When Its Just a Bump on the Head: Interpreting Skull Fractures in the Context of Child Maltreatment
Mandated reporters are required to report suspected child abuse or maltreatment when they are presented with a reasonable cause to suspect child abuse or maltreatment in a situation where a child, parent, or other person legally responsible for the child is before the mandated reporter when the mandated reporter is acting in their official or professional capacity
Mandated Reporters in New York State should call 311 in NYC or call the SCR's Mandated Reporter hotline directly at 1 (800) 635-1522. If the child is in immediate danger, call 911.
For others outside of NYS and non-mandated reporters, check this map for hotline numbers in your state: https://www.childhelphotline.org/how-it-works/#hotline-map
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I will just remind you of the mandated reporting statute in NY State that reads “Mandated reporters are required to report suspected child abuse or maltreatment when they are presented with a reasonable cause to suspect child abuse or maltreatment.”
Here I think the phrase reasonable cause is important. For me, this suggests that depending on the information that you gather and your education about child abuse, and in this case skull fractures specifically, your reasonable concern may vary and when you decide to make a CPS report may also vary. I would suggest, that determining what reasonable cause or reasonable suspicion is can be tricky and that the help of a child abuse physician may be helpful.
