You need to report serious health and safety incidents involving your child to DCYF. The following information is also located in the Reporting Responsibilities for Licensing Kindship Caregivers publication. 

If the child or youth is an enrolled member of a tribe, or eligible to become an enrolled member, you also need to report incidents to the tribe.

Abuse, harm, or death

Immediately contact the department intake at 1-866-363-4276 if your child:

• Dies or is near death
• Has been physically or sexually abused, neglected, trafficked, or exploited (or if you suspect they have been)
• Has had sexual contact with another child or youth that is not consensual or age or developmentally appropriate

Physical restraint

Within 24 hours, report behavior that resulted in physical restraint to your child’s caseworker. This includes restraining a child to save them from harm.

If you're not sure what physical restraint is, talk to the caseworker.

If you don't have your caseworker's contact information, search our directory.

If the caseworker is not available or it is after normal business hours, call department intake at 1-866-363-4276.

Medical emergencies

Within 48 hours, report medical emergencies to your child’s caseworker. Examples include:

• Medication given or taken wrong
• Serious illness or injury (for example, the child or youth went to the hospital, they broke a bone, or they needed stitches)
• Disclosed suicidal or homicidal thoughts, gestures, or attempts
• Emergency medical treatment
• Emergency psychiatric care

If you don't have the caseworker's contact information, search our directory.

If the caseworker is not available or it is after normal business hours, call department intake at 1-866-363-4276.