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How to Report
According to Iowa Code section 232.70, mandatory
reporters of child abuse must report any suspicion of child
abuse to the Department of Human Services (DHS). An oral report
of suspected child abuse must be reported to DHS within 24
hours of becoming aware of the situation. A written report
must follow the oral report to DHS within 48 hours. The employer
or supervisor of the mandatory or permissive reporter may
not apply any policy, work rule, or other requirement that
interferes with the person making a report of child abuse
(IDHS, 2005).
If a child is in imminent danger,
as a mandatory reporter, an oral report to law enforcement
must be immediately made. Law enforcement is the only profession
that can take a child into custody in that situation (IDHS,
2005).
The law requires the reporting of suspected
child abuse; one does not need to be certain that abuse is
occurring. It is not the reporter's role to validate the abuse.
The law does not require you to have proof that the abuse
occurred before reporting. The law clearly specifies that
reports of child abuse must be made when the person reporting
"reasonably believes a child has suffered abuse." Reports
are made in terms of the child's possible condition, not in
terms of an accusation against parents. A report of child
abuse is not an accusation, but a request to determine whether
child abuse exists and begin the helping process (IDHS, 2005).
Within 24 hours of receiving the report,
the mandatory reporter will be orally notified whether or
not the report has been accepted or rejected. Within five
working days form 470-3789, Notice of Intake Decision, indicating
whether the report of child abuse was accepted or rejected,
will be sent (IDHS, 2005).
To report a suspected case of child abuse
(IDHS, 2005):
- Or call the CALL a DHS
Local Office 8:00 AM - 4:30 PM Monday-Friday, or
- Call Iowa's Child Abuse Hotline
1-800-362-2178 Please be ready to provide identifying
information and the whereabouts of the child. You may remain
anonymous.
- If you believe the child is in imminent danger, call 911
immediately.
- Follow up with a written report within 48 hours.
Oral and written reports should contain the following information,
if it is known:
- The names and home address of the child and the child's
parents or other persons believed to be responsible for
the child's care.
- The child's present whereabouts.
- The child's age.
- The nature and extent of the child's injuries, including
any evidence of previous injuries.
- The name, age, and condition of other children in the
same household.
- Any other information that you believe may be helpful
in establishing the cause of the abuse or neglect to the
child.
- The identity of the person or persons responsible for
the abuse or neglect to the child.
- The reporter's name and address.
Form 470-0665, Report of Suspected Child Abuse, can
be retrieved from the DHS website http://www.dhs.state.ia.us/policyanalysis/PolicyManualPages/Manual_Documents/Forms/470-0665.pdf.
This specific form is not required, but may be used as a
guide in making a report of child abuse. Mail the form to
the local office of the Department of Human Services (see
Resource section of this course) or to the:
Central Abuse Registry Iowa Department of
Human Services
1305 E. Walnut
Des Moines, IA 50319
If sexual abuse of a child under the age of 12 by a non-caretaker
is suspected, mandatory reporters are required by law to make
a report of child abuse to DHS. If the child is aged 12 or
older, a report of sexual abuse by a non-caretaker may be
made, although it is not required by law. DHS must report
all sexual abuse allegations to law enforcement within 72
hours.
Reporting Abuse/Neglect Outside
of Iowa or Nationally
If you suspect that a child is being abused or maltreated/neglected,
you should call your local Child Protective Services (CPS)
agency or the CPS agency in the State in which the abuse occurred.
As you identify the appropriate agency for making a report,
remember the following:
- Not every State has a toll free hotline, or the hotline
may not operate on a 24 hour basis.
- If a toll free (800 or 888) number is available, it may
be accessible only from within that State.
Federal agencies have no authority to intervene in individual
child abuse and neglect cases.
Each state has its own procedure for reporting child abuse.
A listing of phone numbers for the states that have them is
available at http://www.childwelfare.gov/pubs/reslist/rl_dsp.cfm?rs_id=5&rate_chno=11-11172.
If a number is not listed, or if you need to report suspected
abuse in a State other than your own, please call:
Childhelp® USA National Child Abuse Hotline
1-800-4-A-CHILD® (1-800-422-4453)
TDD: 1-800-2-A-CHILD
Childhelp® USA is a non-profit agency which can provide reporting
numbers, and has Hotline counselors who can provide referrals.
Continue to Reporting Child
Abuse and Maltreatment, Con't.
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