Keith Mack
In Ohio, mandatory reporting of child abuse or neglect has been in effect since 2004, with subsequent amendments in 2005, 2006, 2008, 2009, 2011, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, and 2019. Under Section 2151.421 of the Ohio Revised Code, certain professionals are required to report known or reasonably suspected cases of child abuse or neglect to the appropriate authorities. This includes individuals such as attorneys, health care professionals, school teachers, peace officers, social workers, and more. The law specifies that these reports should be made immediately and can be done orally or in writing if requested by the receiving agency.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| When did mandatory reporting become law in Ohio? | It is unclear when mandatory reporting became law in Ohio, but the most recent update to the law was on October 17, 2019. |
| Who is mandated to report? | Any person described in division (A)(1)(b) of this section who is acting in an official or professional capacity and knows, or has reasonable cause to suspect, that a child has suffered or faces a threat of suffering any physical or mental wound, injury, disability, or condition of a nature that reasonably indicates abuse or neglect. |
| What must be reported? | Abuse or neglect as defined by Ohio statutes 2151.031 and 2151.03 and legal guidance interpreting the statutes. |
| What is the method of reporting? | The report shall be made either by telephone or in person and shall be followed by a written report, if requested by the receiving agency or officer. |
| What is the timeline for reporting? | A mandated reporter who knows or has reasonable cause to suspect that a child has suffered or faces a threat of suffering abuse or neglect shall immediately make a report. |
| To whom are reports made? | The report shall be made to the county public children services agency (PCSA) or a municipal or county peace officer in the county in which the child resides or the abuse or neglect is occurring or has occurred. |
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What You'll Learn
Who is mandated to report?
In Ohio, certain professionals are mandated by law to report aspects of family violence to the appropriate authorities. These mandated reporters include:
- Attorneys
- Health care professionals
- Practitioners of a limited branch of medicine
- Licensed school psychologists
- Independent marriage and family therapists
- Marriage and family therapists
- Coroners
- Administrators or employees of a child day-care center
- Administrators or employees of a residential camp, child day camp, or private, nonprofit therapeutic wilderness camp
- Administrators or employees of a certified child care agency or other public or private children services agency
- School teachers
- School employees
- School authorities
- Peace officers
- Humane society agents
- Dog wardens, deputy dog wardens, or other persons appointed to act as animal control officers
- Persons rendering spiritual treatment through prayer in accordance with the tenets of a well-recognized religion
- Employees of a county department of job and family services who work with children and families
- Superintendents or regional administrators employed by the department of youth services
- Superintendents, board members, or employees of a county board of developmental disabilities
- Investigative agents contracted with by a county board of developmental disabilities
- Employees of the department of developmental disabilities
- Employees of a facility or home that provides respite care
- Employees of an entity that provides homemaker services
- Employees of a qualified organization
- Host families
- Foster caregivers
- Persons performing the duties of an assessor
- Third parties employed by a public children services agency to assist in providing child or family-related services
- Court-appointed special advocates
- Guardians ad litem
- Clerics
These mandated reporters are required by law to report suspected cases of child abuse or neglect to child protective services or law enforcement. The report can be made either by telephone or in person, and it should include the following information:
- The name and address of the victim
- The name and address of the parent(s), guardian, or caregiver
- The name of the suspected abuser and their address, if available
- The reason for suspecting abuse or neglect
- Any other information that may be helpful to the investigation
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What is the standard for reporting?
In Ohio, a report is required when a mandated person is acting in an official or professional capacity and knows or suspects that a child has suffered or faces a threat of suffering any physical or mental wound, injury, disability, or condition of a nature that reasonably indicates abuse or neglect. This includes any child who is the victim of "sexual activity", is endangered, exhibits evidence of any physical or mental injury or death inflicted by non-accidental means, or suffers physical or mental injury due to the acts of their parents, guardian, or custodian.
Mandated reporters in Ohio include:
- Attorneys
- Health care professionals
- Practitioners of a limited branch of medicine
- Licensed school psychologists
- Independent marriage and family therapists
- Coroners
- Administrators or employees of a child day-care center
- Administrators or employees of a residential camp, child day camp, or private, nonprofit therapeutic wilderness camp
- Administrators or employees of a certified child care agency or other public or private children services agency
- School teachers and employees
- School authorities
- Peace officers
- Humane society agents
- Dog wardens
- Other persons appointed to act as animal control officers
- Persons, other than clerics, rendering spiritual treatment through prayer in accordance with the tenets of a well-recognized religion
- Employees of a county department of job and family services who work with children and families
- Superintendents or regional administrators employed by the department of youth services
- Superintendents, board members, or employees of a county board of developmental disabilities
- Investigative agents contracted with by a county board of developmental disabilities
- Employees of the department of developmental disabilities
- Employees of a facility or home that provides respite care
- Employees of an entity that provides homemaker services
- Employees of a qualified organization
- Host families
- Foster caregivers
- Persons performing the duties of an assessor
- Third parties employed by a public children services agency to assist in providing child or family-related services
- Court-appointed special advocates
- Guardians ad litem
- Marriage and family therapists
- Persons engaged in social work or the practice of professional counselling
The report can be made either by telephone or in person and must be followed by a written report if requested by the receiving agency or officer. The written report should include:
- The names and addresses of the child and their parents or custodians, if known
- The child's age and the nature and extent of their injuries, abuse, or neglect
- Any other information that might be helpful in establishing the cause of the injury, abuse, or neglect, including medical examination results and reports
A mandated reporter who knows or has reasonable cause to suspect that a child has suffered or faces a threat of abuse or neglect should immediately make a report to the county public children services agency (PCSA) or a peace officer in the county where the child resides or where the abuse or neglect is occurring or has occurred.
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What must be reported?
In Ohio, a mandated reporter must report abuse or neglect as defined by Ohio statutes 2151.031 and 2151.03 and legal guidance interpreting the statutes.
An "abused child" includes any child who:
- Is the victim of "sexual activity" as defined under Chapter 2907. of the Revised Code, where such activity would constitute an offense under that chapter.
- Is endangered as defined in section 2919.22 of the Revised Code.
- Exhibits evidence of any physical or mental injury or death, inflicted other than by accidental means, or an injury or death that is at variance with the history given of it.
- Because of the acts of their parents, guardian, or custodian, suffers physical or mental injury that harms or threatens to harm their health or welfare.
- Is subjected to out-of-home care child abuse.
A "neglected child" includes any child who:
- Is abandoned by their parents, guardian, or custodian.
- Lacks adequate parental care because of the faults or habits of their parents, guardian, or custodian.
- Whose parents, guardian, or custodian neglects the child or refuses to provide proper or necessary subsistence, education, medical or surgical care or treatment, or other care necessary for the child's health, morals, or well-being.
- Whose parents, guardian, or custodian neglects the child or refuses to provide the special care made necessary by the child's mental condition.
- Whose parents, legal guardian, or custodian have placed or attempted to place the child in violation of sections 5103.16 and 5103.17 of the Revised Code.
- Who, because of the omission of their parents, guardian, or custodian, suffers physical or mental injury that harms or threatens to harm the child's health or welfare.
- Who is subjected to out-of-home care child neglect.
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What is the method of reporting?
In Ohio, the method of reporting child abuse or neglect is to make a report either by telephone or in person to the public children services agency or a peace officer in the county in which the child resides or in which the abuse or neglect is occurring or has occurred. If the person making the report is a peace officer, the report should be made to the public children services agency in the relevant county. If the circumstances described in section 5120.173 of the Revised Code apply, the report should be made to the entity specified in that section.
The report should be made immediately and followed by a written report, if requested by the receiving agency or officer. The written report should include:
- The names and addresses of the child and their parents or custodians, if known.
- The child's age and the nature and extent of their injuries, abuse, or neglect, including any evidence of previous injuries, abuse, or neglect.
- Any other information that might be helpful in establishing the cause of the injury, abuse, or neglect, such as results and reports of any medical examinations, tests, or procedures.
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To whom are reports made?
In Ohio, reports of child abuse or neglect must be made to the public children services agency or a peace officer in the county in which the child resides or in which the abuse or neglect is occurring or has occurred. If the person making the report is a peace officer, the report must be made to the public children services agency in the county in which the child resides or in which the abuse or neglect is occurring or has occurred.
In certain circumstances, as described in section 5120.173 of the Revised Code, the person making the report must make it to the entity specified in that section.
The Ohio Revised Code provides a detailed list of persons mandated to report suspected child abuse or neglect. This list includes:
- Attorneys
- Health care professionals
- Licensed school psychologists
- Independent marriage and family therapists
- Coroners
- Administrators or employees of child day-care centers
- Administrators or employees of residential camps, child day camps, or private, nonprofit therapeutic wilderness camps
- Administrators or employees of certified child care agencies or other public or private children services agencies
- School teachers and employees
- School authorities
- Peace officers
- Humane society agents
- Dog wardens, deputy dog wardens, or other persons appointed to act as animal control officers for a municipal corporation or township
- Persons, other than clerics, rendering spiritual treatment through prayer in accordance with the tenets of a well-recognized religion
- Employees of a county department of job and family services who are professionals and who work with children and families
- Superintendents or regional administrators employed by the department of youth services
- Superintendents, board members, or employees of a county board of developmental disabilities
- Investigative agents contracted with by a county board of developmental disabilities
- Employees of the department of developmental disabilities
- Employees of a facility or home that provides respite care
- Employees of an entity that provides homemaker services
- Employees of a qualified organization as defined in section 2151.90 of the Revised Code
- Host families as defined in section 2151.90 of the Revised Code
- Foster caregivers
- Persons performing the duties of an assessor pursuant to Chapter 3107. or 5103. of the Revised Code
- Third parties employed by a public children services agency to assist in providing child or family-related services
- Court-appointed special advocates
- Guardians ad litem
- Marriage and family therapists
- Persons engaged in social work or the practice of professional counseling
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Frequently asked questions
In Ohio, mandatory reporting laws require certain professionals to report known or reasonably suspected cases of child abuse or neglect to the county public children services agency (PCSA) or a peace officer.
Mandated reporters include any person acting in an official or professional capacity who knows or suspects that a child has suffered or is at risk of suffering abuse or neglect. This includes healthcare professionals, attorneys, teachers, peace officers, social workers, and more.
A report is required when a mandated person knows or has reasonable cause to suspect that a child under 18 years of age, or a person under 21 with a developmental disability or physical impairment, has suffered or is at risk of suffering any physical or mental wound, injury, or condition that indicates abuse or neglect.
Mandated reporters must report abuse or neglect as defined by Ohio statutes 2151.031 and 2151.03. "Abused child" includes any child who is the victim of sexual activity, is endangered, exhibits evidence of physical or mental injury inflicted by non-accidental means, or whose health or welfare is harmed due to the acts of their parents, guardian, or custodian. "Neglected child" includes any child who is abandoned, lacks adequate parental care, or whose parents neglect to provide necessary care for their health, morals, or well-being.
Mandated reporters must immediately make a report when they know or suspect that a child is suffering or is at risk of suffering abuse or neglect.
