Which agency is not a child protective agency for reporting purposes?

• A. Los Angeles School Police Department.
• B. Los Angeles County Department of Children and Family Services (DCFS).
• C. Local law enforcement.
• D. Department of Social Services (DSS).

Answer: (D)

When a school staff member suspects abuse or neglect, the person who receives the report is the county’s designated child protective services agency, which in Los Angeles County is the Department of Children and Family Services (DCFS). Local law enforcement can also be involved, especially if there is an immediate danger or a crime is suspected, and the district’s own School Police can help connect you to the appropriate agency. The Department of Social Services (DSS) is not the frontline recipient for these reports; it serves as the state-level umbrella that oversees child welfare, while the local DCFS handles the actual reporting and investigations in the county. So, DSS is not the agency you would contact to file the mandated report.