Note: This information does not and is not intended to constitute legal advice. Readers are strongly encouraged to consult with attorneys who are knowledgeable and experienced regarding specific applicability of these listed laws, based on their own circumstances.
Maine
curated resources for Christian ministries striving to prevent child abuse
CHURCH GUIDELINES
What is Considered Child Abuse in the State of Maine
Maine law defines child abuse as physical injury, sexual abuse or exploitation, emotional injury, neglect, or abandonment of a child under 18. Reportable conduct includes nonaccidental physical injury, sexual abuse or exploitation, emotional injury, neglect such as failure to provide necessary care or supervision, abandonment, and circumstances creating an imminent risk of harm.
(Source: Maine Revised Statutes §4002)
Requirements for Churches and Clergy
Clergy members in Maine are considered mandatory reporters of child abuse and neglect. However, they may claim clergy-penitent privilege when information is received during a confidential communication. In addition, state law mandates that any person affiliated with a church or religious institution, who serves in an administrative capacity or has otherwise assumed a role of trust and care for members of that church or religious institution, must report if they become aware of or have reasonable cause to suspect that a child is or will be abused or neglected while serving in that capacity, regardless of whether they receive compensation.
(Source: Maine Legislature §4011-A)
Mandatory Reporting Laws
Under Maine law, certain professionals, any person who assumes care of a child, or any person affiliated with a church or religious institution are mandated to report child abuse or neglect. Reports should be made immediately to the Maine Office of Child and Family Services at 1-800-452-1999. In addition, any person required to report must report or cause a report to be made to the appropriate district attorney’s office if, while working in a professional capacity, they have reasonable cause to suspect that a child had been abuse or neglected by a person not responsible for the child or that a suspicious child death has been cause by someone not responsible for the child.
Any person required to report that is a member of the staff of a medical or public or private institution, agency or facility, must immediately notify the person in charge of the institution, agency, or facility or the designated agent who then causes a report to be made. The person in charge or designated agent they must provide written acknowledgement that the institution, agency, or facility has provided confirmation that a report has been made. This confirmation must include, the name of the individual making the report to the department, the date/time of the report, and a summary of the information conveyed. If confirmation from the institution, agency or facility is not provided within 24 hours of the notification, the staff member must immediately make a report directly to the department. Staff are permitted to make a report directly to the department.
In addition, persons required to report must report if a child under 6 months or who is otherwise nonverbal exhibits fracture of a bone, substantial bruising, substantial hematoma, burns, poisoning, or injury resulting in substantial bleeding, soft tissue swelling or impairment of an organ. Furthermore, persons required to report must report if they know or have reason to believe that a child is not living with their family.
Persons required to report must complete mandated reporting training, provided by the department, once every four years.
According to state law, any person can report if that they know or have reasonable cause to suspect that a child has been or is likely to be abused or neglected or that there has been a suspicious child death.
(Source: Maine Legislature §4011-A, Mandated Reporter Information)
Definitions and Prevention Requirements
Maine Statutory Definitions:
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Abuse or Neglect: a threat to a child’s health or welfare by physical, mental, or emotional injury or impairment or sexual abuse or exploitation or lack of protection from these by a person responsible for the child; serious harm or threat of serious harm due to inadequate care or supervision or deprivation of necessary food, clothing, shelter, education, or medical care; truancy when it is the result of neglect by a person responsible for the child; threat to a child’s health or welfare caused by sex trafficking.
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Abandonment: any conduct by the parent that shows an intent to forego parental duties or relinquish parental claims, evidenced by failure to communicate meaningfully or maintain regular visitations with the child for at least 6 months, failure to participate in any plan designed to reunite the parent with the child, deserting the child without affording means of identifying the child and the child’s parent/custodian, failure to respond to notice of child protective proceedings, or any conduct inditing intent to forego parental duties or relinquish parental claims.
- Aggravating Factor: a parent that has subjected the child to aggravated circumstances such as: rape, gross misconduct, gross sexual abuse, incest, assault, kidnapping, torture, etc.; the parent refuses for 6 months to comply with treatment required for reunification with the child; the parent has been convicted of murder, manslaughter, felony assault, etc. and the victim of the crime was a child they were responsible for or the victim was a child who was a member of the household lived in or frequented by the parent; the involuntary termination of parental rights; the parent abandoned the child
- Child Sex Trafficking: the recruitment, harboring, transportation, provision or obtaining of a child for the purpose of a commercial sex act
- Jeopardy to health or welfare or jeopardy: serious abuse or neglect as evidenced by serious harm or threat of harm, deprivation of adequate food, clothing, shelter, etc., deprivation of necessary health care that puts the child in serious harm, truancy, abandonment, the end of voluntary placement when the imminent return of the child to custodian causes serious harm.
- Serious Harm: serious injury or serious mental or emotional injury or impairment evidenced by serious mental/behavioral/personality disorder, sexual abuse or exploitation.
- Serious Injury: serious physical injury or impairment
- Suspicious Child Death: the death of a child where there is reasonable cause to suspect that abuse or neglect was a cause or factor contributing to the child’s death
Churches should provide mandated reporting training for clergy and volunteers in accordance with state law §4011-A(9). Best practices encourage churches to train clergy and volunteers on recognizing signs of abuse, post visible signs with the child abuse hotline (1-800-452-1999), do background screening for staff and volunteers, and develop prevention policies for safe interactions with minors.
(Source: Maine Revised Statutes §4002, Child Welfare Information Gateway)
SCHOOL GUIDELINES
Who Must Report in Schools?
In the state of Maine teachers, guidance counselors, school officials, bus drivers and bus attendants, and child care personnel are required reporters. A report of suspected child abuse or neglect must be made directly to the Maine Office of Child and Family Services at 1-800-452-1999 or law enforcement, not just to a supervisor. If a person required to report notifies their supervisor they are still responsible for ensuring that an official report is made. If they do not receive confirmation of the report within 24 hours of notifying their supervisor they must then report directly to DCFS.
(Source: Maine Legislature §4011-A)
Mandatory Reporting Laws
Under Maine law, teachers, guidance counselors, school officials, bus drivers and bus attendants, and child care personnel, or any person who assumes care of a child are mandated to report child abuse or neglect. Reports should be made immediately to the Maine Office of Child and Family Services at 1-800-452-1999. In addition, any person required to report must report or cause a report to be made to the appropriate district attorney’s office if, while working in a professional capacity, they have reasonable cause to suspect that a child had been abuse or neglected by a person not responsible for the child or that a suspicious child death has been cause by someone not responsible for the child.
Any person required to report that is a member of the staff of a medical or public or private institution, agency or facility, must immediately notify the person in charge of the institution, agency, or facility or the designated agent who then causes a report to be made. The person in charge or designated agent they must provide written acknowledgement that the institution, agency, or facility has provided confirmation that a report has been made. This confirmation must include, the name of the individual making the report to the department, the date/time of the report, and a summary of the information conveyed. If confirmation from the institution, agency or facility is not provided within 24 hours of the notification, the staff member must immediately make a report directly to the department. Staff are permitted to make a report directly to the department.
Persons required to report must report if a child under 6 months or who is otherwise nonverbal exhibits fracture of a bone, substantial bruising, substantial hematoma, burns, poisoning, or injury resulting in substantial bleeding, soft tissue swelling or impairment of an organ. Furthermore, persons required to report must report if they know or have reason to believe that a child is not living with their family.
Persons required to report must complete mandated reporting training, provided by the department, once every four years.
According to state law, any person can report if that they know or have reasonable cause to suspect that a child has been or is likely to be abused or neglected or that there has been a suspicious child death.
(Source: Maine Legislature §4011-A, Mandated Reporter Information)
Definitions and Prevention Requirements
Maine Statutory Definitions:
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Abuse or Neglect: a threat to a child’s health or welfare by physical, mental, or emotional injury or impairment or sexual abuse or exploitation or lack of protection from these by a person responsible for the child; serious harm or threat of serious harm due to inadequate care or supervision or deprivation of necessary food, clothing, shelter, education, or medical care; truancy when it is the result of neglect by a person responsible for the child; threat to a child’s health or welfare caused by sex trafficking.
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Abandonment: any conduct by the parent that shows an intent to forego parental duties or relinquish parental claims, evidenced by failure to communicate meaningfully or maintain regular visitations with the child for at least 6 months, failure to participate in any plan designed to reunite the parent with the child, deserting the child without affording means of identifying the child and the child’s parent/custodian, failure to respond to notice of child protective proceedings, or any conduct inditing intent to forego parental duties or relinquish parental claims.
- Aggravating Factor: a parent that has subjected the child to aggravated circumstances such as: rape, gross misconduct, gross sexual abuse, incest, assault, kidnapping, torture, etc.; the parent refuses for 6 months to comply with treatment required for reunification with the child; the parent has been convicted of murder, manslaughter, felony assault, etc. and the victim of the crime was a child they were responsible for or the victim was a child who was a member of the household lived in or frequented by the parent; the involuntary termination of parental rights; the parent abandoned the child
- Child Sex Trafficking: the recruitment, harboring, transportation, provision or obtaining of a child for the purpose of a commercial sex act
- Jeopardy to health or welfare or jeopardy: serious abuse or neglect as evidenced by serious harm or threat of harm, deprivation of adequate food, clothing, shelter, etc., deprivation of necessary health care that puts the child in serious harm, truancy, abandonment, the end of voluntary placement when the imminent return of the child to custodian causes serious harm.
- Serious Harm: serious injury or serious mental or emotional injury or impairment evidenced by serious mental/behavioral/personality disorder, sexual abuse or exploitation.
- Serious Injury: serious physical injury or impairment
- Suspicious Child Death: the death of a child where there is reasonable cause to suspect that abuse or neglect was a cause or factor contributing to the child’s death
Schools must provide mandated reporting training for all staff in accordance with state law §4011-A(9). In addition, all public preschool or elementary school must have a written policy for child abuse prevention education and response in accordance with state law §4502(5-C). Prevention best practices include staff training on signs of abuse, established internal protocols that emphasize immediate external reporting, background screening for employees and volunteers, and student education where appropriate.
(Source: Maine Legislature §4002, Maine Legislature §4502(5-C), Child Welfare Information Gateway)
Public Health Context: Child Abuse in Maine
In Fiscal Year 2024, the Maine Child Welfare Ombudsman received 825 inquiries, reflecting ongoing concerns about child welfare practices. The Ombudsman continues to advocate for improved child welfare practices, especially during initial investigations and reunification of families.
(Source: 2024 Annual Report – Maine Child Welfare Ombudsman)
How to make a report in the state of Maine
Every state has their own process for filing reports involving abuse. See the below for your states guidance.
Call Immediately:
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Maine Child Protective Intake: 1-800-452-1999 — available 24/7
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Emergency? Call 911 first.
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You may also contact local law enforcement if necessary.
After Making the Call:
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Mandated reporters may be asked to submit a written follow-up to the Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS), Office of Child and Family Services.
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Do not email reports — use phone, fax, mail, or in-person delivery.
Information to Provide:
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Child’s name, age, and location
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Description of suspected abuse or neglect
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Names of parents/caregivers, if known
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Any immediate safety or medical concerns
Additional Notes:
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Maine law requires all mandated reporters (e.g., educators, healthcare workers, social workers, law enforcement) to report immediately when abuse or neglect is suspected.
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Good faith reporters are protected from civil or criminal liability and may remain confidential, though professionals may need to identify themselves for follow-up.
Uncompromising Protection: Elevating Child Safety Standards
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Every aspect of life adheres to specific standards – whether it be technology, education, finances, or industry practices.
In Jesus’ teachings, He imparted immense value to children, emphasizing the significance of their well-being. Reflecting on this profound truth, a compelling question emerges: Shouldn’t child protection be upheld to an even higher standard than these other areas, considering the blessing of children?
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Information updated on 8.17.2025
