Child Abuse Reporting Electronic System (CARES): An online system for reporting child abuse that will allow for faster and more efficient reporting of non-urgent child abuse while still allowing the Department of Children and Family Services (DCFS) to ensure the safety of children. A 36-hour written report should not be filed when using the online reporting system.
Child: For the purpose of this policy the age definition for a child is 0 through 18.
Mandated Reporters: Mandated child abuse reporters include all those individuals and entities listed in PEN § 11165.7
Reportable Child Abuse and Neglect Categories (PEN §§ 11165.1, 11165.5, and 11166.05):
- Sexual abuse, sexual assault, sexual exploitation, or commercial sexual exploitation;
- Child neglect, negligent treatment or maltreatment, including acts and omissions on the part of the person responsible for the child’s welfare;
- Willful harming or injuring of a child or endangering the health of a child;
-
Unlawful corporal punishment or injury;
-
Abuse or neglect in out-of-home care; and
-
Physical injury inflicted by other than accidental means.
Reasonable Suspicion: An objectively rational thought for a person to entertain based on facts that could cause a practical person in a like position, drawing on his/her training and experience, to suspect child abuse or neglect.
Workforce Member: Employees, legal entity practitioners, fee-for-service (FFS) practitioners, locum tenens, interns, trainees, volunteers, contract workers, and other persons whose conduct in the performance of work for the Department or its offices, programs, or facilities is under the direct control of the Department, office, or program, regardless of whether they are paid by the Department/County.
