To which agencies must employees report suspected child abuse?

• A. DCFS, local law enforcement, and for early education centers, the Department of Social Services (DSS).
• B. Only DCFS.
• C. Only local law enforcement.
• D. DCFS and DSS only.

Answer: (C)

The essential idea is that suspected child abuse must be reported to the appropriate child welfare agency and, when criminal activity or imminent danger is involved, to local law enforcement. In LAUSD policies, the primary reporting channel is the county Department of Children and Family Services (DCFS) for child welfare. If there is a crime or immediate danger, you also notify local law enforcement. For early education centers, the Department of Social Services (DSS) also serves as a reporting channel. So the most complete and correct approach is to report to DCFS, alert local law enforcement when the situation involves criminal conduct or immediate risk, and involve DSS for early education settings as applicable. The other options omit one or more of these required channels, making them incomplete.