Child Welfare Information Gateway2017-10-182017-10-182017Child Welfare Information Gateway. (2017). Making and screening reports of child abuse and neglect. Washington, DC: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Children's Bureau.https://www.childwelfare.gov/topics/systemwide/laws-policies/statutes/repproc/http://hdl.handle.net/11212/3569This factsheet discusses state laws and regulations that specify the procedures that state child protection agencies must follow when responding to reports of suspected child abuse or neglect. The issues addressed include individual responsibility to report, content of reports, screening reports, investigation procedures, timeframes for completing investigations, and classification of investigative findings. Special procedures for handling child fatalities and drug-exposed children also are addressed. Summaries of laws for all states and U.S. territories are included.en-USchild protectionabuse reportsscreeningchild abuseArticle