any police department or sheriff's department (not including a school district police or security department), county probation department, if designated by the county to receive mandated reports, or the county welfare department.
The Child Abuse Mandated Reporter Training - California is being offered on-line through a project funded by the California Department of Social Services (CDSS) and the Office of Child Abuse Prevention (OCAP). The training is FREE and can be accessed on-line at:
You can also schedule a presentation on the subject of child abuse at your home or other location. The presentation is FREE and is designed to educate mandated reporters on the subject of child abuse and mandated reporting requirements. Contact Jane Smithson, CA Department of Social Services, (650) 743-4934 or email at jane.smithson@yahoo.com to schedule a presentation.
