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Missouri

Who is mandated to report?

Are all health clinicians mandated to report?

  • Yes.  

Who else is a mandated reporter?

  • Residents
  • Interns
  • Nurses
  • Hospital and clinical personnel
  • Psychologists
  • Mental health professionals
  • Social workers

For more information, refer to Mandatory Reporters of Child Abuse and Neglect at the Child Welfare Information Gateway.

When is the reporting duty triggered?

What is the standard?

  • A report is required when:
    • A reporter has reasonable cause to suspect that a child has been subjected to abuse or neglect.
    • A reporter observes a child being subjected to conditions or circumstances that would reasonably result in abuse or neglect.
    • A commercial film and photographic print processor has knowledge of or observes any film, photograph, videotape, negative, slide, or computer-generated image or picture depicting a child engaged in an act of sexual conduct.

For more information, refer to Mandatory Reporters of Child Abuse and Neglect at the Child Welfare Information Gateway.  

What must be reported?

How does state law define child abuse and neglect for reporting purposes?

  • Mandated reporters must report abuse and neglect as defined by Missouri statute 210.110 and legal guidance interpreting the statute.
    • “Abuse”, any physical injury, sexual abuse, or emotional abuse inflicted on a child other than by accidental means by those responsible for the child’s care, custody, and control, except that discipline including spanking, administered in a reasonable manner, shall not be construed to be abuse. Victims of abuse shall also include any victims of sex trafficking or severe forms of trafficking as those terms are defined in 22 U.S.C. 78 Section 7102(9)-(10).
    • The reporting statute states that for reporting purposes, “the term “abuse” is not limited to abuse inflicted by a person responsible for the child's care, custody and control as specified in section 210.110, but shall also include abuse inflicted by any other person.”
    • “Neglect”, failure to provide, by those responsible for the care, custody, and control of the child, the proper or necessary support, education as required by law, nutrition or medical, surgical, or any other care necessary for the child’s well-being. Victims of neglect shall also include any victims of sex trafficking or severe forms of trafficking as those terms are defined in 22 U.S.C. 78 Section 7102(9)-(10).

Are child molestation, sexual abuse, rape, statutory rape, incest, intimate partner violence, sexual exploitation and/or trafficking of a minor reportable as child abuse or neglect and if so, how are they defined and what is reportable?

Refer to the State of Missouri Revisor of Statutes for the most current and complete definitions and reporting law.

How to report:

What is the method of reporting?

  • When a mandated reporter has reasonable cause to suspect that a child has been or may be subjected to abuse or neglect, that person shall immediately cause an oral report to be made to the Division of Family Services.

For more information, refer to Making and Screening Reports of Child Abuse and Neglect at the Child Welfare Information Gateway.  

What is the timeline in which to report?

  • An oral report must be made immediately when a mandated reporter has reasonable cause to suspect that a child has been or may be suspected to abuse or neglect.

For more information, refer to Making and Screening Reports of Child Abuse and Neglect at the Child Welfare Information Gateway.  

To whom are reports made?

  • Reports shall be made to the division. The division shall maintain an information system operating at all times, capable of receiving and maintaining reports. This information system shall have the ability to receive reports over a single, statewide toll-free number. The information system shall maintain the results of all investigations, family assessments and services, and other relevant information.

For more information, refer to Making and Screening Reports of Child Abuse and Neglect at the Child Welfare Information Gateway.  

State/County Hotline?

  • Children’s Division Child Abuse and Neglect Hotline (24 hours, 7 days a week)
  • 1-800-392-3738
  • If you would like to make a non-urgent report, you can do so using the Online Mandated Reporting System.  

Confidentiality:

What federal confidentiality laws apply to health information collected during a Title X visit?

  • Title X regulations 42 CFR 59.11
  • HIPAA 45 CFR 164.502  

Is there an exception in federal confidentiality law that allows a clinician to comply with mandatory child abuse reporting laws?

  • Yes.