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Reporting Suspected Child Abuse and Neglect

What staff do when they suspect that a child they know through their work, whether a client under 18 or a child in a client's home, is abused or neglected: who is a mandatory reporter under D.C. Code §4-1321.02, the immediate oral report to the Child and Family Services Agency or the Metropolitan Police Department under §4-1321.03, what the report contains, notice to the Director, immunity for good-faith reports, and the penalty for failing to report.

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About this policy
Policy number
DC-HC-ANE-02
Version
1.0
Main rule
D.C. Code §4-1321.02
Library
Washington, DC home care · 50 policies
Category
Safeguarding
Sections
17

In short

  • If a child is in danger, call 911 first.
  • If you think a child you know through your work is being abused or neglected, call the Child and Family Services Agency hotline at (202) 671-SAFE (202-671-7233) or the police right away.
  • You must make the report yourself. Then tell the Director right away.
  • Tell the hotline what you saw and heard, the child's name and address if you know them, and how to reach you.
  • Fill in the child abuse report record before the end of your shift. A report made in good faith is protected by law.

What's inside

17 sections. The full text comes with the One-time Policy Pack.

Full text with a package
  • Terms of Reference
  • 1. Purpose
  • 2. Scope
  • 3. Definitions
  • 4. Policy Statement (D.C. Code §4-1321.02)
  • 5. When to Report
  • 6. How to Report
  • 7. What the Report Contains
  • 8. When the Child Is a Client or Lives in a Client's Home
  • 9. Protection for Reporters and Penalty for Not Reporting
  • 10. Responsibilities
  • 11. Records and Compliance Monitoring
  • 12. Staff Training
  • 13. References
  • 14. Related Policies and Forms
  • 15. Approval
  • 16. Revision History

An inspector may ask

  • Your aides work in homes where children live. What would they do if they saw signs of child abuse?
  • Who do you report suspected child abuse to, and how fast?

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