Stop Child Abuse
Alaska has one of the highest child abuse rates in the nation. Resource and Information Directory or RID Alaska of Child Abuse is a grass roots educational campaign fighting child abuse in Alaska.
Reporting Child Abuse & Neglect in Alaska. We are all responsible for the welfare of the children in our communities. You are encouraged to report instance of known or suspected child abuse and neglect.
What Are Child Abuse & Neglect? ALASKA STATE LAW DEFINES child abuse or neglect to include the following actions by those responsible for a child's welfare:
-
Physical injury that harms or threatens a child's health or welfare;
-
Failure to care for a child, including neglect of the necessary physical (food, shelter, clothing, and medical attention), emotional, mental and social needs;
-
Sexual abuse, including molestation or incest;
-
Sexual exploitation, including permitting or encouraging prostitution;
-
Mental injury-An injury to the emotional well-being, or intellectual or psychological capacity of a child, as evidenced by an observable and substantial impairment in the child's ability to function in a developmentally appropriate manner; or
-
Maltreatment-A child has suffered substantial harm as a result of child abuse or neglect due to an act or omission not necessarily committed by the child's parent, custodian or guardian.
Who are mandated reporters? IN RESPONSE to the crucial need for intervention in child abuse and neglect cases, Alaska, like all other states, requires by law* that certain groups of people formally report confirmed and suspected child abuse and neglect.
THE FOLLOWING PERSONS who, in the performance of their professional duties, have reasonable cause to suspect** that a child has suffered harm as a result of abuse or neglect, must immediately (as soon as reasonably possible-no later than 24 hours) report that information to the nearest office of the state's Department of Health & Social Services, Office of Children's Services:
-
School teachers and school administrative staff members (public and private schools);
-
Practitioners of the healing arts, including chiropractors, mental health counselors, dentists, dental hygienists, health aides, nurses, optometrists, osteopaths, physical therapists, physicians, psychiatrists, religious healing practitioners and surgeons;
-
Social workers;
-
Peace officers and officers of the state Department of Corrections;
-
Administrative officers of institutions, including public and private hospitals or other facilities for medical diagnosis, treatment or care;
-
Child care providers, including foster parents, day care providers and paid staff;
-
Paid employees of domestic violence and sexual assault prevention programs;
-
Paid employees of an organization that provides counseling or treatment to individuals seeking to control their use of drugs or alcohol.
The law encourages the persons named above to also report cases that come to their attention in their nonprofessional capacities. Further, the law encourages any person to report instances of known or suspected abuse and neglect.
*Alaska Statutes 47.17
**"Reasonable cause to suspect" means cause, based on all the facts and circumstances known to the person, that would lead a reasonable person to believe that something might be the case.
Alaska has one of the highest child abuse rates in the nation. Resource and Information Directory or RID Alaska of Child Abuse is a grass roots educational campaign fighting child abuse in Alaska.