Current Ohio law encourages everyone to report child abuse and neglect. However, there are those who are mandated to report. Those persons include the following:
- Attorney;
- Physician (including a hospital intern or resident);
- Dentist;
- Podiatrist;
- Practitioner of a limited branch of medicine or surgery;
- Registered Nurse, Licensed Practical Nurse and Visiting Nurse;
- Other Health Care Professional;
- Licensed Psychologist, Licensed School Psychologist;
- Speech Pathologist or Audiologist;
- Coroner;
- Administrator or employee of a child day-care center;
- Administrator or employee of a certified child-care agency or other public or private children services agency;
- Other Health Care Professional;
- School teacher, School Employee or School Authority;
- Social Worker;
- Person rendering spiritual treatment through prayer in accordance with the tenets of a well recognized religion acting in his official or professional capacity
Furthermore, the Ohio Revised Code also mandates that boards of township trustees, the superintendent of any county home, and other officers and employees of any county, municipal corporation, or other political subdivisions of the state make a report to Children Services on any child in the county coming to their attention, deemed to be in need of public care. Ohio law also requires that these mandated reports be made directly by the mandated reporter and not through a third party.
Once a report is made, the person making the referral may want specific information from the agency on what is being done to insure the child's safety. Although this is understandable, current Ohio law prohibits disclosure of any information unless the referral source was one of the mandated reporters listed above. In those circumstances, the agency may release to the mandated reporter the following information:
- Whether the department or board has initiated an investigation of the report.
- Whether the department or board is continuing to investigate the report.
- Whether the department or board is otherwise involved with the child who is the subject of the report.
- The general status of the health and safety of the child who is the subject of the report and,
- Whether the report has resulted in the filing of a complaint in juvenile court or of criminal charges in another court.
