In Florida, reporting child abuse isn’t just encouraged — it’s the law. Every person in the state is considered a mandatory reporter, but the level of legal obligation depends on who you are and what you do for a living.
Two types of mandatory reporters
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Florida law recognizes two categories of mandatory reporters: general reporters and professional reporters.
General reporters include anyone who knows, or has reasonable cause to suspect, that a child is being abused, abandoned or neglected by a parent, legal custodian, caregiver or other person responsible for the child’s welfare. The same standard applies to suspected abuse or exploitation of a vulnerable adult.
Professional reporters are individuals who are legally obligated to report known abuse and must also identify themselves when making a report. This group includes a wide range of licensed and public-facing professionals.
Who qualifies as a professional mandatory reporter?
Under Florida law, the following professionals are required to report suspected child abuse:
- Physicians, osteopathic physicians, medical examiners, chiropractic physicians, nurses, paramedics, emergency medical technicians and hospital personnel involved in the admission, examination, care or treatment of patients
- Health and mental health professionals
- Practitioners who rely solely on spiritual means for healing
- School teachers, school officials and school personnel
- Social workers, day care center workers and other professional childcare, foster care, residential or institutional workers
- Nursing home staff, assisted living facility staff and adult day care center staff (for vulnerable adults)
- Employees of the Florida Department of Business and Professional Regulation conducting inspections of public lodging establishments
- Law enforcement officers
- Judges
- Animal control officers
- Mediators
What must be reported?
Florida law requires the reporting of several specific situations involving children, including:
- A child with no parent, legal custodian or responsible adult available to provide supervision and care
- Abuse of a child by a parent, caregiver, guardian or other person responsible for the child’s welfare
- Child abuse by an adult who is not a parent, custodian or caregiver
- Childhood sexual abuse or abuse involving a known or suspected juvenile sex offender
- Sexual battery, when a witness has the ability to seek help without risk of physical harm to themselves
If a report involves a child under 16 years of age who has been impregnated by a person 21 or older, the report must be made immediately to the appropriate county sheriff’s office or law enforcement agency.
Reports involving surrendered newborn infants must be made directly to the Florida Department of Children and Families (DCF).
How to make a report
Child and adult abuse should be reported to DCF through one of several options:
- By phone: 1-800-96-ABUSE (1-800-962-2873)
- Online: myflfamilies.com
- Web-based chat: Available on the DCF website
If the abuse is committed by someone other than a parent, legal custodian or caregiver, hotline staff will transfer the report to the appropriate county sheriff’s office.
Sexual abuse reports must be made immediately to the central abuse hotline. Within 48 hours of receiving a report, DCF is required to conduct an assessment, assist the family in receiving appropriate services and send a written report to the appropriate county sheriff’s office.
What happens if you don’t report?
The consequences for failing to report are serious.
Failure to report child abuse to DCF is a third-degree felony under Florida law. Failure to report a sexual battery is a first-degree misdemeanor. Failure to report known or suspected abuse, neglect or exploitation of a vulnerable adult — or preventing someone else from doing so — is a second-degree misdemeanor.
What about false reports?
Anyone who knowingly and willfully makes a false report of child abuse, abandonment, neglect or vulnerable adult abuse — or advises another person to do so — is guilty of a third-degree felony.
However, anyone who makes a report in good faith is immune from any liability under Florida law.