language: en · last checked: 2026-10-12

Wisconsin — persons required to report child abuse or neglect (Wis. Stat. §48.981(2), (3)(a))

Who in Wisconsin must report suspected or threatened child abuse or neglect — a list that includes a school teacher, a school administrator, a school counselor and any other school employee (par. (a) 14. to 16m.) — and to whom the report goes: the reporter must immediately inform the county department (or, in a county of 750,000 or more, the department or a licensed child welfare agency) or the sheriff or police.

§48.981 Abused or neglected children and abused unborn children.

Verbatim from Wisconsin Legislature — Wis. Stat. §48.981 (subsection (2): Internet Archive capture 2026-09-15; subsection (3)(a): capture 2026-04-02; see Meta).

• (a) Any of the following persons who has reasonable cause to suspect that a child seen by the person in the course of professional duties has been abused or neglected or who has reason to believe that a child seen by the person in the course of professional duties has been threatened with abuse or neglect and that abuse or neglect of the child will occur shall, except as provided under subs. (2m) and (2r), report as provided in sub. (3):
  • 1. A physician.
  • 1m. A naturopathic doctor.
  • 2. A coroner.
  • 3. A medical examiner.
  • 4. A nurse.
  • 5. A dentist.
  • 6. A chiropractor.
  • 7. An optometrist.
  • 8. An acupuncturist.
  • 9. A medical or mental health professional not otherwise specified in this paragraph.
  • 10. A social worker.
  • 11. A marriage and family therapist.
  • 12. A professional counselor.
  • 13. A public assistance worker, including a financial and employment planner, as defined in s. 49.141 (1) (d).
  • 14. A school teacher.
  • 15. A school administrator.
  • 16. A school counselor.
  • 16m. A school employee not otherwise specified in this paragraph.
  • 17. A mediator under s. 767.405.
  • 18. A child care worker in a child care center, group home, or residential care center for children and youth.
  • 19. A child care provider.
  • 20. An alcohol or other drug abuse counselor.
  • 20m. A genetic counselor.
  • 21. A member of the treatment staff employed by or working under contract with a county department under s. 46.23, 51.42, or 51.437 or a residential care center for children and youth.
  • 22. A physical therapist.
  • 22m. A physical therapist assistant.
  • 23. An occupational therapist.
  • 24. A dietitian.
  • 25. A speech-language pathologist.
  • 26. An audiologist.
  • 27. An emergency medical services practitioner.
  • 28. An emergency medical responder, as defined in s. 256.01 (4p).
  • 29. A police or law enforcement officer.
  • 30. A juvenile correctional officer.
• (b) A court-appointed special advocate who has reasonable cause to suspect that a child seen in the course of activities under s. 48.236 (3) has been abused or neglected or who has reason to believe that a child seen in the course of those activities has been threatened with abuse and neglect and that abuse or neglect of the child will occur shall, except as provided in subs. (2m) and (2r), report as provided in sub. (3).
• (bm)
  • 1. Except as provided in subd. 3. and subs. (2m) and (2r), a member of the clergy shall report as provided in sub. (3) if the member of the clergy has reasonable cause to suspect that a child seen by the member of the clergy in the course of his or her professional duties:
    • a. Has been abused, as defined in s. 48.02 (1) (b) to (f); or
    • b. Has been threatened with abuse, as defined in s. 48.02 (1) (b) to (f), and abuse of the child will likely occur.
  • 2. Except as provided in subd. 3. and subs. (2m) and (2r), a member of the clergy shall report as provided in sub. (3) if the member of the clergy has reasonable cause, based on observations made or information that he or she receives, to suspect that a member of the clergy has done any of the following:
    • a. Abused a child, as defined in s. 48.02 (1) (b) to (f).
    • b. Threatened a child with abuse, as defined in s. 48.02 (1) (b) to (f), and abuse of the child will likely occur.
  • 3. A member of the clergy is not required to report child abuse information under subd. 1. or 2. that he or she receives solely through confidential communications made to him or her privately or in a confessional setting if he or she is authorized to hear or is accustomed to hearing such communications and, under the disciplines, tenets, or traditions of his or her religion, has a duty or is expected to keep those communications secret. Those disciplines, tenets, or traditions need not be in writing.
• (c) Any person not otherwise specified in par. (a), (b), or (bm), including an attorney, who has reason to suspect that a child has been abused or neglected or who has reason to believe that a child has been threatened with abuse or neglect and that abuse or neglect of the child will occur may report as provided in sub. (3).
• (d) Any person, including an attorney, who has reason to suspect that an unborn child has been abused or who has reason to believe that an unborn child is at substantial risk of abuse may report as provided in sub. (3).
• (e) No person making a report under this subsection in good faith may be discharged from employment, disciplined or otherwise discriminated against in regard to employment, or threatened with any such treatment for so doing.

• (a) Referral of report.
  • 1. A person required to report under sub. (2) shall immediately inform, by telephone or personally, the county department or, in a county having a population of 750,000 or more, the department or a licensed child welfare agency under contract with the department or the sheriff or city, village, or town police department of the facts and circumstances contributing to a suspicion of child abuse or neglect or of unborn child abuse or to a belief that abuse or neglect will occur.
  • 2. The sheriff or police department shall within 12 hours, exclusive of Saturdays, Sundays, or legal holidays, refer to the county department or, in a county having a population of 750,000 or more, the department or a licensed child welfare agency under contract with the department all of the following types of cases reported to the sheriff or police department:
    • a. Cases in which a caregiver is suspected of abuse or neglect or of threatened abuse or neglect of a child.
    • b. Cases in which a caregiver is suspected of facilitating or failing to take action to prevent the suspected or threatened abuse or neglect of a child.
    • bm. Cases in which a person who is not a caregiver is suspected of abuse, as defined in s. 48.02 (1) (cm) or (d), of a child.
    • c. Cases in which it cannot be determined who abused or neglected or threatened to abuse or neglect a child.
    • d. Cases in which there is reason to suspect that an unborn child has been abused or there is reason to believe that an unborn child is at substantial risk of abuse.
  • 2d. Except when referral is required under subd. 2. bm., the sheriff or police department may refer to the county department or, in a county having a population of 750,000 or more, the department or a licensed child welfare agency under contract with the department a case reported to the sheriff or police department in which a person who is not a caregiver is suspected of abuse or of threatened abuse of a child.
  • 2g. The county department, department, or licensed child welfare agency may require that a subsequent report of a case referred under subd. 2. or 2d. be made in writing.
  • 3. Except as provided in sub. (3m), a county department, the department, or a licensed child welfare agency under contract with the department shall within 12 hours, exclusive of Saturdays, Sundays, or legal holidays, refer to the sheriff or police department all cases of suspected or threatened abuse, as defined in s. 48.02 (1) (b) to (f), reported to it. For cases of suspected or threatened abuse, as defined in s. 48.02 (1) (a), (am), (g), or (gm), or neglect, each county department, the department, and a licensed child welfare agency under contract with the department shall adopt a written policy specifying the kinds of reports it will routinely report to local law enforcement authorities.
  • 4. If the report is of suspected or threatened abuse, as defined in s. 48.02 (1) (b) to (f), the sheriff or police department and the county department, department, or licensed child welfare agency under contract with the department shall coordinate the planning and execution of the investigation of the report.

Sources

• Wisconsin Legislature — Wis. Stat. §48.981
• Wisconsin Legislature — Wis. Stat. §48.981(2)
• Wisconsin Legislature — Wis. Stat. §48.981(3)