New 51A

 

The state’s child abuse and neglect reporting form, commonly known as a “51A”, has been revised. The new version is available at the Department of Children & Families’ (DCF) website: http://www.mass.gov/Eeohhs2/docs/dss/can_reporting_form.pdf. There is also a version that can be typed online: http://www.mass.gov/Eeohhs2/docs/dss/can_reporting_form.rtf

The major change on the new “Report of Child(ren) Alleged to be Suffering from Serious Physical or Emotional Injury by Abuse or Neglect” form is the request for additional information which reflects some of the recent changes in DCF practice.

This information will enable DCF to provide a safer and more supportive response to reported concerns. The two new questions are:

• If the report involved alleged domestic violence, please list any information that will help DCF make safe contact with the family (e.g. work schedule, place of employment, daily routines for the adult victim)
• Please provide any information about the family’s strengths and capacities that you think will be helpful to DCF in ensuring the child’s safety and supporting the family to address the abuse and/or neglect concerns.

-Thanks to Susan Lipton, LICSW, MGH Child Protection Consultation Team for bringing this to our attention and her help with this article, and to Marisa Iacomini, LICSW for sharing the online-fillable form.

 

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