Children's Trust

If you suspect a child is being abused and/or neglected, the child must be protected from further abuse.

Making a report

South Carolina identifies certain professionals as mandatory reporters. However, any concerned person can and should report suspected child abuse or neglect. Any report made in good faith and without malice will not suffer any repercussions. “Good faith” means the reporter took the appropriate steps to try and learn the facts about the situation. The term “without malice” means that there was no intention to injure or violate the rights of any of the family members involved in the report.

Your suspicion of child abuse or neglect is enough to make a report. You are not required to provide proof. South Carolina law protects people who make good faith reports of child abuse.

How do I make a report?

If you have reason to believe that a child is being harmed within his or her home, contact your county S.C. Department of Social Services (DSS) - Child Protective Service Agency office. The number for your county can be found in the front of your phone book or online. Click here for South Carolina's Department of Social Services Web site and choose your county from the drop down list under "Hotlines" on the right side of the page.

If you see suspicious activity or know the abuse occurred outside the home environment, contact your local law enforcement agency. You will be asked the following information, which may include:

• The reason for reporting
• The child’s name and name of other siblings living in the household
• Present location of child(ren)
• The suspected perpetrator’s name (if known)
• A description of what you have seen or heard including the date of occurrence, your observations and witnesses to the abuse
• Any agencies that you know who are already involved with the family
• Your name and phone number (can be anonymous)

Names of reporters are kept confidential. Families reported for abuse or neglect cannot obtain the names of reporters. Although you may make your report anonymously, only reporters whose identity can be confirmed are entitled to notification of the investigation’s outcome.

Tips for reporting

• Make the report as soon as possible after receiving the information that causes you to suspect abuse or neglect.
• Do not wait for proof. The law requires you to report when you have reason to believe abuse or neglect has occurred.
• Do not try to investigate yourself or excessively question the child. Leave the investigation for professionally trained caseworkers or law enforcement officers. You can request notification of the investigation’s outcome if you wish.
• Follow your employer’s procedures regarding notification of supervisors or others. If you are a mandatory reporter, remember that you are required by state law to report, and no policy should interfere with this law.

What happens after I make a report?

Assuming the incident has happened in a family home, your report will be taken by DSS Hotline Staff. The screening process begins and the following additional steps will be taken:

• If the worker feels the information is credible and indicates that abuse or neglect has occurred or is at risk of occurring, your report will be referred to a DSS Assessment Worker for an investigation.
• The Assessment Worker will investigate within a few hours to a few days, depending on the potential severity of the situation. The Assessment Worker will speak with the child, the parents and other people in contact with the child (such as doctors, teachers, or child care providers). The purpose for the investigation is to determine if abuse or neglect has occurred and if it may happen again.

If the Assessment Worker’s investigation finds that no abuse or neglect occurred, or what happened does not meet your state’s definition of abuse or neglect, the case will be closed. South Carolina’s definition of child abuse and neglect can be found by clicking here. If the Assessment Worker feels the children are at risk of harm, the family will be referred to services to reduce the risk of reoccurrence. These may include mental health care, medical care, parenting skills classes, employment assistance and concrete support such as financial or housing assistance.

In severe cases, when a child’s safety cannot be ensured, the child will be removed from the home and temporarily placed with relatives or in foster care. Home studies are conducted to determine whether the placements are in compliance with state standards and safety can be ensured. A court-ordered treatment plan is put into place and the parent(s) compliance monitored. Typically, once the conditions have been met and the healing process is underway, the children can be reunited with their family.