Reporting Child Abuse or Neglect

How can I report child abuse or neglect?

To report child abuse or neglect, call your local OCS office. For after hours and holidays, call the Emergency Child Protection Hotline for your parish.

What is abuse/neglect?

The Louisiana Children’s Code provides the following definitions of abuse and neglect:

“Abuse” means any of the following acts which seriously endanger the physical, mental, or emotional health and safety of the child: 

• The infliction, attempted infliction, or as a result of inadequate supervision, the allowance of the infliction or attempted infliction of physical or mental injury upon the child by a parent or any other person.
• The exploitation or overwork of a child by a parent or any other person.
• The involvement of the child in any sexual act with a parent or any other person, or the aiding or toleration by the parent or the caretaker of the child’s sexual involvement with any other person or of the child’s involvement in pornographic displays, or any other involvement of a child in sexual activity constituting a crime under the laws of this state.

“Neglect” means the unreasonable refusal or failure of a parent or caretaker to supply the child with necessary food, clothing, shelter, care, treatment, or counseling for injury, illness, or condition of the child, as a result of which the child’s physical, mental, or emotional health and safety is substantially threatened or impaired.

Neglect includes prenatal neglect.  It is the unlawful use by a mother during pregnancy of a controlled dangerous substance that results in symptoms of withdrawal in the infant or the presence of a controlled substance in the infant’s body.

What are the signs and symptoms of child abuse and neglect?

The first step in helping abused or neglected children is learning to recognize the signs of child abuse and neglect.  The presence of a single sign does not prove child abuse is occurring in a family; however, when these signs appear repeatedly or in combination you should take a closer look at the situation and consider the possibility of child abuse.

If you do suspect a child is being harmed, reporting your suspicions may protect the child and get help for the family.  Contact your local child protective services agency or policy department.  For more information on the signs and symptoms of child abuse/neglect at http://www.childwelfare.gov/pubs/factsheets/signs.cfm  

Who are mandated reporters?

Mandated reporters are any of the following individuals performing their occupational duties:

• “Health practitioner” is any individual who provides health care services, including a physician, surgeon, physical therapist, dentist, resident, intern, hospital staff member, podiatrist, chiropractor, licensed nurse, nursing aide, dental hygienist, any emergency medical technician, a paramedic, optometrist, medical examiner, or coroner, who diagnoses, examines, or treats a child or his family.
• “Mental health/social service practitioner” is any individual who provides mental health care or social service diagnosis, assessment, counseling, or treatment, including a psychiatrist, psychologist, marriage or family counselor, social worker, member of the clergy, aide, or other individual who provides counseling services to a child or his family.
• “Member of the clergy” is any priest, rabbi, duly ordained clerical deacon or minister, Christian Science practitioner, or other similarly situated functionary of a religious organization, unless the information of abuse/neglect is learned in a confidential communication.
• “Teaching or child care provider” is any person who provides training and supervision of a child, including any public or private teacher, teacher’s aide, instructional aide, school principal, school staff member, social worker, probation officer, foster home parent, group home or other child care institutional staff member, personnel of residential home facilities, a licensed or unlicensed day care provider, or any individual who provides such services to a child. 
• Police officers or law enforcement officials.
• “Commercial film and photographic print processor” is any person who develops exposed photographic film into negatives, slides, or prints, or who makes prints from negatives or slides for compensation.
• Mediators appointed pursuant to Chapter 6 of Title IV, of the Louisiana Children’s Code for mediation in juvenile court cases. 

What is Prenatal Neglect and who is a mandated reporter?

Children’s Code Article 603(16.1) states:  “Prenatal Neglect means the unlawful use by a mother during pregnancy of a controlled dangerous substance, as defined by R.S. 40:961 et seq., which results in symptoms of withdrawal in the infant or the presence of a controlled substance in the infant’s body.”

Physicians are mandated to make a report to their local Child Protection Intake, Office of Community Services (OCS), whenever an infant meets the criteria for prenatal neglect.

Visit here to download Mandatory Reporting of Prenatal Neglect Brochure