How to Report

Michigan (MI)

Who is required to report?

Citation: Comp. Laws § 722.623

Mandatory reporters include the following:

Healthcare professionals, including:
- Physicians
- Physician assistants
- Dentists
- Dental hygienists
- Medical examiners
- Nurses
- Persons licensed to provide emergency medical care
- Audiologists
Education professionals, including:
- School administrators
- School counselors
- Teachers
Regulated child care providers
Mental health professionals, including:
- Psychologists
- Marriage and family therapists
- Licensed professional counselors
- Social workers
- Social work technicians
Rehabilitation and therapy providers, including:
- Physical therapists
- Physical therapist assistants
- Occupational therapists
- Athletic trainers
Persons employed in a professional capacity in any office of the Friend of the Court
Law enforcement officers
Members of the clergy
Department of Human Services employees, including:
- Eligibility specialists
- Family independence managers
- Family independence specialists
- Social services specialists
- Social work specialists
- Social work specialist managers
- Welfare services specialists
Any employee of an organization or entity that, due to federal funding statutes, regulations, or contracts, would be prohibited from reporting in the absence of a state mandate or court order

When is a report required?

Citation: Comp. Laws § 722.623(1)

A mandated reporter who has reasonable cause to suspect child abuse or child neglect shall make an immediate report to centralized intake by telephone, or, if available, through the online reporting system, of the suspected child abuse or child neglect. Within 72 hours after making an oral report by telephone to centralized intake, the reporting person shall file a written report as required in this act. If the immediate report has been made using the online reporting system and that report includes the information required in a written report, that report is considered a written report for the purposes of this section and no additional written report is required.

What information should the report include?

Citation: Comp. Laws § 722.623(2)

The written report shall contain the following:

The name of the child and a description of the abuse or neglect
If possible, the names and addresses of the child's parents, guardian, or persons with whom the child resides, and the child's age
Other information available to the reporting person that might establish the cause of the abuse or neglect, and the manner in which the abuse or neglect occurred

Failure to report

Citation: Comp. Laws § 722.633(1), (2)

A mandatory reporter who fails to report as required is civilly liable for the damages proximately caused by the failure.

A mandatory reporter who knowingly fails to report as required is guilty of a misdemeanor punishable by one or both of the following: