If you are one of the following persons,
a recent change in Florida law affects
you:
- Physician
- Osteopath
- Medical Examiner
- Chiropractor
- Nurse
- Hospital personnel engaged in
the admission, examination, care and
treatment of children
- Health Professional
- Mental Health Professional
- Practitioner who rely solely on
spiritual means for healing
- School Principal
- School Teacher
- School Office or Personnel
- School Guidance Counselor
- School Social Worker
- Professional Day Care Center
Worker
- Foster Care Worker
- Residential Care Worker
- Institutional Worker
The 1995 Legislature changed the law
concerning mandatory reports of child
abuse, neglect, or abandonment. It is no
longer possible for you to anonymously
report child abuse, neglect or
abandonment to the Florida Abuse
Hotline. The new law requires that you
provide your name when calling
1-800-96-ABUSE. Your name will be
held confidential.
The new law reads as follows:
Reporters in occupation categories
designated in subsection (1) are
required to provide their names to the
hotline staff. The names of reporters
shall be entered into the record of the
report, but shall be held confidential
as provided in
s.415.51(9)(ss.415.504(2)(b), F.S.)
For complete details on the law
change, refer to Chapter 95-228, Laws of
Florida, or contact your local office of
the Department of Children and Families.
Florida Abuse Hotline Reporting
Options
I M P O R T
A N T !! - Please post near telephone
and fax machines used to make child
abuse reports and reports of abuse
against disabled adults and the elderly.
Law Enforcement and Hospital or
Medical Personnel have three methods for
reporting suspected abuse or neglect of
a child, disabled adult, or elderly
person.
- Fax the abuse report information
to the Florida Abuse Hotline at
1-800-914-0004. There is an
optional fax form. We need the basic
information: Who, What, When, Where,
and telephone numbers, including
yours if possible.
- Telephone 1-800-96-ABUSE
and talk to a hotline counselor to
make a report of known or suspected
abuse.
- Leave information on the Abuse
hotline mail system at
1-800-770-0953. You have eight
(8) minutes to leave your message.
Make it as complete as possible.
Prepare what you want to say in
regard to Who, What, Where, and
When. Provide telephone numbers,
including your fax number if you
have one.
All Three
options are available 7 days a week, 24
hours a day
Also remember the Domestic
Violence Hotline at 1-800-500-1119 |
