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MANSFIELD — One in seven children are abused or neglected at some point in their lives, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Anyone who believes a child may be in danger of abuse or neglect can report their concerns to local law enforcement or children’s services agency.
But some people are mandated reporters — meaning they are required by law to report knowledge or reasonable suspicion of abuse. The same people are also required to report known or suspected abuse of individuals with developmental disabilities who are under 21.
These reports are screened and investigated as necessary by law enforcement and/or Richland County Children Services (RCCS). About 60 percent of RCCS investigative referrals come from mandatory reporters, according to program manager Tara Lautzenhiser.
“We really rely on those mandated reporters. Family members, relatives and friends sometimes might think something’s going on, but don’t feel comfortable calling,” Lautzenhiser said.
“Our mandated reporters are the eyes and ears of our children who are at risk of abuse and neglect.”
What is considered child abuse or neglect?
Ohio law requires mandated reporters to immediately speak up if they know or reasonably suspect that a child has suffered or faces a threat “any physical or mental wound, injury, disability or condition” that reasonably indicates abuse or neglect.
The types of offenses that require reporting generally fall into four categories: physical abuse, sexual abuse, emotional abuse or neglect.
Abuse and neglect impact more than just a child’s immediate welfare. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, they can lead to emotional and psychological problems like impaired social-emotional skills or anxiety.
Exposure to violence in childhood increases a child’s risk of injury and substance abuse in adulthood. It makes them more likely to be victims and perpetrators of violence. It’s even associated with delayed brain development, lower educational attainment and limited employment opportunities.
Chronic abuse may result in toxic stress, which can change brain development and increase a child’s risk of PTSD and memory problems.
Who are mandated reporters?
People who work with children are generally mandated reporters, but they aren’t the only ones. In Ohio, mandated reporters include:
- Attorneys
- Childcare and daycare employees, including residential and day camp employees
- Clergy
- Coroners
- Counselors
- Court appointed special advocates (CASA)
- Dentists
- Employees and board members of a county board of developmental disabilities or department of developmental disabilities
- Foster care providers
- Guardians ad litem
- Home health and homemaker service agencies
- Humane society agents and employees of the dog warden’s or animal control office
- Law enforcement officers
- Marriage and family therapists
- Massage therapists
- Physicians, nurses and other healthcare workers
- Professional employees of a county Department of Job and Family Services who work with children and families
- Podiatrists
- Psychologists
- School employees, including teachers, administrators, nurses, counselors, coaches, social workers, psychologists, food service personnel, custodians and paraprofessionals
- Social workers
- Speech pathologists
What are the warning signs of child abuse?
Signs a child may be experiencing abuse or neglect include:
- Unexplained injuries
- Changes in behavior
- Fear of going home
- Fear of certain adults
- Changes in eating or sleeping
- Changes at school
- Lack of personal hygiene
- Risk-taking behavoirs
- Inappropriate sexual behavior or knowledge of sexual topics
- Extreme behaviors like excessive crying, truancy or running away
- Attention-seeking behaviors
- Changes in mood or personality
- Excessive worry or fearfulness
- Decrease in confidence or self-image
- Increase in unexplained health problems such a stomach aches or headaches
- Self-harming behaviors
- Regressive behaviors like thumb sucking or bedwetting
- Withdrawn, fearful behavoir
- Extreme weight change
Children experiencing abuse may be hesitant to tell anyone, especially if the abuser is a parent or other caregiver.
According to the Ohio Children’s Trust Fund, children may try to alert adults by changing their behavior or making vague verbal statements.
What are the penalties for failure to report?
Mandated reporters who fail to report known or suspected abuse or neglect are guilty of a fourth degree misdemeanor under Ohio Revised Code Section 2151.99.
In certain circumstances, the reporter may be guilty of a first degree misdemeanor if they fail to report abuse that occurred under their own jurisdiction.
For example, a school principal who fails to report a student’s abuse at home is guilty of a fourth degree misdemeanor. A school principal who fails to report a student’s abuse at school is guilty of a first degree misdemeanor, according to a state legislative brief.
Similarly, a religious leader who fails to report abuse that took place at their church is guilty of a first, rather than fourth, degree misdemeanor.
Mandated reporters cannot be held civilly or criminally liable for reports made in good faith. Lautzenhiser also said referral sources for reports are confidential; the agency is not allowed to disclose who made a report.
Lautzenhiser said mandated reporters don’t have to verify their suspicions before making a report.
“They don’t need to investigate themselves,” she said. “They’re not required to do that.”
Making a false report of child abuse or neglect is a first degree misdemeanor under Ohio Revised Code Section 2921.14.
Are mandatory reporters trained?
According to the Children Welfare Information Gateway, 23 states, Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands require training for mandated reporters. Ohio isn’t one of them; however, certain employers or industries may still require training.
One example is school districts, which are required to provide regular training on child abuse per the Ohio Revised Code.
Richland County Children’s Services provides a free one hour training session for mandated reporters upon request.
“A lot of the schools tend to have an online training they do, which is great. But I think that in-person, they have the opportunity to ask questions and see specific examples,” Lautzenhiser said.
“Any of the schools or any community services that would like our mandated reporter training, they could just give our agency a call and we can set that up for them.”
What if I’m unsure?
Lautzenhiser said when in doubt, it’s best to pick up the phone and call children services.
“If something in your gut is telling you that something is wrong, report it,” she said. “It isn’t up to the reporter to figure out if it will meet the criteria to be screened in or out.”
Several studies have found that families of color and/or lower socioeconomic status are overrepresented in the child welfare system. Some experts say this may be due in part to implicit bias in those making the report.
“Culture can shape our attitudes and ideas about acceptable child-rearing practices, and it can also shape our perceptions of stress, trauma, and abuse,” an article on MandatoryReporterTraining.com warns.
“Basing the evaluation of child abuse or neglect on your own cultural viewpoint can lead to biased reporting.”
Lautzenhiser said she doesn’t believe this is a problem locally because there is an intake process that accounts for implicit bias.
“Our screeners are trained to ask investigative questions during each call to peel back any layers of implicit bias and pull out specific details regarding the referral,” she said.
“For example, if a reporter calls in concerns for ‘dirty home conditions,’ the screeners will ask specific questions regarding what makes it a dirty home to them.
“In this way, specific details are lifted out to be able to accurately screen the referral utilizing the state guidelines for abuse/neglect.”
Screeners type the information into a report and a team of RCCS caseworkers, supervisors and administrative staff review it. If the case meets certain criteria, RCCS conducts an investigation.
In 2023, RCCS received 2,972 referrals and conducted 1,150 investigations.
What about adults?
Adults can also be subject to abuse, neglect and exploitation. Older adults are especially vulnerable.
Ohio has a different list of mandated reporters for older adults. Most mandated reporters for child abuse are also on the list.
Others are professionals more likely to encounter older adults than children, such as dialysis technicians, nursing home and residential care staff, first responders, local building department inspectors, public accountants, real estate professionals, bank employees, financial advisors and notary publics.
The Ohio Department of Aging has identified numerous warning signs that an older adult may be experiencing abuse, including:
- Bruises, black eyes, cuts, welts or other signs of physical harm;
- Sudden behavioral changes, such as becoming less social;
- A caregiver who refuses to allow visitors to see the adult alone;
- Hazardous or unsanitary living conditions;
- Dehydration, malnutrition or poor personal hygiene;
- Previously uninvolved relatives showing sudden interest in the adult’s rights, affairs and possessions;
- Unexplained, sudden transfers of assets or finances to an individual;
- Unexplained disappearances of funds or valuable possessions;
- Abrupt changes in a will, financial documents, bank accounts or banking practice; and
- Over- or under-utilization of prescribed medications or missing medications.
To report abuse of an adult age 60 or older, contact your county Department of Jobs and Family Services’ Adult Protective Services division or call 1-855-OHIO-APS (1-855-644-6277).
To report incidents of abuse in long-term care facilities, contact the Ohio Department of Health’s complaint hotline online or by calling 1-800-342-0553. You may also contact the Office of the State Long-Term Care Ombudsman.