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Abuse

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Mandatory Reporting for ODHS Employees

​​​​ODHS employees are mandatory reporters​

As a​n employee of the Oregon Department of Human Services (ODHS) you are a mandatory reporter.

You are required by law to report alleged abuse of:

  • Children
  • Adults age 65 and over
  • Adults with developmental disabilities
  • Adults with mental illness, and
  • Residents in nursing facilities

What constitutes a mandatory report, and when and to whom to make the report, varies depending on which of these individuals is the subject of the report. If you are uncertain regarding the proper reporting authority, request assistance from a manager.

Children

Child definition: A child is a person under the age of 18 or a person under 21 that is living in or receiving services from a child-caring agency.​

What constitutes a mandatory report of child abuse: Having reasonable cause to believe that any child you come in contact has suffered abuse or that any person with whom you come in contact has abused a child.

When you must report: You must report child abuse and neglect 24 hours per day, seven days per week. The report must be made immediately. This requirement applies whether you observe the abuse or neglect during your work activities or on your personal time.

To whom you report: Report to Oregon Child Abuse Hotline​ (1-855-503-7233) or to your local law enforcement agency.

The law that applies: ORS 419B.005 to 419B.045

See the video and guide: ​Mandatory Reporting of Child Abuse

Elderly, 65 and over and people with physical disabilities

When you must report: You are a 24/7 mandatory reporter. 

To whom you report: Report to your local APD office or Area Agency on Aging, or to local law enforcement.

The law that applies: ORS 124.050 to 124.095

Adults with developmental disabilities

When you must report: You are a 24/7 mandatory reporter.

To whom you report: Report to your County Developmental Disability Program, ODHS Office of Investigations, or to local law enforcement.

The law that applies: ORS 430.735 to 430.765

Adults with mental illness

When you must report: You are a 24/7 mandatory reporter.

To whom you report: Report to your county mental health program, ODHS Office of Investigations, or to local law enforcement.

The law that applies: ORS 430.735 to 430.765

Residents in nursing facilities

When you must report: You are a 24/7 mandatory reporter.

To whom you report: Report to your local APD office or Area Agency on Aging, or to local law enforcement.

The law that applies: ORS441.630 to 441.680

Failure to report

There could be criminal and civil penalties for failure to report. For more information regarding these possible penalties, visit the Oregon Revised Statutes website.

Resources

Questions​ about "official capacity"

For more information on the definition of "official capacity," contact the Oregon Department of Human Services, Office of Human Resources at (503) 884-8797.

Training

More extensive training on mandatory reporting is available through ODHS program training. Mandatory reporting of child abuse training is accessed through your local office. To find other mandatory reporting training, log in to Workday, go to ​"Learning" and choose "Browse learning content."​​

Definitions​

Child definition​

There are different types of abuse. For specific definitions of abuse pertaining to each client population, see the Oregon Revised Statutes.

Reporting matrix

Mandatory reporting matrix for ODHS employees​​