All States have enacted laws and policies that define State roles and responsibilities in protecting vulnerable children from abuse and neglect. Issues addressed in statute include mandatory reporting, screening reports, proper maintenance and disclosure of records, domestic violence, and other issues.
- Reporting and responding to child abuse and neglect
- Maintaining child abuse and neglect records
- Protecting children from domestic violence
- Related issues
Links to State and Tribal Child Welfare Law and Policy
| Series Title | State Statutes |
| Author(s) | Child Welfare Information Gateway |
| Availability | View Download (PDF - 360KB) |
| Year Published | 2021 |
Provides web addresses for State statutes that are accessible online and lists the parts of the code for each State and territory that contains the laws addressing child protection, adoption, child welfare, legal guardianship, services for youth, and Indian child welfare. It also provides web addresses for States' regulation and policy sites, State court rules, Tribal codes, and judicial resources. Links to sources of information about the laws and policies for all States and U.S. territories are available from the state statutes search page.
State Child Abuse & Neglect Policies Database
SCAN Policies Database
Compares the definitions of and policies in child maltreatment across States so that users can examine the different policies and evaluate their effectiveness in incidences of child abuse and neglect.