State of Minnesota, Department of Social Services Do Right By Kids

·Who is mandated to
report?

·What if I do volunteer
work?

·What can happen to
me if I don't report?

·What can happen to
me if I do report?

·What about my
confidentiality?

·I'm not a mandated
reporter.
What should I do?

How Do I Recognize Child Abuse and Neglect

·What is the legal
definition of child
abuse and neglect?

·What situations should
raise a 'red flag' for
me? What signs should
I look for?

·Are there shades
of gray in child abuse
and neglect?

·How do I know if my
suspicion is reasonable?

·What are the
indicators of possible
child abuse and neglect?

·What should I do if I
notice an indicator?

·What questions should
I ask? What questions
shouldn't I ask?

·What misperceptions
are common for
mandated reporters?

·What situations
commonly frustrate
both mandated
reporters and CPS?

·What if I am not sure?

·What CPS criteria
must be met?

·Do I need a special
form?

·What are my agency's
policies and procedures?

·Should I tell the family?

·How do I call the
Hotline?

·What if I am not sure?

·What does CPS do
after I call? How is
family court involved?

·What happens for
the family?

·How do I find out
what happened?

·What if I am called
to testify?

How Can I Help Prevent Child Abuse Before it Happens

·What if CPS does
not register my report?

·What’s my role in
preventing child abuse
& neglect in the
families I see?

·How can I help
parents cope with
family stress?

·Where can I get
materials I can use
to help families?

·What are the
resources in this
community?

·Continuum of Families
Needing Primary and
Secondary Prevention
Services

·How big a problem
is child abuse in
Monroe County?

·How well is the child
abuse detection and
reporting system
working in Monroe
County?

·What happens to
children who
experience or witness
violence and abuse?

·Where can I find
more information
about child
advocacy groups?

State of Minnesota, Department of Social Services
www.dhs.state.mn.us/Forms/Production/

The Department of Social Services in Minnesota has a "Resource Guide for Mandated Reporters" online. The Guide contains information about how to recognize and report cases.

Created by Monroe County Department of Human Services.
Reviewed and approved by New York State Office of Children and Family
Services. Copyright 2003.