Reporting Daycare Sexual Abuse: What Every Maryland Parent Should Know

Every parent wants to ensure that their child is safe. Unfortunately, daycare sexual abuse is a real and growing problem, with Maryland laws allowing for many loopholes, such as home daycares with relaxed licensing requirements that could expose children to a variety of sexual predators. The attorneys at Andreozzi + Foote explain what daycare parents can do to report sexual abuse cases and go over the steps you can take to hold a daycare center liable for a child sexual abuse case.

What Should You Do to Report Daycare Sexual Abuse in Maryland?

If a parent suspects their child has been a victim of daycare sexual abuse, they should immediately report it to the daycare center as well as to the appropriate state or local authorities. In Maryland, all suspected cases of child abuse or neglect should be reported to the Maryland Department of Human Services (DHS) at 1-800-917-7383 or by calling the local Child Protective Services office that serves the county where the sexual abuse case took place. Parents may also contact local law enforcement agencies or the Maryland Office of the Attorney General at 410-576-6312.

Parents can find a complete list of local CPS office numbers by visiting https://dhs.maryland.gov/child-protective-services/reporting-suspected-child-abuse-or-neglect/local-offices/. When reporting daycare sexual abuse, it is important to try to be as detailed as possible. Parents should provide a full description of the incident, including the name and home address of the child and the parent or other individual responsible for the care of the child; the child’s age, the nature and extent of injuries, sexual abuse, or neglect of the child and the identity of the individual or individuals responsible for abuse or neglect. All reports to CPS can be made anonymously.

Who Are “Mandated Reporters” for Child Sexual Abuse in the State of Maryland?

A mandated reporter is an individual who is legally required to report any suspected cases of child abuse or neglect to the appropriate authorities. In Maryland, mandated reporters include health care providers, mental health professionals, educators, law enforcement officers, and human service workers. The responsibility of a mandated reporter is to make a report to the appropriate authorities as soon as they become aware of a possible case of child abuse.

A mandated reporter may contact the local Child Protective Services office to file a report. The professional may also contact local law enforcement if they have reasons to believe that the child may be in immediate danger. If a mandated reporter is not sure about the steps they should take to file a report or need to ask questions about whether to file a report for a suspected child sexual abuse case, they may contact their local CPS office for support.

What Do Law Enforcement and Other Agencies Do to Investigate Sexual Abuse Reports in Daycares?

The role of law enforcement in investigating daycare sexual abuse is to determine if any laws have been violated. If it is determined that criminal charges are applicable, the local law enforcement agency may identify the suspected offender, take them into custody, and file criminal charges as appropriate. Law enforcement can assist in child sexual abuse cases when contacted by a school, a physician, or an agency such as DHS or CPS, or when contacted directly by the child’s parents, the child, or an acquaintance of the child, such as a neighbor.

Other agencies, such as Child Protective Services, are in charge of receiving reports and investigating them to determine whether they fit the criteria of child abuse or not. Reports that fit the criteria are subjected to a traditional investigation and CPS intervention, while lower-risk cases may be referred to other agencies.

Can You Sue a Daycare Center for Sexual Abuse of a Child?

If your child has been a victim of daycare sexual abuse, you may be able to take legal action and hold the responsible party and the daycare center financially liable for hurting your child. At Andreozzi + Foote, we represent child sexual abuse victims in Maryland civil courts and help them and their families get compensation for the irreparable damages caused by unscrupulous daycare workers and negligent daycare providers. Contact us at 866-311-8640 to learn how we can help you.