Who must report suspected child abuse?

Arkansas law (ACA 12-18-402) designates people in certain groups as “mandated reporters,” meaning they are required to call the Child Abuse Hotline if they suspect child maltreatment. The list of mandated reporters has grown to 40 professions and occupations.

Child care or foster care workers

Coroners

Child abuse advocates or volunteers who work with child maltreatment victims, including employees of a community-based victim service, mental health agency, or law enforcement agency

Day care workers

Dentists and dental hygienists

Domestic abuse advocates, shelter employees and volunteers

Department of Human Services employees, including contractors working for the department’s Division of Youth Services

Foster parents

Law enforcement and judicial system officials, including judges, peace officers, prosecuting attorneys, juvenile intake and probation officers, attorneys ad litem in the course of their duties as attorneys ad litem, victim/witness coordinators, victim assistance professionals and volunteers, employees of the Arkansas State Police Crimes Against Children Division

Medical professionals and other medical personnel, including physicians; surgeons; nurses; employees engaged in the admission, examination, care, or treatment of persons; osteopaths, resident interns; Mental health professionals or paraprofessionals

School employees (K-12 and higher education), including teachers and administrators, public or private school counselors

Social workers

Clergy, including ministers, priests, rabbis, accredited Christian Science practitioners, or others with similar functions in a religious organization, “or an individual reasonably believed to be so by the person consulting him or her, except to the extent the clergy member:

• “Has acquired knowledge of suspected child maltreatment through communications required to be kept confidential pursuant to the religious discipline of the relevant denomination or faith; or

• Received the knowledge of the suspected child maltreatment from the alleged offender in the context of a statement of admission”

Employees of a child advocacy center or a child safety center

Sexual abuse and rape crisis advocates or volunteers who work with sexual abuse victims, including employees of community-based victim services, mental health agencies and law enforcement agencies

Reproductive health care facility employees and volunteers

An individual not otherwise identified employed with a nonprofit charitable organization other than a nonprofit hospital

Child Abuse Hotline 1-800-482-5964

If you suspect that a child is being maltreated, you can call the number. The operator may ask you for certain information such as:

• Why you suspect child maltreatment and how you got the information

• The level of risk of harm to the child

• The mental and physical condition of the alleged offender

• Potential danger to investigators

• Identity and location of possible witnesses to the alleged maltreatment

• Relevant addresses