Reporting Suspected Child Abuse or Neglect
Tells staff what to do when they suspect a child is abused or neglected, whether the child is a client or lives in or visits a client’s home: report immediately to the DCFS Child Abuse Hotline or law enforcement as Children’s Code Article 610 directs, give the details the law lists, and tell a supervisor, with no retaliation for reporting.
About this policy
- Policy number
- LA-HC-ANE-02
- Version
- 1.0
- Main rule
- La. Ch.C. art. 610
- Library
- Louisiana home care · 50 policies
- Category
- Safeguarding
- Sections
- 18
In short
- If you think a child is being abused or neglected, report it immediately; you do not need proof.
- Call the DCFS Child Abuse Hotline 1-855-452-5437 (1-855-4LA-KIDS), or 911 if the child is in danger right now.
- You do not need anyone’s permission to report, and the Agency will never punish you for reporting.
- Write down what you saw and the child’s own words; do not question the child or confront anyone.
- Tell your supervisor the same day after you report.
What's inside
18 sections. The full text comes with the One-time Policy Pack.
- Terms of Reference
- 1. Purpose
- 2. Scope
- 3. Definitions
- 4. Policy Statement (La. Ch.C. art. 610)
- 5. What to Do at Once
- 6. Where to Report
- 7. What the Report Contains
- 8. The Agency Never Blocks a Report
- 9. After the Report
- 10. Consequences
- 11. Responsibilities
- 12. Records and Compliance Monitoring
- 13. Staff Training
- 14. References
- 15. Related Policies and Forms
- 16. Approval
- 17. Revision History
An inspector may ask
- Do you serve anyone under 18? What would a worker do if a child in the home seemed to be abused?
- Who do you call if the suspected abuser is a parent? If it is someone else?
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