Healthcare providers in every State are mandated to report child abuse and neglect. In Massachusetts the mandated reporting law is as follows (for reporting laws of other States, click here):
Massachusetts Mandated Reporting Law - Who Must Report:
Healthcare providers in every State are mandated to report child abuse and neglect. In Massachusetts the mandated reporting law is as follows (for reporting laws of other States, click here):
Massachusetts Mandated Reporting Law - Who Must Report:
Physicians;
medical interns; hospital personnel engaged in the examination, care, or treatment
of persons; medical examiners; emergency medical technicians; dentists; nurses;
chiropractors; podiatrists; optometrists; osteopaths; psychiatrists; Teachers; educational administrators;
day-care workers of persons paid to care for or work with children in facilities,
or homes or programs funded or licensed by the State which provide day-care
or residential services to children or which provide the services of child care
resource and referral agencies, voucher management agencies, family day-care
systems and child care food programs; school attendance officers; Psychologists; social workers;
licensed allied mental health and human services professionals; drug and alcoholism
counselors; clinical social workers; guidance or family counselors;* Probation officers; clerk/magistrates
of district courts; parole officers; foster parents; firefighters or police
officers; office for children licensers.Circumstances:
When, in their professional capacities, they have reasonable cause to believe that a child under age 18 is:
Suffering physical
or emotional injury resulting from abuse inflicted upon him or her which causes
harm or substantial risk of harm to the child’s health or welfare, including
sexual abuse; Suffering from neglect, including
malnutrition; or Determined to be physically
dependent upon an addictive drug at birth.(1)References:
(1) National Clearinghouse on Child
Abuse and Neglect Information. (December 31, 2000). Child Abuse and Neglect
State Statutes Elements: Reporting Laws Number 2. Washington, DC: U.S. Department
of Health and Human Services.
Last Updated:
April 23, 2003
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