People in the following professions must immediately report any knowledge or suspicion of child abuse or neglect:

• Attorneys
• Audiologists
• Child care workers
• Children services personnel
• Coroners
• Day care personnel
• Dentists
• Health care professionals
• Nurses
• Peace officers, including police, sheriff's deputies, and highway patrol officers
• Physicians, including hospital interns and residents
• Podiatrists
• Psychiatrists
• School authorities, employees, and teachers
• Social workers
• Speech pathologists
• Agent of a county humane society

The Ohio Revised Code Section 2151.421 clearly removes the option of choice for the above professionals.

What is required of a Mandated Reporter?

If you come into contact with a child who has suffered, or faces a threat of any physical or mental wound, injury, disability, or other condition that reasonably indicates abuse or neglect, you must immediately file a report.

This applies to any:

• Child under 18
• Person under 21 with a developmental disability or physical impairment

Even if you don't know for certain that abuse is occurring, you are still required to report any fact-based suspicion. If a reasonable person in similar circumstances, presented with the same facts would suspect abuse, it is your legal responsibility to report.

TEAM Ohio (Taking Early Action Matters)
TEAM Ohio is a new State reporting option specifically created for mandated reporters to electronically submit referrals of suspected child abuse, neglect, and/or dependency. TEAM Ohio is not intended for emergency situations and if you believe a child is in immediate danger, reporters should utilize the 216-696-KIDS Hotline.

• Please visit Mandated Reporter TEAM Ohio Portal
• See this User Guide for more information and instructions to create an account.