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Frequently Asked Questions
What is the purpose of this site?
This site will allow any mandated reporter who has already made a verbal report
to the Child Protection Hotline to complete a Suspected Child Abuse Form (SS 8572).
If you have not called the Hotline, please do so before attempting to complete
this online report. You can reach the Hotline by calling (800)540-4000.
Who can use this site?
This site is restricted to any mandated reporter who has already made a verbal report
to the Child Protection Hotline and has been provided with a referral number or reference number.
Do I have to submit a follow-up Suspected Child Abuse Report form?
Yes. Per penal code 11166, a mandated reporter shall prepare and send, fax, or electronically transmit a written follow-up report within 36 hours of receiving the information concerning the incident. The mandated reporter may include with the report any non-privileged documentary evidence the mandated reporter possesses relating to the incident.
If submitting a report using CARES, your CARES report also acts as your follow-up written SCAR (SS 8572). You are not required to complete a follow-up SCAR (SS 8572) after successful completion of a CARES report.
If I already made a report to the Child Protection Hotline, why do I also have to submit a follow-up report?
In accordance with the Child Abuse and Neglect Reporting Act (CANRA), penal code 11166,
except as provided in subdivision (d), and in Section 11166.05, a mandated reporter
shall make a report to an agency specified in Section 11165.9 whenever the mandated reporter,
in his or her professional capacity or within the scope of his or her employment,
has knowledge of or observes a child whom the mandated reporter knows or reasonably suspects
has been the victim of child abuse or neglect. The mandated reporter shall make an initial report
by telephone to the agency immediately or as soon as is practicably possible, and shall prepare
and send, fax, or electronically transmit a written follow-up report within 36 hours of receiving
the information concerning the incident.
How do I report abuse?
To report suspected Child Abuse in Los Angeles County, please contact the Child Protection Hotline
at (800) 540-4000.
How do I register an account?
LA County employees do not need to register and may use their E-numbers and Internet passwords to log in.
Non-LA county employees may register for an account by clicking on the "New Non-LA county employee registration"
link at the bottom of the login page and completing the online registration form.
Although you are not required to register to file a SS 8572 report online, having an account allows
you to save in-progress/ unfinished reports and have easier access to previously filed reports.
If you have registered for CARES, you do not need to register again and may use the same email address and
password to access this site.
I forgot my password. How can I retrieve it?
To retrieve a forgotten password, you may click on the “Forgot Password?” link on the Login page.
Enter your email address on the Forgot Password page and click on Reset Password.
The system will then send you an email with the subject titled "Password Reset Request".
Once you click on the link in the email you will be required to answer three security questions.
If the questions are answered correctly the system will prompt you to enter a new password.
Click on submit to complete the password recovery process.
Please note there is an expiration time of 60 minutes for you to complete
this process; otherwise you will be required to start the password reset again.
How do I edit my profile?
You may edit your profile by clicking on the "Edit Profile" tab on the top menu. Please note this option is only available to non-LA County employee users.
My account is inactive. What does that mean?
An inactive account is an account that hasn’t been used for 12 months or more.
What happens if my account is inactive?
After 12 months of inactivity you will receive an email notification with information on how to re-activate your account. If you do not use your account for 2 years, the system will deactivate your account and you will be required to complete the user registration again in order to use the system.
How do I unlock my account?
For security purposes, your account will be locked after 5 failed logon attempts.
For Non-LA County employees, if your account is locked or you forget your password, click Forgot Password to reset it.
For LA County employees, please click on the Los Angeles County Self-Service site link from the Forgot Password Window to unlock your account.
What if I don’t have a referral number or reference number?
You must make a verbal report to the Child Protection Hotline before attempting to submit a follow-up Suspected Child Abuse Report (SS 8572).
If you have not called the Hotline, please do so before attempting to complete this online report. You can reach the Hotline by calling 1-800-540-4000.
What information will I need to complete my follow-up Suspected Child Abuse Report?
You will be required to enter the information that was provided to the Child Protection Hotline
at the time your verbal report was made. The information includes, but is not limited to:
- Name and age/DOB of the child(ren)
- Family’s address and phone number
- Name of mother, father, siblings, and suspect/perpetrator
- Language spoken in the home
- A description of the abuse and/or neglect in detail
- When did the abuse occur and how often does it occur?
- Location of the abuse and/or neglect
- Information regarding special needs, developmental disabilities, mental health concerns, and criminal/gang activity
What if I am missing information?
A mandated reporter must complete and submit their follow-up Suspected Child Abuse Report form SS 8572 even if some of the requested information is not known.
How long do I have to complete my follow-up Suspected Child Abuse Report?
A mandated reporter must make an initial report by telephone immediately or as soon as is practicably possible, and then prepare and send, fax, or electronically transmit a written follow-up report within 36 hours of receiving the information concerning the incident.
Will I be able to print my follow-up Suspected Child Abuse Report?
Yes. Prior to your submission of a completed follow-up Suspected Child Abuse Report, you will be able to print a copy of your report. By registering an account, you will also be able to access previously submitted follow-up reports.
Do I also need to mail in or fax my Suspected Child Abuse Report?
If you have made your verbal report to the Child Protection Hotline and complete your follow-up report online, it is not necessary for you to mail or fax your follow-up report to the Child Protection Hotline as your report is automatically received upon submission of your report.
What happens after a follow-up Suspected Child Abuse Report is completed?
After completing your follow-up Suspected Child Abuse Report, you will be provided a tracking number to reference your completed report. Your completed report will be retrieved by Child Protection Hotline staff and will be routed appropriately.
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