State Child Abuse and Neglect (SCAN) Policies Database Fact Sheet Series: Definitions, Reporting, Screening, and Investigations

The purpose is to learn how child abuse and neglect definitions and policies vary across the 50 states, District of Columbia, and Commonwealth of Puerto Rico and to improve our understanding of child maltreatment incidence and related risk factors.

States vary in how their laws and policies define child abuse and neglect regarding the specific types of maltreatment included in the definition. States also vary in what exceptions should not be considered child maltreatment, but all states include exemptions for relinquishment of newborns according to the state’s safe haven requirements.

At the time a report of child abuse or neglect is made, all states request identifying information and information about the suspected maltreatment, but states vary in what other information is requested. Also, many states include similar professions as mandated reporters, such as teachers, medical and mental health professionals, but there is variability with other professions across states. 

To screen-in a report, the majority of states require information on the type and severity of suspected child maltreatment but vary in what other information is required. States also varied regarding staff roles and qualifications for who conducts screening of reports, with the majority of states using staff from specialized units or roles.

When conducting investigations, all states require risk or safety assessments and interviews with the victim and caregiver, but states vary in what other activities are required. In addition, states varied in staff roles and qualifications for who investigates reports, with most states using caseworkers, social workers, or other frontline staff.

The findings were identified with descriptive analyses of data from the SCAN Policies Database 2019.

Document 1 Suggested citation:  Lee, J. & Weigensberg, E. (2022). “How Do Definitions of Child Abuse and Neglect Vary Across States?” OPRE Report 2022-164, Washington, DC: Office of Planning, Research, and Evaluation, Administration for Children and Families, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.

Document 2 Suggested citation: Lee, J. & Weigensberg, E. (2022). “How Do Laws and Policies for Reporting Child Abuse and Neglect Vary Across States?” OPRE Report 2022-165, Washington, DC: Office of Planning, Research, and Evaluation, Administration for Children and Families, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.

Document 3 Suggested citation: Lee, J. & Weigensberg, E. (2022). “How Do Policies for Screening Reports of Child Maltreatment Vary Across States?” OPRE Report 2022-166, Washington, DC: Office of Planning, Research, and Evaluation, Administration for Children and Families, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.

Document 4 Suggested citation: Lee, J. & Weigensberg, E. (2022). “How Do Laws and Policies for Investigating Reports of Child Maltreatment Vary Across States?” OPRE Report 2022-167, Washington, DC: Office of Planning, Research, and Evaluation, Administration for Children and Families, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.

Document 5 Suggested citation: Lee, J., & Weigensberg, E. (2022). Technical Appendix to SCAN Policies Database Fact Sheets on Definitions of Child Maltreatment, Reporting, Screening, and Investigations. OPRE Report 2022-168. Washington, DC: Office of Planning, Research, and Evaluation, Administration for Children and Families, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.