Mandated reporters are required to call the State Central Register (SCR) immediately when, in their professional role, they have reasonable cause to suspect that a child is being abused or maltreated, or when a child, parent, or other person directly discloses abuse or neglect to them.

Quick Scoop: The Core Rule

If you are a mandated reporter (like a teacher, health-care worker, social worker, child‑care provider, law‑enforcement officer, etc.), you must call the SCR:

  • When you know of or reasonably suspect child abuse or maltreatment, based on:
    • What you personally see or hear, or
    • What a child or another person tells you, combined with your training and experience.
  • You do not need proof or an investigation; suspicion based on facts or observations is enough.
  • The call should be made right away / as soon as practically possible , not “later” or “after you look into it more.”

Most state laws also require a written follow‑up report within a short time frame (for example, within 36 hours in some states) after the initial phone call.

What “Reasonable Cause to Suspect” Means

Think of “reasonable cause” as: “Given what I know and what I’m seeing, a careful professional in my position would worry that this child might be abused or neglected.”

You usually must call the SCR when:

  • A child discloses physical, sexual, or emotional abuse, or serious neglect.
  • You observe unexplained injuries , repeated injuries, or patterns that don’t match the explanation.
  • The child appears consistently malnourished, filthy, or medically neglected.
  • You see or hear about violent behavior in the home that seriously harms the child or puts them at substantial risk of harm.

You do not wait until you are “sure.” If you wonder “Does this meet the threshold?”, the legal guidance in many jurisdictions is: when in doubt, report.

Timing: How Fast Does the Call Happen?

Across states, the pattern is very similar:

  • Phone report :
    • Must be made immediately , or as soon as practically possible after you form the suspicion in your professional capacity.
* You don’t wait for a team meeting, supervisor decision, or for tomorrow’s shift.
  • Written report (where required):
    • Must be sent within a legally defined time period (commonly within 24–48 hours , such as 36 hours in some states) to the appropriate agency or registry.

Your duty is personal : a supervisor cannot block, delay, or override your decision to report.

Who Do You Call?

While names differ by state, the idea is the same:

  • Many states use a centralized hotline called a State Central Register (SCR) or central child‑abuse hotline.
  • Other states direct you to:
    • The local child protective services (CPS) agency, or
    • Law enforcement (police or sheriff), or
    • A designated county child‑welfare or probation agency.

In practice, your employer’s mandated‑reporter training should give you:

  • The exact SCR / hotline number.
  • The forms and time limits for any written report.

Legal Consequences and Protections

Why this timing is so strict:

  • Failure to report :
    • Often a crime (usually a misdemeanor) with potential fines, possible jail time, and professional or licensing consequences.
  • Protection for reporting :
    • Mandated reporters are generally protected from civil and criminal liability if they report in good faith , even if the allegation is not ultimately substantiated.
* Your **identity is confidential** and usually cannot be shared with the family, except in limited legal circumstances.

Simple Example

Imagine you are a school nurse:

  • A student shows you repeated bruises in different stages of healing and quietly says, “My mom’s boyfriend gets mad and hits me.”
  • You now have reasonable cause to suspect physical abuse, based on both the disclosure and the visible injuries.
  • You must call the SCR / CPS hotline immediately while acting in your professional role; you do not wait for proof, a parent meeting, or internal review.

Key Takeaway (Direct Answer)

Mandated reporters are required to call the State Central Register to report suspected child abuse or maltreatment as soon as they know of or reasonably suspect abuse or neglect in their professional capacity , based on observations, disclosures, or other information, and they must not delay the call to investigate on their own or wait for confirmation.

Information gathered from public forums or data available on the internet and portrayed here.