Access

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Anyone can report suspected child abuse and/or neglect to a local Child Protective Services agency or law enforcement. Law enforcement must contact the county Child Protective Services (CPS) agency within 12 hours of receiving a report of suspected child abuse or neglect.

Some people are mandated reporters who by law must report any suspected or threatened abuse or neglect of a child.

 There are five basic types of maltreatment recognized in Wisconsin’s laws:

1. Physical Abuse:  'Physical injury' includes, but is not limited to, lacerations, fractured bones, burns, internal injuries, severe or frequent bruising, or great bodily harm. 
2. Neglect:  'Neglect' means failure, refusal, or inability on the part of a caregiver, for reasons other than poverty, to provide necessary care, food, clothing, medical or dental care, or shelter so as to seriously endanger the physical health of the child. 
3. Sexual Abuse: Includes - Sexual intercourse or sexual contact, Sexual exploitation of a child, Sex trafficking of a child, Permitting, allowing, or encouraging a child to engage in prostitution, causing a child to view or listen to sexual activity, The exposure of one's genitals to a child
4. Emotional Abuse:  'Emotional damage' means harm to a child's psychological or intellectual functioning. 'Emotional damage' shall be evidenced by one or more of the following characteristics exhibited to a severe degree: anxiety, depression, withdrawal, or outward aggressive behavior; a substantial and observable change in behavior or emotional response; or cognition that is not within the normal range for the child's age and stage of development. 
5. Unborn Child Abuse :  When used in referring to an unborn child, serious physical harm inflicted on the unborn child, and the risk of serious physical harm to the child when born, caused by the habitual lack of self-control of the expectant mother of the unborn child in the use of alcohol beverages, controlled substances or controlled substance analogs, exhibited to a severe degree. 

 Questions you can expect to be asked about the family include:

• Identifying Information (i.e. Name(s), Address(s), Phone Number, Race(s), etc.)
• American Indian Heritage
• Describe Alleged Maltreatment - Current and Past
• Describe Injury or Condition as a Result of Maltreatment
• Child(s) Current Location (i.e. school, etc.)
• Child Functioning (i.e. special needs)
• History of Domestic Violence
• Parents Location (i.e. place of employment)

The above information is not necessary to report suspected abuse and/or neglect. The questions above are simply a guide to help prepare you for what will be asked. Even if you do not know all of the answers, please do not hesitate to report.

A child welfare professional will write up your report. A supervisor will review the report and decide if the situation's seriousness is sufficient to merit assessment. If a decision is made to screen the case in, the supervisor will assign a time response based on the presenting information. The following response times are available:

• Same day
• 24-48 hours
• 5 days

The case will then transition to the second stage of the child welfare system - Initial Assessment.