The State Child Abuse/Neglect law mandates certain professions (mandated reporters), to make a report to the Missouri Division of Family Services when they have reasonable cause to suspect that a child has been or may be subjected to abuse of neglect. However, many times the mandated reporter may not suspect abuse or neglect but has some other concern about a family.

Effective July 1996 the division implemented a policy to accept referrals of concern from a mandated reporter which does not rise to the level of a CA/N report. The division refers to these calls as Mandated Reporter Referrals. This service is being provided since division staff often know of community supports available for families and to continue the positive communication between Family Services' staff and mandated reporters. The reporter will be told by the Hotline social worker whether their call is being accepted as a Hotline report or as a Mandated Reporter Referral. Mandated Reporter Referrals will be referred immediately to the appropriate county Family Services Office.

Local Family Services staff will contact the reporter within 3 working days, or the next working day if received on a weekend or holiday, to discuss the situation with the mandated reporter and mutually determine the most appropriate action to be taken. While the division, in a few situations may offer services to families, the primary purpose is to help the mandated reporter make community support connections for the family. The following are possible responses to the referrals:

• The mandated reporter is made aware of appropriate community resources and provides referrals for the family;
• The reporter or DFS staff contact the family by telephone to assist the family in arranging appropriate referrals;
• DFS staff visit the family to obtain additional information and assess the needs of the family;
• DFS staff determine that, based upon additional information, a child abuse/neglect report is necessary.

If a mandated reporter has any questions about this process, they may contact the Division of Family Services' office in their local county

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