Under California state law, medical personnel (including prehospital staff) are legally required to be mandatory reporters. If you suspect abuse of a child or dependent/elder, you must report as follows: 

• Suspected Child Abuse or Neglect
  • Contact Child Welfare Services if you have a concern regarding potential abuse or neglect of a child
  • To make a report of suspected child abuse, call 858-560-2191 or 800-344-6000. Hotline staff are available 24 hours per day.
  • Written reports can be completed via Form SS8572.
  • Mandated reporter training for child abuse is available through the Office of Child Abuse Prevention training website
• Suspected Dependent Adult or Elder Abuse
  • Contact Adult Protective Services (APS) if you observe, suspect, or have knowledge of physical abuse, financial abuse, abandonment, isolation, abduction, neglect by others, or neglect by self. Anyone can report abuse to APS, not just mandated reporters.
  • To make a report of elder or dependent adult abuse, call 800-339-4661
  • Mandated reporters can use an online system to make an APS report at:
    https://sandiego.leapsportal.net/LEAPSIntake/NewPublicIntakeReport.aspx
  • Use of the online portal satisfies the requirement to submit a written report
  • Written reports can be completed via Form SOC 341.
  • Mandated reporter training for dependent adult or elder abuse is available through the California Department of Social Services training website and the County of San Diego APS website.

For general public/layperson reporting:

• Call 9-1-1 if a life-threatening situation is in progress
• To make a report of child abuse, call 800-344-6000
  • Child Welfare Services (CWS)
• To make a report of elder or dependent adult abuse, call 800-339-4661
  • Adult Protective Services (APS)
• To talk to someone about domestic violence-related services, call 800-799-7233
  • Office of Violence Prevention (OVP)

In the event of an exposure, all prehospital provider agencies shall complete the Communicable Disease Exposure Form and follow the directions to route the completed form to the appropriate parties. Please see County EMS Policy S-009 for more information.

Fillable Communicable Disease Exposure Reporting Form now available.

Under existing federal, state and local regulations:

• all prehospital provider agencies shall develop and implement policies regarding the prompt reporting and follow-up of exposures to contagious infectious diseases
• in the event of an exposure all prehospital provider agencies shall complete the Communicable Disease Exposure Form and follow the directions to route the completed form to the appropriate parties.
• EMS agencies and receiving facilities shall work together to ensure compliance with the regulations.

In the event of an out of hospital birth, the prehospital provider agency responsible for the delivery of the newborn  shall complete the Out of Hospital Birth Report (S-166A) and immediately provide a copy to the patient.

Additional information and resources for patients about registering an out of hospital birth can be found on the San Diego County Office of Vital Records website.