In the child maltreatment referral process, which step is required?

• A. Law enforcement must investigate and refer the case to the appropriate county department
• B. Only filing a report without follow-up
• C. Wait for a court order
• D. Ignore ambiguous reports

Answer: (A)

When a report of child maltreatment is made, the process relies on timely action by law enforcement and the county child protective services system. Law enforcement must investigate the allegation and refer the case to the appropriate county department that handles child protective services. This referral starts the formal intake, risk assessment, and safety planning process, ensuring the child’s safety and arranging services as needed. Merely filing a report without follow-up ignores the required response and leaves the child vulnerable. Waiting for a court order isn’t part of the mandated reporting flow, and ignoring ambiguous reports is not a permissible option, since investigators must assess every report to decide the proper next steps.