All Maryland citizens should report suspected child abuse or neglect to the local department of social services or to a local law enforcement agency. Ensuring the safety of Maryland’s children is an obligation shared by all citizens and organizations.
If you are a health care practitioner, educator, human service worker or a law enforcement officer, you are required by law to report both orally and in writing any suspected child abuse or neglect.
You should report your suspicion to the local department in the jurisdiction where you believe the abuse or neglect took or is taking place. Oral reports should be made immediately. A mandated reporter must also complete a written report within 48 hours of contact which discloses the suspected abuse or neglect.
When making a report of suspected abuse, the report must include at minimum:
The person receiving your report will request additional information in order to obtain the most comprehensive and complete information possible to inform decision making and subsequent agency actions. Because Child Protective Services seeks to affect both safety and change, information on the family’s strengths as well as difficulties will be requested.
If reporting abuse or neglect of a child involving mental injury, include a description of the substantial.
All reports of suspected child abuse are immune from civil liability unless they are purposefully erroneous or malicious.
Suspected abuse or neglect can be reported by calling the local office phone number found here:
http://dhr.maryland.gov/child-protective-services/reporting-suspected-child-abuse-or-neglect/local-offices/