Child Abuse and Neglect Reporting Guide

DUTY TO REPORT:

A report is required when in your professional capacity or within the scope of your employment you obtain knowledge of or observe a child whom you reasonably suspect has been the victim of child abuse.

Forms of Abuse:
PHYSICAL ABUSE - Fractures, lacerations, bruises that cannot be explained, or explanations which are improbable given the extent of the injury. Burns such as cigarette, rope, scalding water, iron, or radiator. Facial injuries such as black eyes, broken jaw, broken nose, bloody or swollen lips with implausible or nonexistent explanations. Subdural hematomas, long-bone fractures, fractures in different stages of discoloration, indicating repeated trauma over time.

SEXUAL ABUSE - Bruising around genital area, swelling or discharge from vagina/penis. Tearing around the genital area, including rectum, visible lesions around mouth or genitals, complaint of lower abdominal pain. Painful urination, defecation. Includes sex acts with children and child molestation which does not require force or lack of consent. Sexual exploitation which includes child pornography and child prostitution.

NEGLECT - Failure of a parent or caretaker to provide adequate food, clothing, shelter, medical care or supervision where no physical injury has occurred. Indicators are failure to thrive, malnutrition or poorly balanced diet, inappropriate dress for weather, extremely offensive body odor, dirty, unkempt, or unattended medical conditions.

EMOTIONAL ABUSE, WILLFUL CRUELTY - Where any person willfully causes or permits any child to suffer, or inflicts thereon, unjustifiable physical pain or mental suffering or willfully causes the child’s person or health to be endangered.

WHEN TO REPORT: A TELEPHONE REPORT MUST BE MADE IMMEDIATELY WHEN YOU OBSERVE OR HAVE KNOWLEDGE OF, OR HAVE A REASONABLE SUSPICION THAT A CHILD HAS BEEN ABUSED. A WRITTEN REPORT, ON A STANDARD FROM SUPPLIED BY THE DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE, MUST BE SENT WITHIN 36 HOURS AFTER THE TELEPHONE REPORT HAS BEEN MADE.

Click here to go back to the Medical Provider Information page

		Mailing Address: County of Santa Cruz Health Services Agency 1080 Emeline Avenue, Santa Cruz, CA 95060 \| Phone: 831 454 4000 \| Fax: 831 454 4770 Hearing Impaired TDD: 831 454 2123 \| copyright© 2000 County of Santa Cruz
	County of Santa Cruz Home Site - Disclaimer - Site Index - Contact Us - Feedback