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Reporting abuse
How to report
If you believe abuse is occurring, immediately contact your county
developmental disability program.
You may also report abuse to Department of Human Services (DHS) by calling
the Office of Investigations and Training (OIT) at 503-945-9495 or toll free
at 1-866-406-4287.
In an emergency contact your local law enforcement agency.
Mandatory reporters
To prevent
abuse and safeguard the welfare of adults with developmental disabilities,
the Oregon legislature determined it was necessary and in the public interest
to require mandatory abuse reporting for certain private and public officials.
They include:
- Physician, naturopathic, physician, osteopathic physician, psychologist,
chiropractor or podiatric physician and surgeon, including any intern or resident
- Licensed practical nurse, registered nurse, nurse's aide, home health
aide or employee of an in-home health service
- Employee of the Department of Human Services, county health department,
community mental health and developmental disabilities program or private agency
contracting with a public body to provide any community mental health service
- Peace officer
- Member of the clergy
- Licensed clinical social worker
- Physical, speech or occupational therapist
- Information and referral, outreach or crisis worker
- Attorney
- Any public official who comes in contact with adults in the performance
of the official's duties.
When acting in an official capacity, mandatory reporters must report instances,
when the reporter has reasonable cause to believe abuse has occurred, to
the community program or a local law enforcement agency.
What happens to an abuse report
Within 24 hours of receiving a report of alleged abuse, we take these steps:
- Investigate the nature and cause of the alleged abuse
- Determine if protective services are needed
- Provide protective services as needed
If there is reason to believe a crime has been committed, law enforcement
will be notified.
State investigation of alleged abuse
The Department of Human Services, Office of Investigations and Training conducts
abuse and neglect investigations in all state-operated programs for adults
with developmental disabilities.
If determined necessary or appropriate, DHS, Office of Investigations
and Training may conduct an investigation itself rather than allow
the community program to investigate the alleged abuse or in addition
to the investigation by the community program. Under such circumstances, the
community program
must receive authorization from the Office of Investigations and Training
before conducting any separate investigation.
Also
see: Mandatory
reporting
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