General Reporting Information
Anyone who suspects abuse, neglect, or exploitation may make a referral to the appropriate state agency. In Connecticut, people in certain professions (i.e., clergy, teachers, healthcare workers) are required by law to report suspected abuse and neglect when they function in their professional role. The following applies to everyone, whether or not they are mandated to report.
- If you have reason to suspect abuse occurred or that there is risk abuse may occur, you can contact the appropriate state agency. You do not have to know for sure that abuse occurred.
- To report suspected abuse, call the appropriate state agency from the list below.
- If you are not a mandated reporter, you can make a report anonymously. Mandated reporters give their names so there is a record of the report being made.
- You are protected from legal liability if you make the report in good faith, meaning that you have a reason to suspect abuse or neglect.
- In an emergency, call 911 or the local police for immediate response. You cannot retain a child in your program without parental or guardian consent.
- If the suspected abuse occurred at church or involves a member of the church, notify your clergy so that pastoral care and support can be offered.
At the time of disclosure
- Be calm: try not to act outraged or excited. The person has wisely chosen you to help.
- Reassure the person that they did the right thing by telling you.
- Act like you believe them. Avoid saying things like, “Are you sure? They wouldn’t do that.”
- Do not ask for details about the abuse.
- Do not make promises that you cannot keep. For example, do not promise to keep this a secret. Do not promise that you will keep the person safe or that they will never be abused again.
- Do not say bad things about the alleged perpetrator.
Immediately after disclosure
- Tell the people that need to know about the disclosed abuse.
- If you are a mandated reporter, you must report suspected abuse or neglect to the Department of Children and Families (DCF), the Department of Social Services (DSS), or the Department of Developmental Services (DDS).
- If you are not a mandated reporter, tell a member of the clergy about the suspected abuse whether the suspected abuse occurred within the church or in another setting. You are encouraged to make a report of the suspected abuse to the appropriate agency, even if you are not mandated to do so by state law.
- It is generally not your role to tell the child’s parents of the disclosed abuse.
- Seek out support for yourself.
- Pray for all involved, including yourself.
Suspected Clergy Abuse
Anyone may contact a diocesan Intake Officer to report concerns about the behavior of a member of the clergy (priests, deacons, bishops). This initiates a process to hold clergy accountable for their behaviors. There are three official Intake Officers for ECCT. All are screened, qualified, and trained. You may wish to choose a particular Intake Officer over the others for various reasons. You will receive a timely response if you need to leave a message.
Clergy suspected of abuse, neglect or exploitation should be immediately reported to an Intake Officer.
Resources for Mandated Reporters & Members of the Public
| Persons Served | State Agency | Reporting Timeline | Reporting Form | Contact Info |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Children ages 0 – 17 | Department of Children and Families (DCF) | Oral: Within 12 hours Written: Within 48 hours from Oral | DCF-136 Form | Careline 1-800-842-2288 |
| Adults with an Intellectual or Developmental Disability ages 18 – 59 | Department of Developmental Services (DDS) | Oral: Within 48 hours Written: Within 5 days from Oral | DDS PA-6 Form (Mandatory Reporters) – Email to: dds.aid@ct.gov | Abuse Investigation Division: 1-844-878-8923 DDS Abuse Neglect Reporting |
| Adult Residents of Nursing Home Facilities Age 18+ (Mandated Reporters Only) | Long-term Care Investigations (LTCI) | Oral or Written: Within 72 hours | By Fax: Complete form W-410 Fax to 860-424-5091. Online: Submit an online referral | Reports via fax or online 24/7 |
| Elders ages 60+ | Protective Services for the Elderly (PSE) | Oral or Written: Within 24 hours. | Online Referral: *NEW* https://dss.service.ct.gov/referrals/s/ PDF Report Form: PSE Report Form (W-675) Email: PSEReferrals.DSS@ct.gov Fax: 860-424-5091 | 1-888-385-4225 (M-F 8:00a – 4:30p) Holidays, Weekends, or afterhours call 211 |
| Connecticut citizens residing in nursing homes, residential care homes and assisted living communities | Long Term Care Ombudsman Program (LTCOP) responds to, and investigates complaints brought forward by residents, family members, and/or other individuals acting on their behalf. Ombudsmen offer information on consultation to consumers and providers, monitor state and federal laws and regulations, and make recommendations for improvement. | LTCOP call the statewide toll-free number 1-866-388-1888 or 860-424-5200 Fax: 860-772-1704 You can also e-mail the LTCOP: ltcop@ct.gov Web: Connecticut Long Term Care Ombudsman Program | LTCOP call the statewide toll-free number 1-866-388-1888 or 860-424-5200 Fax: 860-772-1704 Email: ltcop@ct.gov | |
| Patients/residents, regardless of age, for which there are concerns about the healthcare, treatment, or services they have received or did not receive at a Department of Public Health licensed healthcare facility. | Department of Public Health: Facility Licensing and Investigation Section (FLIS) | Complete the online form (FLIS Complaint Submission) | Facility Licensing and Investigation Section (FLIS) Page https://portal.ct.gov/DPH/Facility-Licensing–Investigations/Facility-Licensing–Investigations-Section-FLIS/FLIS-Complaint-Submission |
Reporting Contact Information
Children and youth (under 18 years of age): Anyone may report suspected abuse or neglect of a child by calling the Department of Children and Families (DCF) Careline at 1-800-842-2288. If the Careline is experiencing outage, the backup telephone number is (860) 352-9261. Mandated reporters are required to call the DCF hotline within 12 hours of suspecting that a child has been abused or neglected and make a written report (using the DCF Form 136) within 48 hours of making the oral report. DCF Form 136 is available on the DCF website. It is advisable to keep a secure copy of the written report, particularly for mandated reporters.
Elders (60 years and older): Anyone may report suspected abuse, neglect (including self-neglect) or exploitation of an elder by calling Protective Services for the Elderly at the Department of Social Services at 1-888-385-4225 during business hours (M to F 8am – 4:30pm). For after hour or weekend reports call Info-Line at 211. Mandated reporters must report within 24 hours of suspecting that an elder has been abused or neglected. If the elder is in residential care, oral reports must be made within 72 hours of suspicion. Information about reporting can be found at https://portal.ct.gov/dss/social-work-services/social-work-services/report-elder-abuse. It is advisable to keep a secure copy of associated written reports, particularly for mandated reporters.
Adults with an intellectual or developmental disability (18-59 years of age): Anyone may report suspected abuse or neglect of an adult with an intellectual or developmental disability by calling the Department of Developmental Services (DDS) at 1-844-878-8923. Mandated reporters are required to make an oral report within 48 hours of suspecting an adult with an intellectual or developmental disability has been abused or neglected and make a written report (using form PA-6) within 5 calendar days of making the initial oral report. Form PA-6 is available by calling the Department of Developmental Services or on website www.portal.ct.gov/dds. It is advisable to keep a secure copy of the written report, particularly for mandated reporters.
Clergy suspected of abuse, neglect or exploitation should be immediately reported to an Intake Officer.