Indiana § 31-33-7-8 - Reports after initiation of assessment or investigation; contents; confidentiality

§ 31-33-7-8. Reports after initiation of assessment or investigation; contents; confidentiality

Sec. 8. (a) This section applies if the department receives a report of suspected child abuse or neglect from:

(1) a hospital;

(2) a community mental health center;

(3) a managed care provider (as defined in IC 12-7-2.1-219);

(4) a referring physician;

(5) a dentist;

(6) a licensed psychologist;

(7) a school;

(8) a child caring institution licensed under IC 31-27;

(9) a group home licensed under IC 31-27 or IC 12-28-4;

(10) a secure private facility; or

(11) a child placing agency (as defined in IC 31-9-2.1-46).

(b) Not later than forty-five (45) days after the date the department initiates an assessment or investigation of a report of suspected child abuse or neglect from a person described in subsection (a), the department shall send a report to:

(1) the administrator of the hospital;

(2) the community mental health center;

(3) the managed care provider;

(4) the referring physician;

(5) the dentist;

(6) the principal of the school;

(7) a licensed psychologist;

(8) a child caring institution licensed under IC 31-27;

(9) a group home licensed under IC 31-27 or IC 12-28-4;

(10) a secure private facility; or

(11) a child placing agency (as defined in IC 31-9-2.1-46).

The report must contain the items listed in subsection (d) that are known at the time the report is sent.

(c) The administrator, director, referring physician, dentist, licensed psychologist, or principal may appoint a designee to receive the report.

(d) A report made by the department under this section must contain the following information:

(1) The name of the alleged victim of child abuse or neglect.

(2) The name of the alleged perpetrator and the alleged perpetrator's relationship to the alleged victim.

(3) Whether the assessment is closed.

(4) Whether the department has made an assessment of the case and has not taken any further action.

(5) The caseworker's name and telephone number.

(6) The date the report is prepared.

(7) Other information that the department may prescribe.

(e) A report made under this section:

(1) is confidential; and

(2) may be made available only to:

(A) the agencies named in this section; and

(B) the persons and agencies listed in IC 31-33-18-2.

[Pre-1997 Recodification Citation: 31-6-11-22.]

As added by P.L.1-1997, SEC.16. Amended by P.L.234-2005, SEC.116; P.L.131-2009, SEC.42; P.L.162-2011, SEC.44; P.L.198-2019, SEC.6; P.L.145-2026, SEC.196.

IC 31-33-8Chapter 8. Investigation of Reports of Suspected Child Abuse or Neglect

31-33-8-1Investigations by the department of child services; time of initiation; investigations of child care ministries 31-33-8-2Investigations by law enforcement agencies 31-33-8-3Photographs and x-rays 31-33-8-4Notice to prosecuting attorney of reports involving child's death 31-33-8-5Forwarding copies of reports to prosecuting attorney 31-33-8-6Investigatory duties of department of child services; purpose 31-33-8-7Scope of assessment by department of child services; order for access to home, school, or other place, or for mental or physical examinations; petition to interview child; order; requirements 31-33-8-7.5Reporting of observed or suspected animal cruelty, abandonment, or neglect 31-33-8-8Order for child's immediate removal; preparation of investigative report 31-33-8-9Provision of copies of investigative report by department of child services 31-33-8-10Provision of information and copies of investigative report by law enforcement agency 31-33-8-11Law enforcement agency's duty to release information to department of child services 31-33-8-12Classifying reports as substantiated or unsubstantiated 31-33-8-13Court findings to be entered in the child protection index 31-33-8-14Repealed 31-33-8-15Provision of information by department of child services; no obligation or liability for providing information 31-33-8-16Voluntary service referral agreements