Washington State

Office of the Attorney General

Attorney General

Nick Brown

Child Abuse & Neglect

Reporting Child Abuse and Neglect

The Department of Children, Youth, and Families (DCYF) is responsible for receiving and investigating reports of suspected child abuse and neglect. A DCYF office in each community receives and assesses reports to determine whether they meet the legal definition of abuse or neglect or present an imminent risk of serious harm to a child.

DCYF offers several ways to report abuse:

Find your local office number to report abuse or neglect in your area.

Hotline - call 1-866-363-4276, Washington State's toll-free, 24-hour, 7 day-a-week hotline that will connect you directly to the appropriate local office to report suspected child abuse or neglect.

TTY Callers - If you are D/deaf, hard of hearing, or speech-impaired and wish to report suspected child abuse or neglect, you can use a Relay Service (such as 711 or 1-800-833-6384) to connect with the intake line at 1-866-363-4276.

Questions that will be asked when you call

  1. The child’s full legal name, address, and date of birth.
  2. The name and address of the child's parent, guardian, or other persons having custody of the child.
  3. The nature and extent of the abuse or neglect.
  4. Any evidence of previous incidences.
  5. Any other information which may be helpful in establishing the cause of the child's abuse or neglect and the identity of the perpetrator.

You do not need to have all of the above information when you call to make a report, but the more accurate information you can provide, the better equipped the offices will be to assess the child's safety.

 

What is Child Abuse and Neglect?

"Abuse or neglect" means sexual abuse, sexual exploitation, female genital mutilation as defined in RCW 18.130.460, trafficking as described in RCW 9A.40.100, sex trafficking or severe forms of trafficking in persons under the trafficking victims protection act of 2000, 22 U.S.C. Sec. 7101 et seq., or injury of a child by any person under circumstances which cause harm to the child's health, welfare, or safety, excluding conduct permitted under RCW 9A.16.100; or the negligent treatment or maltreatment of a child by a person responsible for or providing care to the child.  

Recognizing Child Abuse and Neglect

Children and youth who are being abused or neglected often can not or will not speak up. They rely on others in the community to recognize that something is not right and take action to help protect them. Unfortunately, there is no perfect list of signs or symptoms of abuse or neglect, and any single concern may or may not mean that abuse or neglect is occurring. It is often a combination of circumstances that lead the Mandatory Reporter to know if they should offer the family support or if they must make a report to DCYF.

Things to Consider

  • Do I know enough about the circumstances to understand the family’s risk and protective factors?
  • What is my understanding of the parent’s unique cultural background?
  • How are my own experiences impacting my understanding and assessment of the parent?
  • Is the parent’s prior history influencing my decision despite evidence of change?

Some families are struggling with issues or circumstances that do not directly impact child safety and do not meet the legal definition of abuse or neglect. Mandatory Reporters can also offer support and resources to families in order to address poverty, housing, concrete needs, and other community-based resources.

Signs of Abuse or Neglect

When you notice one or more of these signs, you may be unsure as to whether abuse or neglect has occurred and whether you need to report. Certainly, any single indicator may not mean abuse or neglect has occurred.

But when you observe any of these indicators, you should think critically about what else you know and what you have observed from that child and family.

Each potential indicator should be understood within the context of what is typical for the child, their family, their culture, and their community. Often, it is a group of warning signs observed by someone who knows the child and family well, which provides the clearest picture.

Physical Signs Present on the Child

  • Injuries to the torso, neck, ears, or genitals are not likely to occur as a result of normal activity or an accident; they are more likely to be associated with abuse.
  • Injuries for which the child has no explanation or offers a reason that is not logical. This could include changes to the explanation, or reason that is not consistent with the type of injury.
  • Difficulty walking or sitting or avoiding the use of an injured part of the body.
  • An ongoing pattern of injuries that appears excessive or easily avoidable with adequate supervision.
  • Medical, dental, vision, or mental health needs that appear to go unaddressed but have been discussed with the parent(s).
  • Failure to thrive when no clear medical cause can be identified.
  • A child who is frequently dirty or smelly, has poor hygiene, or often wears clothes inadequate for the weather.
  • A girl who becomes pregnant at a very young age.
  • A child who has a sexually transmitted infection.

Behavioral Signs Present on the Child

  • Sudden or significant changes in behavior.
  • A child who is or becomes extremely withdrawn.
  • A child who is indiscriminately affectionate with adults.
  • Arriving late at school, leaving late, or not wanting to go home on an ongoing basis.
  • Frequent absences from school or other activities.
  • The appearance of extreme fatigue on a regular basis.
  • Missing routine or follow up medical appointments.
  • A child who cries, cowers, or otherwise indicates that they do not feel safe in the care of parent or caregiver.
  • Stealing food or other necessities.
  • Development regression, including incontinence when potty training has been well established.
  • Running away from home.
  • Attempting suicide or displaying self-injurious behavior.

Statements Made by the Child

  • Statements about being alone or unsupervised at home before they can safely care for themselves.
  • Statements that they fear or do not like their parents or caregivers, or that they do not want to go home.
  • Begging for food or asking others to supply basic necessities.
  • Statements about being afraid when parents or caregivers use alcohol or drugs, fight, or display bizarre behavior.
  • Reporting no attachment to the parent or caregiver.
  • Statements that indicate a sophisticated, age-inappropriate understanding about sex.
  • Direct statements about experiencing abuse or neglect by a parent or caregiver.  
  • Parents told them not to tell or talk to CPS.

Behaviors or Statements Made by the Parent or Caregiver

  • Disregard for the child's feelings, needs, or emotions.
  • Showing little concern for the child.
  • Blaming child for struggles at school or home.
  • Requesting the teachers or others use harsh or unusual discipline techniques with the child.
  • Seeing the child as entirely bad, evil, worthless, or a burden.
  • Describing the child in sexual terms, implying that the child may provoke sexual contact from others.
  • Demanding the child behave in ways inappropriate to their skills or developmental level.
  • Seeming to purposefully isolate the child, including removing them from school or other activities.
  • Offering conflicting, unconvincing, or no explanation for injuries or event.

Author: DCYF using information from the National Clearinghouse on Child Abuse and Neglect Information (DHHS)

 

Who is required to report child abuse and neglect?

Any person who has cause to believe that a child has suffered abuse or neglect should report such incidents.

Those people legally required to report child abuse or neglect are:

  • Medical practitioners
  • Nurses
  • Dentists
  • Social service counselors/therapists
  • Psychologists
  • Medical examiners
  • Pharmacists
  • School personnel
  • Child care providers
  • Law enforcement officers
  • Juvenile probation officers
  • Corrections employees
  • DSHS employees
  • DCYF employees
  • Placement and liaison specialists
  • Responsible living skills program staff
  • HOPE center staff
  • State family and children's ombuds
  • Any volunteer in the state family and children’s ombuds’ office
  • Adults residing with child suspected to have been severely abused

 

What Happens Once Abuse and Neglect is Reported?

Child Protective Services

When DCYF receives a report of child abuse and/or neglect, then the report will be assigned to a Child Protective Services (CPS) pathway for Investigation or Family Assessment Response (FAR). When a report of suspected child abuse or neglect involves a potential crime against a child, the information will be sent to law enforcement. Even though CPS caseworkers and law enforcement work together, they conduct separate assessments. CPS focuses on assessing the safety of the child and needs of the family, and law enforcement determines whether or not a crime has occurred.

CPS cases can remain open for voluntary services where families will work with a caseworker to develop a case plan and participate in evidence-based, in-home, or community-based services to build on family strengths and increase protective factors. Voluntary services are available to families at request and will be recommended by CPS caseworkers for families experiencing high-risk circumstances.

Protective Custody

When law enforcement has probably cause to believe that a taking a child into custody is necessary to prevent imminent physical harm to the child due to child abuse or neglect, including that which results from sexual abuse, sexual exploitation, a high-potency synthetic opioid, or a pattern of severe neglect, law enforcement can place the child in protective custody without a court order. Custody of the child is then transferred to CPS, which places the child with a relative or suitable other, or in foster care. By law, a child can be kept in protective custody for no more than 72 hours, excluding weekends and legal holidays. If the child is not returned to the parents or some other voluntary arrangement made within 72 hours, the matter must be reviewed by a court.

Parental Rights

In very serious cases, a child can be removed permanently from the parents. This is called termination of parental rights. When this happens, the child becomes legally free through a court proceeding. The parent no longer has any rights or responsibilities toward the child. If a parent voluntarily gives up their parental rights, the process is called relinquishment.

Child Welfare Services

Child and Family Welfare Services (CFWS) provides services to children and families to address child safety and well-being issues and focus on the specific needs of the parents. Typically, children have been removed from the family home and are in out-of-home placement. The focus of CFWS is to reunify children with their parents if the child can be safely returned home and, if not possible, achieve a permanent plan.