Who is a mandated reporter?

In Georgia law, it designates certain professionals as mandated reporters of child abuse or neglect [OCGA 19-7-5(c)(1)].

If you are one of the following people and have reasonable cause to believe that a child has been abused, you must make a report, immediately but no later than 24 hours, to your local DFCS office or law enforcement and are subject to criminal penalty for failing to do so.

• Physicians licensed to practice medicines, interns or residents
• Hospital or medical personnel
• Dentists
• Licensed psychologists
• Podiatrists
• Registered professional nurses or licensed practical nurses
• Professional counselors, social workers, or marriage and family therapists
• School teachers
• School administrators
• School guidance counselors, visiting teachers, school social workers, school psychologists
• Child welfare agency personnel
• Child counseling personnel
• Child service organization personnel
• Law enforcement personnel

Mandated Reporter Training is available through The Governor’s Office for Children and Families (GOCF). GOCF has partnered with Care Solutions, Inc. to make this valuable online training available for free any time or day that you may want to use it.  It is one-hour of your time to learn how to better recognize the indicators of abuse and neglect, understand your role in responsible reporting, and identify the groups of children that may be at a higher risk of being abused or neglected.  Please click here to register: Mandated Reporters: Critical Links in Protecting Children in Georgia