Mandated Reporter Academy
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How to Report

New York (NY)

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Who is required to report?

Citation: Soc. Serv. Law § 413

The following persons and officials are required to report:

  • Physicians, physician assistants, surgeons, medical examiners, coroners, dentists, dental hygienists, osteopaths, optometrists, chiropractors, podiatrists, residents, interns, psychologists, registered nurses, social workers, or emergency medical technicians
  • Licensed creative arts therapists, marriage and family therapists, mental health counselors, or psychoanalysts
  • Hospital personnel or Christian Science practitioners
  • School officials, including, but not limited to, teachers, guidance counselors, school psychologists, school social workers, school nurses, or administrators
  • Full- or part-time compensated school employees required to hold temporary coaching licenses or professional coaching certificates
  • Social services workers, daycare center workers, providers of family or group family daycare, or any other child care or foster care worker
  • Employees of publicly-funded emergency shelters for families with children
  • Directors of children's overnight camps, summer day camps, or traveling summer day camps
  • Employees or volunteers in residential care facilities for children that are licensed, certified, or operated by the Office of Children and Family Services
  • Mental health professionals, substance abuse counselors, alcoholism counselors, or all persons credentialed by the Office of Alcoholism and Substance Abuse Services
  • Employees of health home-care agencies or home- and community-based services who are expected to have regular and substantial contact with children
  • Peace officers, police officers, district attorneys or assistant district attorneys, investigators employed in the office of a district attorney, or other law enforcement officials

When is a report required?

Citation: Soc. Serv. Law §§ 413(1); 415

Mandated reporters shall immediately make an oral or electronic report to the statewide central register when they have reasonable cause to suspect that a child has been abused or neglected by a person responsible for that child's care. Oral reports shall be followed by written reports within 48 hours.

What information should the report include?

Citation: Soc. Serv. Law § 415

Written reports shall be made in a manner prescribed on forms supplied by the commissioner of the Office of Children and Family Services and shall include:

  • The names and addresses of the child and his or her parents or other person responsible for his or her care (if known)
  • The name and address of the residential care facility or program in which the child resides or is receiving care (if any)
  • The child’s age, sex, and race
  • The nature and extent of the child’s injuries, abuse, or maltreatment (including any evidence of prior injuries, abuse, or maltreatment to the child or his or her siblings)
  • The name of the person or persons alleged to be responsible for causing the injury, abuse, or maltreatment (if known)
  • Family composition (where appropriate)
  • The source of the report
  • The identity of the person making the report and where he or she can be reached
  • The actions taken by the reporting source, including:
    • The taking of photographs and x-rays
    • Removal or keeping of the child
    • Notifying the medical examiner or coroner
  • Any other information required by regulation or which the person making the report believes might be helpful
  • The name, title, and contact information for every staff person of the institution who is believed to have direct knowledge of the allegations in the report

Failure to report

Citation: Soc. Serv. Law § 420

Any mandatory reporter who willfully fails to report as required shall be guilty of a class A misdemeanor.

Any mandatory reporter who knowingly and willfully fails to report as required shall be civilly liable for the damages proximately caused by such failure.