Mandated Reporter Academy
Skip to content

How to Report

Kansas (KS)

Quick Navigation

Who is required to report?

Citation: Ann. Stat. § 38-2223

The following persons are required to report:

  • Persons providing medical care or treatment, including:
    • Persons licensed to practice the healing arts, dentistry, and optometry
    • Persons engaged in postgraduate training programs approved by the State Board of Healing Arts
    • Licensed professional or practical nurses
    • Chief administrative officers of medical care facilities
  • Persons licensed by the State to provide mental health services, including:
    • Psychologists
    • Clinical psychotherapists
    • Social workers
    • Marriage and family therapists
    • Behavioral analysts
    • Professional counselors
    • Registered alcohol and drug abuse counselors
  • Teachers, school administrators, or other employees of an educational institution that the child is attending
  • Any member of the board of directors of the Kansas State High School Activities Association (referenced in § 72-7114), and any person who is employed by or is an officer of such association
  • Licensed child care providers or their employees at the place where the child care services are being provided to the child
  • Firefighters, emergency medical services personnel, law enforcement officers, juvenile intake and assessment workers, court services officers, community corrections officers, case managers, and mediators
  • Employees or volunteers for any organization, whether for-profit or not-for-profit, that provides social services to pregnant teenagers, including but not limited to:
    • Counseling
    • Adoption services
    • Pregnancy education and maintenance

When is a report required?

Citation: Ann. Stat. § 38-2223

When any mandated reporter has reason to suspect that a child has been harmed as a result of physical, mental, or emotional abuse or neglect or sexual abuse, the person shall report the matter promptly. The report may be made orally and shall be followed by a written report, if requested.

What information should the report include?

Citation: Ann. Stat. § 38-2223

Every report shall contain, if known:

  • The names and addresses of the child and the child’s parents or other persons responsible for the child’s care
  • The location of the child if not at the child’s residence
  • The child’s gender, race, and age
  • The reasons why the reporter suspects the child may be a child in need of care
  • If abuse or neglect, or sexual abuse is suspected, the nature and extent of the harm to the child, including any evidence of previous harm
  • Any other information that the reporter believes might be helpful in:
    • Establishing the cause of the harm
    • Identifying the persons responsible for the harm

Failure to report

Citation: Ann. Stat. § 38-2223(e)

Willful and knowing failure to make a report required by this section is a class B misdemeanor. It is not a defense that another mandatory reporter made a report.

Intentionally preventing or interfering with the making of a report required by this section is a class B misdemeanor.