Do I have to tell parents that I reported child abuse?
Ordinary citizens do not. Mandated reporters generally aren’t required to tell parents they reported suspected child abuse to the Department of Children and Families (DCF). There are three exceptions:
- The person in charge of a school or facility must notify the child’s parent or guardian when the child abuse report is about a staff member. DCF notifies the person in charge of the school or facility when the report is made.
- Healthcare professionals may need to talk with parents to assess the cause of the child’s injury(ies).
- Mental health professionals and members of the clergy may want to talk with the parents to offer support and guidance.
In most cases, don’t talk with parents before reporting serious physical abuse or sexual abuse to DCF. It may put the child at greater risk and interfere with a criminal investigation.