How to Report

Maine (ME)

Who is required to report?

Citation: Rev. Stat. Tit. 22, § 4011-A

The following persons, when acting in a professional capacity, are required to report:

Medical and health professionals, including:
- Allopathic or osteopathic physicians
- Residents
- Interns
- Emergency medical services persons
- Medical examiners
- Physician's assistants
- Dentists
- Dental hygienists
- Dental assistants
- Chiropractors
- Podiatrists
- Registered or licensed practical nurses
Educational and youth personnel, including:
- Teachers
- Guidance counselors
- School officials
- Youth camp administrators or counselors
- Social workers
Legal and advocacy personnel, including:
- Court-appointed special advocates
- Guardians ad litem
Care and service providers, including:
- Homemakers
- Home health aides
- Medical or social service workers
- Psychologists
- Child care personnel
- Mental health professionals
Public officials, including:
- Law enforcement officials
- State or municipal fire inspectors
- Municipal code enforcement officials
Other mandated reporters, including:
- Commercial film and photographic print processors
- Clergy members
- Chairs of professional licensing boards with jurisdiction over mandated reporters
- Humane agents employed by the Department of Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry
- Sexual assault counselors
- Family or domestic violence victim advocates
- School bus drivers or attendants
Persons with child care responsibility, including:
- Any person who has assumed full, intermittent, or occasional responsibility for the care or custody of the child, regardless of compensation
Church or religious institution affiliates, including:
- Any person affiliated with a church or religious institution who:
  - Serves in an administrative capacity, or
  - Has assumed a position of trust or responsibility to members of that church or institution
    (While acting in that capacity, regardless of whether the person receives compensation)

When is a report required?

Citation: Rev. Stat. Tit. 22, §§ 4011-A; 4011-B

A report is required when any of the following apply:

The person knows or has reasonable cause to suspect that a child is or is likely to be abused or neglected or that a suspicious death has occurred.
A child who is under 6 months of age or otherwise nonambulatory exhibits evidence of the following:
- Fracture of a bone
- Substantial bruising or multiple bruises
- Subdural hematoma
- Burns
- Poisoning
- Injury resulting in substantial bleeding, soft tissue swelling, or impairment of an organ
A health-care provider involved in the delivery or care of an infant knows or has reasonable cause to suspect that:
- The infant has been born affected by illegal substance use, or
- Is demonstrating withdrawal symptoms that have resulted from or have likely resulted from prenatal drug exposure that require medical monitoring or care beyond standard newborn care, whether the prenatal exposure was to legal or illegal drugs, or
- The infant has fetal alcohol spectrum disorders
If the mandated reporter knows or has reasonable cause to suspect that a child is not living with the child's family

What information should the report include?

Citation: [PL 2003, c. 653, §10 (AMD).]

Reports regarding abuse, neglect or exploitation must:

Be made immediately by telephone to the department
Be followed by a written report within 48 hours if requested by the department

The reports must contain:

The name and address of the involved adult
Information regarding the nature and extent of the abuse, neglect, or exploitation
The source of the report
The person making the report
That person's occupation
Where that person can be contacted

The report may contain any other information that the reporter believes may be helpful.

Failure to report

Penalties For Failure To Report

Citation: Rev. Stat. Tit. 22, § 4009