Report Child Abuse or Neglect

The Children’s Code defines abuse and neglect with the purpose of protecting children whose physical or mental health, welfare, and safety is substantially at risk of harm by child physical abuse, child sexual abuse, child neglect, or exploitation and who may be further threatened by the conduct of others, by providing for the reporting of suspected cases of abuse. The provisions shall be administered and interpreted to avoid unnecessary interference with family privacy and trauma to the child, and yet, at the same time, authorize the protective and preventative intervention needed for the health, welfare, safety and well-being of children.

“Abuse” means any one of the following acts which seriously endanger the physical, mental, or emotional health and safety of the child:

• The infliction, attempted infliction, or, as a result of inadequate supervision, the allowance of the infliction or attempted infliction of physical or mental injury upon the child by a parent or any other person. 
• The exploitation or overwork of a child by a parent or any other person, including but not limited to commercial sexual exploitation of the child.
• The involvement of the child in any sexual act with a parent or any other person, or the aiding or toleration by the parent, caretaker, or any other person of the child’s involvement in any of the following:
  • Any sexual act with any other person.
  • Pornographic displays.
  • Any sexual activity constituting a crime under the laws of this state.
  • A coerced abortion conducted upon a child.
  • Female genital mutilation as defined by R.S. 14:43.4.

“Neglect” means the refusal or unreasonable failure of a parent or caretaker to supply the child with necessary food, clothing, shelter, care, treatment, or counseling for any injury, illness, or condition of the child, as a result of which the child’s physical, mental, or emotional health and safety is substantially threatened or impaired. Neglect includes prenatal neglect. The inability of a parent or caretaker to provide for a child due to inadequate financial resources shall not, for that reason alone, be considered neglect. Whenever, in lieu of medical care, a child is being provided treatment in accordance with the tenets of a well-recognized religious method of healing which has a reasonable, proven record of success, the child shall not, for that reason alone, be considered to be neglected or maltreated. However, nothing herein shall prohibit the court from ordering medical services for the child when there is a substantial risk of harm to the child’s health or welfare.

“Prenatal neglect” means exposure to chronic or severe use of alcohol  as defined by R. S. 40:961, or the unlawful use of any controlled dangerous substance, or in a manner not lawfully prescribed, which results in symptoms of withdrawal in the newborn or the presence of a controlled substance or a metabolic thereof in his body, blood, urine, or meconium that is not the result of medical treatment, or observable and harmful effects in his physical appearance or functioning.

Click for more specific information on prenatal neglect, substance-exposed newborns and the associated procedures.

The abuse or neglect of a child must have been someone DCFS is authorized to investigate, which includes:

• Caretakers (Children’s Code Article 603)
  • Person legally obligated to provide for a child, including parent, tutor, guardian, custodian, foster parent; or any other person providing a residence for the child;
  • Licensed DCFS or LDH residential or treatment facility;
  • Does not include correctional facilities, detention facilities, nonresidential schools, or unlicensed residential or child care providers.
• Others DCFS is responsible for investigating (Children’s Code Article 610)
  • A person who maintains an interpersonal dating relationship with the parent or caretaker;
  • A person living in the same residence as the parent, caretaker, and/or child;
  • Indeterminable by the mandatory reporter, but the reporter suspects that the abuse occurred at the child’s residence;
  • Early Learning Centers, Registered Family child day care homes.
• Alleged Child on Child Sexual Abuse
  • Child on Child Sexual Abuse that occurs in the home when the parent or caretaker is not alleged to have culpability;
  • Child on Child Sexual Abuse when it occurs in a school setting.

Louisiana Law also requires ANYONE with knowledge of a murder, rape, or child sexual abuse to report to Law Enforcement.

The first step in helping abused or neglected children is learning to recognize the signs of child abuse and neglect.  The presence of a single sign does not prove child abuse is occurring in a family; however, when these signs appear repeatedly or in combination you should take a closer look at the situation and consider the possibility of child abuse.

If you do suspect a child is being abused or neglected, reporting your suspicions may protect the child and get help for the family.  Call the DCFS Child Protection hotline at 1-855-4LA-KIDS (1-855-452-5437) toll-free 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. More information on the signs and symptoms of child abuse/neglect (opens in a new tab).

Click for information about mandated reporting.