Cross-Reporting Among Agencies That Respond to Child Abuse and Neglect - Washington

Cross-Reporting Between Child Protective Services and Law Enforcement

Citation: Rev. Code § 26.44.030

When a mandatory reporter has reasonable cause to believe that a child has suffered abuse or neglect, he or she shall report such incident or cause a report to be made to the proper law enforcement agency or to the Department of Children, Youth, and Families.

The department, upon receiving a report of an incident of alleged abuse or neglect pursuant to this chapter, involving a child who has died or has had physical injury or injuries inflicted upon him or her other than by accidental means or who has been subjected to alleged sexual abuse, shall report such incident to the proper law enforcement agency, including military law enforcement, if appropriate.

Any law enforcement agency receiving a report of an incident of alleged abuse or neglect involving a child who has died or has had physical injury or injuries inflicted upon him or her other than by accidental means or who has been subjected to alleged sexual abuse shall report such incident in writing to the proper county prosecutor or city attorney for appropriate action whenever the law enforcement agency's investigation reveals that a crime may have been committed. The law enforcement agency also shall notify the department of all reports received and the law enforcement agency's disposition of them.

Other Reporting Requirements

Citation: Rev. Code § 26.44.030; Admin. Code § 110-30-0080

The department may conduct ongoing case planning and consultation with those persons or agencies required to report under this section, with consultants designated by the department, and with designated representatives of Washington Indian Tribes if the client information exchanged is pertinent to cases currently receiving child protective services.

The department shall make efforts as soon as practicable to determine the military status of parents whose children are subject to abuse or neglect allegations. If the department determines that a parent or guardian is in the military, the department shall notify a Department of Defense family advocacy program that there is an allegation of abuse and neglect that is screened in and open for investigation that relates to that military parent or guardian.

In regulation: The following special requirements apply to children defined as Indians:

• The caseworker must document in case records efforts to keep Indian families together and to avoid separating the Indian child from the child's parents, relatives, Tribe, or cultural heritage.
• In alleged child abuse and neglect situations, the caseworker must document in case records efforts to utilize staff and services particularly capable of meeting the special needs of Indian children and their families, in consultation with the child's Tribe or local Indian child welfare advisory committee.
• The caseworker will promptly advise the Tribal council and the local Indian child welfare advisory committee that a child affiliated with the Tribe is the victim of substantiated child abuse or neglect.