Welcome to Maine’s Online Mandated Reporter Resource Page
Mandated reporters are a critical part of Maine's child safety and family well-being system. Professionals who frequently encounter children and persons responsible for children in their work are in the best position to recognize and report suspected child abuse or neglect. They are also best situated to support parents and caregivers with children (families) who may be experiencing challenges regardless of whether or not child abuse or neglect is occurring.
Mandated reporters are required by law to file a report of suspected abuse or neglect of a child when they are acting in a professional capacity, and the person knows or has reasonable cause to suspect that a child has been or is likely to be abused or neglected, or that a suspicious child death has occurred.
The Maine Office of Child and Family Services (OCFS) operate the statewide hotline for child abuse and neglect. Mandated Reporters call this hotline to make a report. Highly trained staff are available to guide callers through the process of making a report of suspected abuse and neglect. The hotline is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
Some mandated reporters (medical professional, hospital staff, school personnel, and law enforcement personnel) can report non-emergency information related to child abuse and/or neglect online using Katahdin.
Training for Mandated Reporters
Online Training
The Mandated Reporting training is available virtually, self-paced. You can access the training here: https://mainemandatedreporter.org
Note: You can use any browser to access this training. When you begin, read all the directions first. After you start the training, do not close your web browser until the training, quiz, and certificate are completed. If you close your browser part of the way through, you will need to begin again.
Facilitated Group Training - List of trainers coming soon.
Contact a qualified trainer in your area who can provide live training for mandated reporters at no cost. You can also check within your organization to see if there is someone on staff who is certified to deliver the training. Many mandated reporters shared that training with a facilitator, either in-person or online, is the preferred method for taking this training as it allows for discussion and sharing of information between participants.
Mandated Reporter Resources
Some mandated reporters (medical professional, hospital staff, school personnel, and law enforcement personnel) can report non-emergency information related to child abuse and/or neglect online using the Katahdin Child Welfare System.
Mandated Reporter Trainers' Resources
Questions:
For information about how to become a Mandated Reporter Trainer or if you are a Mandated Reporter Trainer and you have completed a training, please contact the Office of Child and Family Services Policy and Training Team at (207) 624-7900 or email OCFSPolicyTraining.DHHS@maine.gov.
For assistance with the Mandated Reporter web page or questions on how to retrieve your Mandated Reporter Certificate, please email OCFSPolicyTraining.DHHS@maine.gov.