We are ALL responsible for reporting suspect child abuse!

Reporting Child Abuse and Neglect

What is to be reported to the Mississippi Department of Child Protection Services?

Any known or suspected child abuse, neglect or sexual abuse, Human Trafficking of minors, infants affected by substance abuse, and child fatalities.

Who is legally required to report child abuse and neglect?

“Any attorney, physician, dentist, intern, resident, nurse, psychologist, social worker, family protection worker, family protection specialist, child caregiver, minister, law enforcement officer, public or private school employee or any other person having reasonable cause to suspect that a child is a neglected child or an abused child, shall cause an oral report to be made immediately by telephone or otherwise and followed as soon thereafter as possible by a report in writing to the Department of Child Protection Services ….”

Everyone is legally required to report suspected child abuse.

Who is considered to be a child?

A person who has not reached their 18th birthday, or a youth 18 years or older IF currently in CPS Custody.

Reports of abuse and neglect of persons 18 years of age or over are to be referred to the MS Department of Human Services, Adult Protective Services, and law enforcement, if applicable.

Vulnerable Adult Abuse Hotline (844)-437-6282 or visit their website here.

Who do I call to make a report?

A report may be made to the hotline, 1-800-222-8000, a statewide, toll-free 24-hour line answered seven days a week.

You may also make a report online through the MDCPS website. Reports of Human Trafficking can also be made to the National Hotline 1-888-373-7888.

If you need to make a report in another state, you can find contact information at Child Welfare Information Gateway by clicking here.

What will I be asked when I call in a report?

The Intake Specialist will ask questions to collect information related to the child’s identity and household members, a full address for the family, and details related to the alleged abuse. You may be asked questions pertaining to the following.

You may be asked to further describe the harm to the child.
Your contact information so that the assigned staff responding to the situation will be able to reach you.
Whether the abuser is a parent/caregiver
If a child has an injury, you will be asked the details about how, when, and where the injury occurred.
Any information regarding previous abuse
Any other persons who might be able to provide information related to the abuse.
The primary language spoken by the family and whether the family is of Native American heritage.
If there are any known dangers for CPS staff visiting the home.
The general functioning of family members and whether the children in the home have any specific special needs.
The child’s current location and whether the child is currently being cared for safely by caregivers or whether the child is in imminent threat of harm.
Information on relatives or others close to the family who can assist in the child’s safe care or help reduce the threat of future harm to the child.

What happens when I make a report electronically through the agency’s website?

On the online reporting document, you will be asked questions about the victims, caregivers, household members, others who know about the abuse/neglect, and your contact information.

There will be a place for you to describe the abuse. The more information provided the better.

If you use the online reporting on the CPS website, you will receive a confirmation number once you have reviewed and submitted your report. Keep this confirmation number if you ever need it to document your reporting.

Does a reporter have any immunity from liability?

Yes, if the report is made in good faith. Any attorney, physician, dentist, intern, resident, nurse, psychologist, social Worker, family protection Worker, family protection specialist, child caregiver, minister, law enforcement officer, school attendance officer, public school district employee, nonpublic school employee, licensed professional counselor or any other person participating in the making of a required report pursuant to MCA § 43-21-355, participating in the judicial proceeding resulting there from, shall be presumed to be acting in good faith. Any person or institution reporting in good faith shall be immune from any liability, civil or criminal, that might otherwise be incurred or imposed.

Do people reporting suspected child abuse or neglect have to identify themselves?

NO. MDCPS does not require a reporter to identify themselves as a condition for reporting suspected child abuse, neglect, or exploitation. A reporter will be encouraged to leave contact information to allow the assigned staff to contact the reporter for any information which would help assess the report and work with the family. Insufficient information and the inability to contact the reporter could affect the agency’s ability to intervene for the safety of the child.

MCA. § 43-21-259 requires all records involving children and the contents thereof, including the identity of the reporter, to be kept confidential except as provided in § 43-21-261.

What will happen if you know of the abuse and don’t report it?

Upon being found guilty, the individual shall be punished by a fine not to exceed $5,000, imprisonment in jail not to exceed one year, or both (MCA 43-21-353(7)).

What happens after I make a report?

The information given will be assessed. Allegations of child abuse or neglect will be forwarded to the corresponding MDCPS staff for a response. A referral for child abuse prevention services may be utilized when preventive services could reduce the likelihood of future maltreatment.

Source: Mississippi Department of Child Protection Services

Matthew Thompson and Chad King are child welfare attorneys in the State of Mississippi. They have represented natural parents, foster parents, grandparents, other relatives, fictive kin, children and the Agency (CPS) throughout their decades of practice. (NOT all at the same time).

The Department of Child Protection Services shall extend the following rights to persons who provide foster care and relative care:

First, the Mississippi Department of Child Protection Services is a Mississippi State entity responsible for protection of children and to strengthen families, which includes “standing in the shoes” of parents for just under 4,000 children. CPS is comprised of a “workforce of professionals who directly serve children and families or support of those who do.”

CAPE is the core values of CPS; Compassion, Accountability, Professionalism, and Excellence, goals which CPS strives for…though admittedly may not achieve in every instance.

So, what can Foster Parents expect? The Foster Parent Bill of Rights provides;

(a) A clear understanding of their role while providing care and the roles of the birth parent(s) and the placement agency in respect to the child in care;

This is CRITICALLY important to know and understand on the front end. Typically, the foster parent role is a “calm in the storm” home for a child that has been removed from a parent and did not have a relative home that made sense at the time of the removal. This role is usually temporary, though the timing could vary dramatically, but the goal is almost always reunification.

(b) Respect, consideration, trust and value as a family who is making an important contribution to the agency’s objectives;

Your role as a foster parent is CRITICALLY important and CPS and the State of Mississippi cannot protect children as they deserve without foster parents!

(c) Notification of benchmarks that will be required of the foster parent such as appointments, home visits with department personnel, visitations of the child at school and meetings between department personnel and the child’s family;

You have the right to know what is expected within the role of foster parent. From a child that will need counseling, medical services, educational services, or more, as a foster parent you have an obligation to meet these needs within your abilities. Additionally, this REQUIRES cooperation with the Agency, with the CPS social workers and other employees, even if you have a differing opinion. Also, if the plan is reunification and there are to be visits, your role is to promote, encourage and participate in same.

(d) Advance notice of information regarding scheduled meetings other than meetings where the Department of Child Protection Services personnel or social workers are going to the foster parent’s home for site visits, appointments and court hearings concerning the foster child;

There may be an unannounced visit at your home. This is not a trap. This is CPS doing their job. Additionally, there will be family team meetings, which you may well need to be a part of. These are to determine how things are going, are there issues to address, are there child-related needs that are not being met and more.

(e) The opportunity to communicate with professionals who work with the foster child including therapists, physicians and teachers who work directly with the child;

Communication and sharing of information is CRITICALLY important. But there may be a catch, as a foster parent you may feel the information superhighway is a one-way street! Some information cannot be shared with the foster parent due to court rules and privacy concerns, however this is in limited circumstances. Despite this, as a foster parent you have the right to communicate, provide information and also have an obligation to share information regarding the best interest of the child.

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