State Child Abuse and Neglect Policies Database
Prepared for:
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Administration for Children and Families, Office of Planning, Research, and Evaluation
State Child Abuse and Neglect (SCAN) Policies Database Fact Sheets
Associated Project
Clients
Key Findings
- States vary in how their laws and policies define child abuse and neglect regarding the specific types of maltreatment included in the definition and in what exceptions should not be considered child maltreatment.
- At the time a report of child abuse or neglect is made, all states request identifying information and information about the suspected maltreatment, but states vary in what other information is requested.
- To screen-in a report, the majority of states require information on the type and severity of suspected child maltreatment but vary in what other information is required and in who conducts screening of reports.
- When conducting investigations, all states require risk or safety assessments and interviews with the victim and caregiver, but states vary in what other activities are required and in who investigates reports.
These four fact sheets use data from the State Child Abuse and Neglect (SCAN) Policies Database that describe key aspects of states’ definitions of child maltreatment and policies for defining, reporting, screening, and investigating child abuse and neglect. The fact sheets should be of interest to individuals who work in child welfare agencies and practitioners, researchers, service providers, program administrators, program evaluators, and funders.
- How Do Definitions of Child Abuse and Neglect Vary Across States? Summarizes states’ definitions for types of maltreatment, risk of harm, type of harm, exceptions, perpetrators, and child age.
- How Do Laws and Policies for Reporting Child Abuse and Neglect Vary Across States? Summarizes states’ reporting laws and policies, including use of centralized reporting, reporting standards, mandated reporting, and false reporting.
- How Do Policies for Screening Reports of Child Maltreatment Vary Across States? Summarizes states’ screening policies, including use of centralized screening, information required to screen reports, decision processes for screening, and required screening activities.
- How Do Laws and Policies for Investigating Reports of Child Maltreatment Vary Across States? Summarizes states’ laws and policies for investigating reports of child maltreatment, including required activities, staff, and level of evidence to confirm that child maltreatment occurred.
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State Statutes for Definitions of Child Abuse and Neglect
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