FOR REPORTINGSUSPECTED

A MISSISSIPPI

resources

EDucator's

Guide

Mississippi Department of Human ServicesDivision of Family and Children’s Services

750 North State StreetJackson, MS 39202

1.800.345.6347

Children's Advocacy Centers of Mississippi Post Office Box 5348Jackson, MS 39296

601.940.6183

Mississippi Department of Mental Health 239 N Lamar St #1101

Jackson, MS 39201 601.359.1288

Developed by the Office of Compulsory School Attendance Enforcement

Call 1.800.222.8000 to report abuse, neglect or exploitation of a child in Mississippi. Reports can also be made online at: www.msabusehotline.mdhs.ms.gov

The website's security is sufficient to permit HIPAA-covered entities to file reports of child abuse or neglect, as mandated by state law.

If you request a follow-up acknowledgement, and have provided e-mail address information, the e- mail will include the confirmation number (generated at your initial submission) and report identification number (generated when the report is entered into Division of Family and Children’s Services system) associated with the reported information. The numbers will verify that you have reported the suspected abuse/neglect to our statewide system.

To help you match the e-mail response to the particular situation you reported, the body of the e-mail will include the date and time you initially submitted your report and the initials of the child (primary victim). The information from your report will not be included in the response. The subject line of the email includes the report sequence number and report identification number. The email does not contain any language that would be meaningful to anyone other than the person who made the report.

FAQ

NEGLECT & abuse

How do I report suspected abuse and/or neglect?

How secure is this website?

Who has access to the information I have reported?

Electronic Reporting—What happens next?

Trained, degreed professionals, and/or licensed social workers employed by the Mississippi Department of Human Services, Division of Family and Children’s Services assess the information submitted via the internet or telephone.

rights & responsibilities IF A CHILD revealsabuse or neglect

mississippi cenralized intakeinstead of my local office?

In accordance with MS. Code 43-21-353, any attorney, physician, dentist, intern, resident, nurse, psychologist, social worker, family protection worker, family protection specialist, child caregiver, minister, law enforcement officer, public or private school employee or any other person having reasonable cause to suspect that a child is a neglected child or an abused child, shall make a verbal report immediately by telephone or otherwise and followed as soon thereafter as possible by a report in writing to the Mississippi Department of Human Services.

The identity of the person who made the report will remain confidential except when the court determines the testimony of the person reporting is material to the judicial proceeding or when the identity of the reporter is released to law enforcement and the prosecutor.

Professionals cannot rely on another person to make the report.

• You have the right and responsibility to report suspected abuse or neglect—free of fear, intimidation, or regret.

• Public school district employees making a required report shall be presumed to be acting in good faith and immune from any liability, civil or criminal, that might otherwise be incurred or imposed.

• Education professionals may not delegate the duty to report suspected abuse or neglect to any other person.

• School district personnel are required to report suspicion of abuse or neglect within 48 hours. Reporting the information to your principal, superintendent, counselor or other teachers does NOT meet your obligations under the law. • When responding to an outcry, let the child use his or her own words to tell you what happened but leave the detailed questioning to the professionals. This is critical to ensuring the integrity of any investigation and minimizing additional trauma to the child.

• Remain calm.

• Always believe the child, but do not make any promises.

• Assure the child that he/she did the right thing and is not to blame for the abuse.

• Let the child tell you about the experience, but leave the questioning to the authorities.

• Report the abuse to MDHS or law enforcement immediately.

• Out of the presence of the child, make notes about the child’s language/demeanor in the event you are asked for a statement at a later time.

IF A CHILDIS INIMMEDIATE DANGER

HOW TO RESPOND AN EDUCATOR’S WHY CALL

CALL 9111.800.222.8000Statewide Intake 24/7

Mississippi Centralized Intake:

• Provides a central point of contact for all allegations of abuse, neglect, and exploitation for the State of Mississippi that is available 24 hours a day, 7 days per week, 365 days per year. Reports are promptly sent to the county of responsibility.

• Assists Social Workers in the identification of relatives, family strengths, available resources and family connections at intake.

• Provides the most efficient method of documenting and routing the information to assigned local staff for response.

Questions or additional information can be directed to the local Division of Family and Children’s Services office once the report has been made to Mississippi Centralized Intake. Confidentiality laws will apply.

in mississippiKNOW THE LAW