As we head into another school year, it’s important to remember that teachers and professionals working with children are mandated by law to report suspected child abuse and/or neglect to the Missouri Department of Social Services Children’s Division.
Any suspected child abuse or neglect must be reported directly to the Children’s Division. If you suspect child abuse or neglect, you are encouraged to err on the side of caution and make a report. If you’re not sure if you should make a report– do! Children’s Division employees review each report and are trained to determine the most appropriate way to respond.
Remember:
- If the child you are concerned about is in danger within the next 24 hours of sexual abuse, severe physical abuse or neglect, is suicidal, or is living in an active meth lab, please call 911 and then report the incident to the Child Abuse and Neglect Hotline by calling 1-800-392-3738 or report online.
- Online reports are constantly reviewed. Making a report online:
- Keeps the Child Abuse and Neglect Hotline open for additional calls
- Helps you avoid wait time on the hotline
- Offers a convenient, flexible option to report
- Allows you to report no matter where you are
- Fulfills your legal requirement to make a report
- Allows you to save up to 5 reports for 72 hours
When making a report online, it’s best to collect all of the information you will need before you start your report because the online reporting system automatically time out after 15 minutes of inactivity. We also encourage you to take a few moments to create your online account. Creating an account today means you will always be ready to make report when needed, and reporting will be quick and easy. Detailed instructions on creating an account are available online.
If you have already created an account but your credentials have changed, please go into your account profile and make any necessary changes. Our team members are unable to update your profile information.
Visit us online for more information about mandated reporting. If you need additional assistance or would like help setting up an account, contact the Children’s Division at (573) 751-3448.
Thank you for your commitment to keeping children safe.
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