In accordance with Section 43-21-353 of the Mississippi Code of 1972, Annotated, “Any attorney, physician, dentist, intern, resident, nurse, psychologist, social worker, family protection worker, family protection specialist, child caregiver, minister, law enforcement officer, public or private school employee or any other person having reasonable cause to suspect that a child is a neglected child or an abused child, shall cause an oral report to be made immediately by telephone or otherwise and followed as soon thereafter as possible by a report in writing to the Department of Child Protection Services …”     

It is your duty and responsibility to report suspected abuse or neglect, and it is your right to do so without fear, intimidation, or regret. Willful failure to report suspected child abuse or neglect could result in civil or criminal charges.

You are required by law to file an oral report of suspected abuse or neglect, via phone call or otherwise, the moment you have reasonable cause to suspect, or through reasonable cause are made aware of, possible incidents. You are also required to file a written report to the Mississippi Department of Human Services as soon as possible after the initial oral report.

When you file a written report, you must provide the following:

• Name and address of the child
• Name and address of the child’s parents or person(s) responsible for the child’s care
• Age of the child
• Nature and extent of the child’s injuries, including evidence of previous injuries
• Any other information that could help identify the cause of injury or perpetrator