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How to Report

Colorado (CO)

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Who is required to report?

Citation: Rev. Stat. § 19-3-304

  • Persons required to report include the following:
  • Physicians, surgeons, physicians in training, child health associates, medical examiners, coroners
  • Dentists, osteopaths, optometrists, chiropractors, podiatrists, nurses
  • Hospital personnel, dental therapists or dental hygienists
  • Physical therapists, pharmacists, or registered dietitians
  • Public or private school officials or employees
  • Social workers, Christian Science practitioners, mental health professionals
  • Psychologists, professional counselors, and marriage and family therapists
  • Veterinarians, peace officers, firefighters, or victim advocates
  • Commercial film and photographic print processors
  • Counselors, marriage and family therapists, or psychotherapists
  • Clergy members, including:
    • Priests
    • Rabbis
    • Duly ordained, commissioned, or licensed ministers of a church
    • Members of religious orders
    • Recognized leaders of any religious bodies
  • Workers in the State Department of Human Services
  • Juvenile parole and probation officers
  • Child and family investigators
  • Officers and agents of the State Bureau of Animal Protection and animal control officers
  • The child protection ombudsman
  • Educators providing services through a Federal special supplemental nutrition program for women, infants, and children (WIC), as provided for in 42 U.S.C. § 1786
  • Directors, coaches, assistant coaches, or athletic program personnel employed by private sports organizations or programs
  • Persons registered as:
    • Psychologist candidates
    • Marriage and family therapist candidates
    • Licensed professional counselor candidates
  • Emergency medical service providers
  • Officials or employees of county departments of health, human services, or social services
  • Registered naturopathic doctors
  • Employees of the Department of Early Childhood

When is a report required?

Citation: Rev. Stat. § 19-3-304

A report is required when any of the following apply:

  • A mandated reporter has reasonable cause to know or suspect child abuse or neglect
  • A reporter has observed a child being subjected to circumstances or conditions that would reasonably result in abuse or neglect
  • Commercial film and photographic print processors have knowledge of or observe any film, photograph, videotape, negative, or slide depicting a child engaged in an act of sexual conduct

What information should the report include?

Citation: Rev. Stat. § 19-3-307

Reports of known or suspected child abuse or neglect must include the following information whenever possible:

  • The name, address, age, sex, and race of the child
  • The name and address of the person responsible for the suspected abuse or neglect, if known
  • The nature and extent of the child’s injuries, including any evidence of previous cases of known or suspected abuse or neglect of the child or the child’s siblings
  • Any evidence of known domestic violence or intimate partner violence in the child’s home, including any evidence of previous cases of known domestic violence or intimate partner violence in the child’s home
  • The family composition
  • The source of the report and the name, address, and occupation of the person making the report
  • Any action taken by the reporting source
  • Any other information that the person making the report believes may be helpful
  • The military affiliation of the individual who has custody or control of the child who is the subject of the investigation of child abuse or neglect, if such individual is:
    • A member of the armed forces, or
    • A spouse, significant other, or family member residing in the home of the member of the armed forces
    • This information shall be shared with the appropriate military installation authorities pursuant to the requirements set forth in sections 19-1-303(2.6) and 19-1-307(2)(w)

If any officer or employee of a local department of health or state department of public health or environment makes a report, he or she shall include only the following information:

  • The name, address, and sex of the child
  • The name and address of the person responsible for the child
  • The name and address of the person who is alleged to be responsible for the suspected abuse or neglect, if known
  • The general nature of the child’s injury

Failure to report

Citation: Rev. Stat. § 19-3-304(4)

Any mandatory reporter who willfully fails to report as required by § 19-3-304(1):

  • Commits a Class 3 misdemeanor and shall be punished as provided by law
  • Shall be liable for damages proximately caused