Reporting Child Abuse - Delaware

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Delaware

Under Delaware law, any person (including certain listed professionals), organization, or other entity that knows of or has good faith suspicion of the abuse or neglect of a child is required to report that known or suspected abuse or neglect immediately to the Department of Services for Children, Youth and Their Families (by telephone or in person). A written report may be requested at a later time by the Department. Any person may also give an oral or written report to any police officer, but must still make the report to the Department.

Abuse is defined by the statute as any physical injury, emotional abuse, sexual abuse, torture, exploitation, maltreatment or mistreatment.

end_of_the_skype_highlightingLinks to the specific sections of the official Delaware Code online are not available. The mandatory reporting statute is found in Title 16 (Health and Safety), Part II (Regulatory Provisions Concerning Public Health), Chapter 9 (ABUSE OF CHILDREN), Sections 901 through 914. To access the entire Delaware Chapter on Child Abuse, follow:

http://delcode.delaware.gov/title16/c009/sc01/index.shtml

Links to the specific sections summarized above, including definitions, in an unofficial[1] version of the Code online, are available as follows:

http://codes.lp.findlaw.com/decode/16/9/I/903
http://codes.lp.findlaw.com/decode/16/9/I/904

http://codes.lp.findlaw.com/decode/16/9/I/902

The Delaware Department of Services for Children, Youth and their Families website contains valuable links, information, and the answers to frequently asked questions about reporting child abuse in Delaware:

http://kids.delaware.gov/fs/fs_iseethesigns.shtml

The Delaware Department of Services for Children, Youth and their Families website also contains the form to be used by professionals who are required by law to report child abuse or neglect, in a written report. * Please note, professionals are still required to complete a call to the Report Line when using this form.

http://kids.delaware.gov/pdfsFillSave/fs_CAN_MandatoryForm_v2_FS.pdf

In Delaware, ALL REPORTS of child abuse and neglect should be made to the toll free, 24 hours a day, seven days a week at:

Child Abuse and Neglect Report Line

1-800-292-9582