CHILD ABUSE REPORTING SIMPLIFIED

-WHO-
Who must report suspicions of child abuse?

Florida Statutes Chapter 39 states that any person who has knowledge, or reasonable cause to suspect that a child is being abused or neglected must report that information to the Florida Abuse Hotline (1-800-96-ABUSE).  By law, failure to report suspicions of child maltreatment is a first degree misdemeanor, as is interfering with or preventing another person from making a report.  Knowingly making a false report is a third degree felony.  ALL FLORIDA CITIZENS ARE MANDATED REPORTERS OF CHILD ABUSE AND NEGLECT. 

-WHAT-
What is child abuse?

The state of Florida recognizes five types of child maltreatment:
    * Neglect - chronic failure of a caretaker to provide basic needs.
    * Physical - non-accidental injury of a child at the hands of their caregiver.
    * Sexual Abuse - sexual exploitation of a child by an older and/or more powerful person that may or may not involve physical   contact.
    * Emotional Abuse - Pattern of behavior that attack's a child's emotional and psychological development.
    * Abandonment - Willful rejection of parental obligation to a child. (Florida Safe Haven Laws permit a custodial parent to safely surrender their newborn infant less than 7 days of age to a Florida Safe Haven: Emergency Medical Services station, fire station, or hospital.)
 

-WHEN-
When should a report be made?

If there is immediate danger to a child, call 911.

Anytime that a child makes a disclosure of abuse or exhibits behavioral or physical indicators that have no other reasonable explanation, a report should be made as soon as possible. 

The report must be made to the abuse hotline. Hotline counselors are available to receive calls 7 days a week, 24 hours a day.  Remember, a report is simply a request for an investigation, not an accusation.

-WHY-
Why should suspicions of child abuse be reported?

Everyone has a legal and ethical obligation to report suspicions of abuse and neglect. Often, a child's only hope is a report made on his/her behalf by a concerned adult.

-HOW-
How is an abuse report made?

There are three ways to report suspicions of abuse or neglect:

• Telephone - 1-800-96-ABUSE (1-800-962-2873)
  The Hotline has interpreter services available in over 130 different languages.
  Operators are available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
• Fax: 1-800-914-0004
  Include your name, contact information and concerns of abuse and neglect in this written report.
• TDD (Telephone Device for the Deaf): 1-800-453-5145
  
  If there is immediate danger to a child, call 911!
  
  Be prepared to include as much information as possible, such as:
  Child's name, birth date, race, gender, home address and phone number, custodial parent's name.
  Nature and extent of abuse; identity of abuser if known.
  Reporters name and telephone number.

What rights do I have as a reporter?
1) Confidentiality
The name of any person reporting child abuse, abandonment, or neglect may not be released to any person other than employees of the department responsible for child protective services, the abuse hotline, law enforcement,the child protection team, or appropriate state attorney, without the written consent of the persons reporting.
2) Immunity from Liability
3) Freedom from Reprisal