Establishment and Maintenance of Central Registries for Child Abuse or Neglect Reports - Massachusetts

Establishment

Citation: Ann. Laws Ch. 119, § 51F

The Department of Social Services shall maintain a central registry. 

Purpose

Citation: Ann. Laws. Ch. 119, § 51F

The department, upon request, may release this data and information from the registry to a child welfare agency of another State to assist that agency in determining whether to approve a prospective foster or adoptive parent.

Contents

Citation: Ann. Laws Ch. 119, §§ 51B(h); 51F; Code of Regs. Tit.110, § 12.03

The department shall file in the central registry a written report containing information sufficient to identify each child whose name is reported under the reporting laws.

Nothing in this section shall prevent the department from keeping information on unsubstantiated reports to assist in future risk and safety assessments of children and families.

In regulation: The central registry shall contain, but need not be limited to, all identifying data known for each child who is the subject of a report. Identifying data include name, date of birth, sex, ethnicity, and address.

Maintenance

Citation: Ann. Laws Ch. 119, § 51B(h)

A notation shall be sent to the central registry whenever further reports on a child are filed with the department.

If a report is declared 'allegation invalid,' then the child's name, identifying characteristics relating to the child, and the names of their parents or guardians or any other person relevant to the report shall not be placed in the central registry or in any other computerized program utilized in the department.