<strong>Who reports? </strong>Anyone can make a report of suspected child abuse. Laws mandate that individuals in certain professions report suspected child abuse. &#8220;Mandated reporters&#8221; include medical personnel, social workers, therapists, teachers, police and firefighters.</p><p><strong>Where do you report? </strong>To the police or to the Missouri Children&#8217;s Division or Kansas Department of Social and Rehabilitation Services (SRS).</p><p><strong>&#8226;</strong><strong>Missouri</strong><em> Child Abuse and Neglect Hotline: </em><strong>1-800-392-3738.</strong></p><p>&#8226;<em><strong>Kansas</strong> Protective Report Center</em>: <strong>1-800-922-5330.</strong></p><p><strong>Can the report be made anonymously?</strong> Yes, although in Missouri &#8220;mandated reporters&#8221; must provide their names.</p><p><strong>What happens then?</strong></p><p><strong>&#8226;</strong><strong>In Missouri: </strong>Hotline calls are screened to determine if they fit the criteria of possible child abuse or neglect. Calls are assigned a &#8220;response priority&#8221; based on the danger to the child. Information is passed immediately to one of 114 county offices. If the child is in immediate danger, face-to-face contact is made with the alleged victim or victims within three hours. Law enforcement may be called immediately. Otherwise, face-to-face contact is made within 24 to 72 hours. Children&#8217;s Service workers have 30 days to complete their investigations or family assessments.</p><p>A &#8220;family assessment&#8221; occurs when the reported abuse or neglect is made to the Children&#8217;s Division by a person responsible for the child&#8217;s care or custody. The Children&#8217;s Division works with the family to provide services and prevent possible abuse or neglect.</p><p>Law enforcement investigates to gather evidence for possible criminal prosecution.</p><p><strong>&#8226;</strong><strong>In Kansas</strong>: Calls are similarly screened. SRS workers take immediate action with assistance from police for children in immediate danger. In cases of possible neglect or abuse where the danger is not immediate, SRS workers respond within 72 hours.</p><p>Police co-investigate cases where the alleged abuse involves the possibility of immediate or serious physical harm, deterioration or sexual abuse. After its investigation, SRS may recommend actions ranging from intensive family therapy to having the child removed from the home and placed in state custody.</p><p>Law enforcement may conduct its own investigations for possible criminal prosecution.</p><p><strong>Forensic interviews at Child Advocacy Centers: </strong>Nearly 400 Child Advocacy Centers exist in 47 states. Kansas has 11 centers in about 40 of its 105 counties. Eight more are being developed. Missouri has 15 covering all but one of Missouri&#8217;s 114 counties.</p><p>The centers are instrumental in the investigation of child abuse and in helping victims and families connect to services. Specially trained forensic interviewers draw out children&#8217;s stories of abuse and neglect without being leading. Before the centers existed, the interview process could be hellish, forcing children to tell their stories multiple times to multiple people &#8212; social workers, lawyers, police. Interviews are now recorded and given to police or authorities for use in criminal or family court.</p><p>The Kansas City area has three nonprofit Child Advocacy Centers:</p><p>&#8226;Child Protection Center, 3100 Main St.: serves Jackson County, Cass County and part of Lafayette County.</p><p>&#8226;Sunflower House Inc., 15440 W. 65th St., Shawnee: serves Johnson and Wyandotte counties.</p><p>&#8226;Synergy Services Inc., 7400 River Park Drive, Parkville: serves Clay, Platte and Ray counties.