It's serious stuff folks,:
http://www.smith-lawfirm.com/mandatory_reporti ng.htm
http://incestabuse.about.com/od/legalinformati on/a/mandatedrept.htm
cut and paste from the above link:
What is "Mandated Reporting?"
In general, Mandated Reporting laws say that anyone who deals with children -- teachers, daycare workers, social workers, women's advocates, children's advocates, and so on -- are required by law to report any child abuse they find out about.
The law also provides penalties for failure to report. For example, if a child tells his daycare worker that his dad is beating him up, the daycare worker is required to call Child Protection services. Child Protection is part of your county Social Services department. In Minnesota, the daycare worker has to call Child Protection and make a verbal report, and then follow it up with a written report.
Mandated Reporters don't just respond when a kid tells them something. If properly trained, they can spot signs of abuse -- suspicious bruises, signs of neglect, and behaviors that might suggest that the child has been abused, either sexually, physically or emotionally. I knew a remarkable Child Advocate who could walk through a gymnasium filled with children. When she got to the other side, could tell the school counselor about ten or fifteen children who deserved a closer look, and provide details as to why.
When children email me and ask for help or advice, I ask them if they have a favorite teacher they can go to. This is because teachers are also Mandated Reporters, and they tend to be well-trained. Many legislatures pass Mandated Reporter laws, but never appropriate money to pay for