Offices within local communities are responsible for receiving and investigating reports of suspected child abuse and neglect. Reports are received by Child Protective Services (CPS) located in each community office and assessed to determine whether the report meets the legal definition of abuse or neglect and how dangerous the situation is.
Find your local intake number to report abuse or neglect or use the map below.
Questions that will be asked when you call
- The name, address and age of the child.
- The name and address of the child's parent, guardian or other persons having custody of the child.
- The nature and extent of the abuse or neglect.
- Any evidence of previous incidences.
- Any other information which may be helpful in establishing the cause of the child's abuse or neglect and the identity of the perpetrator.
You do not need to have all of the above information when you call to make a report, but the more accurate information you can provide, the better equipped the offices will be to assess the child's safety.
Be sure to check out:
- Mandatory Reporter Toolkit
- DCYF/OSPI Mandatory Reporting Strategies for Prevention of Child Abuse Posters
Reporting Abuse or Neglect Using a Relay Service
If you are D/deaf, hard of hearing, or speech-impaired and wish to report suspected child abuse or neglect, you can use a Relay Service (such as 711 or 1-800-833-6384) to connect with the ENDHARM Line at 866-363-4276.
DCYF is committed to providing language access, and we answer both Washington Relay and VRS calls. If your call to the ENDHARM line is not accepted, please email us at dcyf.adaaccessiblity@dcyf.wa.gov, identifying the issue.
COVID-19
Continue to Report Child Abuse and Neglect - April 16, 2020