Oregon law requires adults in many professions to report child abuse. These “mandatory reporters” must make a report if they reasonably believe that a child has been abused, or that an adult has abused a child. But just who is a mandatory reporter? Some are obvious, such as police officers and doctors, who have been mandatory reporters since 1963, when Oregon passed its first mandatory reporting statute. Others are less obvious such as pharmacists. Some now seem obvious but were only added to the list in 2012, including coaches and the Boy Scouts.
By statute, “[a]ny public or private official having reasonable cause to believe that any child with whom the official comes in contact has suffered abuse or that any person with whom the official comes in contact has abused a child” must report the suspected abuse to law enforcement or the Oregon Department of Human Resources. Oregon Revised Statute 419B.010.
So mandatory reporters are “public or private officials.” What does that mean? It does not mean that all adults are mandatory reporters, although that is an option some other states have adopted. Oregon law considers doctors and nurses, teachers, coaches, clergy members, and lawyers to be some of the “public or private officials” who are mandatory reporters of child abuse. ORS 419B.005.
Mandatory Reporter Requirements
Here is the complete list of mandatory reporters of child abuse in Oregon. You are a mandatory reporter in Oregon if you are a:
(a) Physician, osteopathic physician, physician assistant, naturopathic physician, podiatric physician and surgeon, including any intern or resident.
(b) Dentist.
(c) School employee, including an employee of a higher education institution.
(d) Licensed practical nurse, registered nurse, nurse practitioner, nurse’s aide, home health aide or employee of an in-home health service.
(e) Employee of the Department of Human Services, Oregon Health Authority, Early Learning Division, Youth Development Council, Office of Child Care, the Oregon Youth Authority, a county health department, a community mental health program, a community developmental disabilities program, a county juvenile department, a licensed child-caring agency or an alcohol and drug treatment program.
(f) Peace officer.
(g) Psychologist.
(h) Member of the clergy.
(i) Regulated social worker.
(j) Optometrist.
(k) Chiropractor.
(l) Certified provider of foster care, or an employee thereof.
(m) Attorney.
(n) Licensed professional counselor.
(o) Licensed marriage and family therapist.
(p) Firefighter or emergency medical services provider.
(q) A court appointed special advocate, as defined in ORS 419A.004.
(r) A child care provider registered or certified under ORS 657A.030 and 657A.250 to 657A.450.
(s) Member of the Legislative Assembly.
(t) Physical, speech or occupational therapist.
(u) Audiologist.
(v) Speech-language pathologist.
(w) Employee of the Teacher Standards and Practices Commission directly involved in investigations or discipline by the commission.
(x) Pharmacist.
(y) An operator of a preschool recorded program under ORS 657A.255.
(z) An operator of a school-age recorded program under ORS 657A.257.
(aa) Employee of a private agency or organization facilitating the provision of respite services, as defined in ORS 418.205, for parents pursuant to a properly executed power of attorney under ORS 109.056.
(bb) Employee of a public or private organization providing child-related services or activities:
(A) Including but not limited to youth groups or centers, scout groups or camps, summer or day camps, survival camps or groups, centers or camps that are operated under the guidance, supervision or auspices of religious, public or private educational systems or community service organizations; and
(B) Excluding community-based, nonprofit organizations whose primary purpose is to provide confidential, direct services to victims of domestic violence, sexual assault, stalking or human trafficking.
(cc) A coach, assistant coach or trainer of an amateur, semiprofessional or professional athlete, if compensated and if the athlete is a child.
Knowing you are a mandatory reporter is just the first step. To learn more about the duties of a mandatory reporter, visit the Oregon Department of Human Resources website. But the most important thing to remember is that, if you reasonably believe a child is being abused, call the cops. That should be the rule we all follow, whether we are mandatory reporters or not.