Mandatory Reporting of Child Abuse and Neglect - Kentucky

Professionals Required to Report
Citation: Rev. Stat. § 620.030

All persons are required to report, including, but not limited to, the following:

• Physicians, osteopathic physicians, nurses, coroners, medical examiners, residents, interns, chiropractors, dentists, optometrists, emergency medical technicians, paramedics, or health professionals
• Teachers, school personnel, or child care personnel 
• Social workers or mental health professionals 
• Peace officers 

Training Requirements for Mandatory Reporters

Training for mandatory reporters is not addressed in the laws and policies reviewed.

The Kentucky Department of Community Based Services offers guidance to mandated reporters on its website. The information that is available on the page includes the following:

• Persons who should report suspected abuse or neglect of a child
• The information that needs to be included in a report 
• Legal protection for reporting sources
• What happens after a report is made

Reporting by Other Persons
Citation: Rev. Stat. § 620.030

Any person who knows or has reasonable cause to believe that a child is dependent, neglected, or abused shall immediately report. 

Institutional Responsibility to Report
Citation: Rev. Stat. § 620.030

Any employee of an institution, school, facility, agency who knows or has reasonable cause to believe that a child is dependent, neglected, or abused shall immediately notify the supervisor of the institution, school, facility, agency, or designated agent of the person in charge. Upon notification, the supervisor or the designated agent, if any, shall facilitate the cooperation of the institution, school, facility, or agency with the investigation of the report.

Any person who knowingly causes intimidation, retaliation, or obstruction in the investigation of the report shall be guilty of a class A misdemeanor. This section shall not require more than one report from any institution, school, facility, or agency.

Standards for Making a Report
Citation: Rev. Stat. § 620.030

A report is required when a person knows or has reasonable cause to believe that a child is dependent, neglected, or abused. 

Any person who knows or has reasonable cause to believe that a child is a victim of human trafficking a victim of female genital mutilation shall report by telephone or otherwise to a local law enforcement agency or the State police, the cabinet or its designated representative, or the Commonwealth's attorney or the county attorney. This subsection shall apply regardless of whether the person believed to have caused the human trafficking or female genital mutilation of the child is a parent, guardian, fictive kin, person in a position of authority, person in a position of special trust, or person exercising custodial control or supervision.

Privileged Communications
Citation: Rev. Stat. § 620.030

Neither the spousal privilege nor any professional-client/patient privilege, except the attorney-client and clergy-penitent privilege, shall be a ground for refusing to report. 

Inclusion of the Reporter's Name in the Report

The reporter is not specifically required by statute to provide their name in the report. 

Disclosure of the Reporter's Identity
Citation: Rev. Stat. § 620.050(11)

Identifying information concerning the individual initiating the report shall not be disclosed, except as follows:

• To law enforcement officials who have a legitimate interest in the case
• To the agency designated by the cabinet to investigate or assess the report
• To members of multidisciplinary teams 
• Under a court order, after the court has conducted an in camera review of the record of the State related to the report and has found reasonable cause to believe that the reporter knowingly made a false report
• To the external child fatality and near-fatality review panel