Who is Required to Report?

Anyone may file a report

In all states in the US any person concerned for the welfare or safety of a child can voluntarily file a report. You do not have to be in a professional relationship with a family to contact Child Protective Services (CPS) or police on behalf of a child. Remarkably, some very courageous children and teens have also contacted the authorities directly regarding their own or a sibling’s victimization.

All states require certain professionals or institutions to report suspected child abuse. Those required by law to file are considered mandated reporters. These professionals can include health care providers, mental health providers, crisis counselors, school personnel, social workers, day care providers and law enforcement personnel, among others.
In some states additional professionals are now included on the list of mandated reporters: commercial film developers, substance abuse counselors, domestic violence professionals, court-appointed special advocates, and members of the clergy.
To read the specific mandatory reporting statute for your state, consult the Child Welfare Information Gateway searchable database of statutes.

Some states (28) have revised their reporting laws to now include clergy as mandatory reporters. In many states a faith leader’s knowledge of child abuse (of any kind) can no longer be considered privileged or confidential information. A member of the clergy who does not practice in a state where they are a mandated reporter may still consider notifying the authorities out of a personal or ethical obligation.
If you have a question about whether or not a member of the clergy (of any faith) is required to file reports in your state, consult your local statutes. This information is easily accessible through the Child Welfare Information Gateway document Clergy as Mandatory Reporters of Child Abuse and Neglect.

In an effort to encourage more adults to speak up on behalf of children, some states have changed their laws to require any person, (regardless of profession) who suspects child abuse or neglect, to report to authorities.