To which agency should suspected child abuse reports be directed?

• A. The school board.
• B. An appropriate child protective agency.
• C. The city council.
• D. LASPD.

Answer: (B)

Suspected child abuse reports must be directed to the agency that has the legal authority to investigate and intervene to protect the child. That role sits with the appropriate child protective agency (for Los Angeles, the county’s child protective services, such as DCFS). School staff are mandatory reporters and their duty is to notify the agency equipped to assess risk, interview involved parties, and arrange protection or services. The school board, city council, or a police department aren’t the bodies responsible for child protection investigations in routine cases, though police may be contacted if there is immediate danger. The protective agency coordinates the ongoing welfare response, which is why directing the report there is the correct course. If there’s immediate danger, call 911, but the formal report goes to the appropriate child protective agency.