There are many reasons why a mother can lose custody of her child or children, and all of them are serious grounds. However, these allegations are not taken lightly, and the burden of proof lies in the party seeking custody reversal.

Still, some mothers have had their custodial rights revoked because they made the mistake of committing any of these transgressions.

1. Child abuse 

A mother who is proven to have physically and or psychologically abused her children is highly likely to lose custody of her children. Examples of physical abuse include hitting, kicking, scratching, biting, burning, physical torture, sexual abuse, or any other type of injury inflicted on the child by the mother.

Psychological, emotional, or verbal abuse is usually manifested in many ways, including the following:

• Rejecting the child or making them feel worthless or useless
• Demeaning, ridiculing, humiliating the child
• Terrorizing a child through threats of physical violence, destruction of their possessions, or abandonment
• Isolating a child or preventing them from socializing with others
• Exploiting, manipulating, or corrupting a child or encouraging them to engage in deviant or inappropriate behavior
• Ignoring or being indifferent to the child

Note that even if a child is unable to articulate the psychological abuse, child psychologists, social workers, and other experts also look for social and behavioral signs of abuse. These include problems in school, sleep and or eating disorders, depression, anxiety, anger management problems, and rebellious behavior.

When the court receives sufficient evidence of a mother’s abusive conduct, it is authorized to change current custody arrangements if doing so will be in the children’s best interests.

2. Violence at home

If it is reported that the mother is abusing other members of the household (not the children), she can still lose her custodial rights.

Domestic violence is not something children should be exposed to, as this can harm their psychological development. Moreover, domestic abuse can escalate anytime, thereby exposing the children to potential harm. So if the mother is proven to engage in such abuse, she can have her custody revoked.

3. Fabricating lies about abuse

A mother making false allegations of abuse against the other parent can lose custody if it is proven that the accusations are all fabricated. It will be much worse if it is discovered that she used her children to deceive whoever has investigated her allegations, as well as the lawyers and the court. This could lead to not only the loss of a mother’s right to custody but also visitation rights.

4. Serious neglect

Neglecting to provide the basic needs of your child, including access to health and education, is also a ground your ex can use to reverse the court’s decision to grant you custody.

Child neglect is actually a form of abuse, and it encompasses other things like:

• Not providing shelter
• Not keeping your child clean and well-groomed
• Not supervising your child
• Not taking your child to important scheduled appointments

Children who are left to their own devices become unduly exposed to danger or threats to their safety. They can contract a disease and are also at a higher risk of developing mental illness.

Here, you need to remember that minor or rare infractions, such as being late to pick the children up from school or not being able to keep a routine doctor’s appointment, won’t automatically lead you to lose custody. These things can happen to anyone, and the court understands this. Long-term, consistent neglect is something else, and if it threatens your children’s well-being, the court can intervene.

5. Severe mental health issues

Mothers (or parents in general) who have mental health issues are not automatically disqualified from having custody of their children. However, according to Mental Health America: “Custody loss rates for parents with mental illness range as high as 70-80 percent, and a higher proportion of parents with serious mental illnesses lose custody of their children than parents without mental illness.”

Then again, the other parent needs to provide the court sufficient proof showing that the mother’s mental state or psychological issues compromise the safety of their children. Also, since matters like these are sensitive and grave, the court may require parents to undergo psychological testing, as well as counseling and interviews by experts, before making any decision.

6. Drug and alcohol abuse

A mother who is proven to have demonstrated a dependency on prohibited substances or drugs and or alcohol runs the risk of getting her custody and visitation rights revoked. If a mother has these addictions, it puts to question her fitness and ability to care for their children. Moreover, children of drug addicts and or alcoholics have a higher risk of suffering from neglect, being abused, and imitating their parent’s behavior by picking up similar bad habits.

If a mother is suspected of substance abuse, the courts might require her to undergo drug testing. Although failing a drug test may not automatically rescind her custodial rights, it would likely influence the court’s final decision.

7. Parental alienation

In California, children are encouraged by law to have regular and frequent contact with both their parents in a process called co-parenting. In such cases where parents share visitation and custody rights, they are legally bound to follow the custody arrangement.

Mothers who attempt to damage the image of their ex-partner or co-parent, or who physically withhold the kids from the other parent are guilty of parental alienation.

Making derogatory or degrading comments about their co-parent to turn the children against the other parent is simply unacceptable behavior. A mother who makes a habit of setting important appointments or trips that lead to the father not being with his children on their scheduled time together can also be accused of causing parental alienation.

If the father keeps detailed notes of those instances where the mother finds ways to sabotage his supposed time together with their children, these can be used as evidence against her. So, mothers (or fathers) guilty of committing these things could have their visitation and custodial rights limited.

8. Failure to commit to parental responsibilities

A mother could have her children’s welfare at heart and may genuinely want to raise her children. However, if she is always away (even on business), working multiple jobs, in military service, or engaged in anything that takes away precious time from her children, it can put her custodial rights at risk.

A father in a custody battle can use this as a weapon against the mother to gain custody of their children. Since family courts are primarily concerned with ensuring the children’s interests are protected, they would prefer to award or transfer custody to the parent who will be there for the kids.

Therefore, if you are in a similar situation, you need to speak to an attorney and make changes to your lifestyle or work arrangements. Do this before things get out of hand and your custody gets challenged.

9. Court order violations

A mother can violate a court order in different ways, and the consequence of any violation can lead to the withholding of her custodial rights. Such violations can be in the form of abuse and neglect of the children.

If the court orders a shared custody agreement where she and her co-parent have equal custody and visitation rights, and she fails to comply or interferes with the parenting time, she is considered to be in violation of the court order.

When a mother exhibits nonconforming behavior or shows herself to be unfit to care for and protect her children, she may lose whatever custodial and visitation rights she has.

Tips to Strengthen Your Case

As a mother who has fought hard to keep her children with her, you need to ensure you are not guilty of any of the aforementioned grounds that could lead you to lose custody. However, being an exemplary mother does not mean you’ll be immune from your ex’s attempts to fight for custody.

Good thing, though, the burden of proof is on him. And if he is fighting for custody out of spite, he may end up sabotaging his own claims and helping you build your case.

To ensure you are armed with important knowledge, be aware of these factors that can weaken the other parent’s case against you during a custody battle:

• Being overly emotional or violent. If your children’s father repeatedly hurls insults or engages in angry tirades against you, or worse, is unable to control his anger during proceedings when he files a custody claim, he’ll be doing himself more damage. If you keep a record of these outbursts and you have witnesses to back you up, the court would question his fitness to be a parent. This can weaken his case against you significantly.
• Repeatedly filing complaints. Your ex could resort to filing cases against you just to stress you, disrupt your life, or generally make a nuisance of himself. However, this won’t be lost on the police or the courts, as investigations will be conducted whenever he files a case. If all the cases he files end up getting dismissed for lack of evidence, it could erode your ex’s credibility.
• Not being able to provide sufficient proof to back his claims. Again, challenges to custody arrangements require the one making a claim to provide adequate evidence. If your ex is repeatedly unable to provide the necessary documents, police or court reports, or to file the paperwork needed to show the legitimacy of his claims, the court could just ignore his request.

However, you should never underestimate your ex and must be prepared to defend your right to custody. This is why it is important to have a legal advisor who can provide you the guidance you need.

Partnering with an experienced family lawyer can give you the confidence that someone is checking on the legitimacy of your ex’s claims and the soundness of the paperwork they are providing the court, if it ever comes to that.

Don’t Lose Custody of Your Children

Even if you have gained custody of your children, it doesn’t mean that the court decision that favors you is irreversible. Therefore, it is important for you to never commit any of the mistakes mothers who’ve lost custody have made. And even then, nothing can stop a spiteful, determined ex from attempting to gain custody of your children.

However, if you’ve been doing your utmost to be a good parent and you aren’t guilty of any type of abuse or neglect, then you are on the right side of the law.

If the father does make a claim and files a case, you need to be ready.

Therefore, you need to ensure you choose the right family lawyer who has experience in these kinds of cases, understands your situation, and can provide support and legal guidance throughout.

cited Heath Baker Law.

What are the top 6 reasons a mother can lose a custody battle?

First, there are two things you should know.

1. This article is about a mother’s serious misconduct that should cause her to lose custody. It is not about how a father should engage in unnecessary or unreasonable litigation conduct.
2. This is also for fathers who have the courage to litigate the child custody case. A goal without a plan is a wish. If you “wish” to make changes, but will not follow through to do it, you are wasting your time reading this article.

If you have the ability and courage to expose the mother’s misconduct in family court and make positive changes in your child’s life, you are in the right place.

 

Mother’s Physical Abuse of Child	Mother’s Physical Abuse of the Father	Mother’s Emotional Abuse of Child
Mother’s Neglect of Child’s Needs	Frustration of Father’s Custody	Mother’s Violation of Court Order
	Steps to Gain Sole Custody of a Child

https://youtu.be/326lMwMlbkk

Some people have a legal duty to report suspected or actual cases of child abuse or neglect under California’s Mandatory Reporting Laws (Penal Code sections 11164-11173.4). A mandatory reporter does not have to actually witness a child being abused or neglected. Rather, a “reasonable suspicion” from other sources that child abuse or neglect has occurred is enough to trigger this responsibility.

Mandatory reporters are defined under Penal Code section 11165.7, and include over 40 different professionals, such as:

• Teachers;
• School administrators;
• Administrators of youth centers and activities;
• Medical care professionals (doctors, nurses, emergency medical technicians, etc.);
• Law enforcement officers;
• Social workers;
• Clergy members, outside of a “penitential communication” (confession);
• Firefighters;
• Therapists; and
• Computer technicians.

California law broadly covers instances of child abuse and neglect, including but not limited to:

• Any sexual abuse of a minor, no matter how slight, whether over or under the clothes;
• Sexual exploitation;
• Child endangerment;
• Physical injury, such as:
  • Hitting;
  • Kicking;
  • Throwing harmful objects or substances; and
  • Pulling hair;
• Verbal abuse;
• Failure to provide adequate food, clothing, shelter, medical attention and education; and
• Emotional abuse or neglect.

A mandatory reporter must file a complaint of suspected or actual child abuse or neglect with an appropriate law enforcement or child support services agency within 36 hours of discovery. Failure to fulfill this legal duty to report, or impeding someone from doing so is a crime in itself and may be charged as a misdemeanor.

If you are convicted of failure to fulfill a legal duty as a mandatory reporter, you can be fined up to $1,000 and/or sentenced to serve up to six months in jail. If you willfully prevent someone from filing a mandatory report, you can be punished by a maximum $5,000 fine, a one-year jail sentence, or both.

Failure To Report A Crime Under Federal Law (18 U.S.C. Section 4)

Federal law prohibits concealing information about specific crimes. Under 18 United States Code, Section 4, you may be obligated to report a crime if you are directly asked during a criminal investigation whenever:

• You have knowledge of the commission of a felony;
• The felony actually occurred; and
• The felony is a federal offense;

If you willfully conceal the commission of a felony federal offense, you can be charged with “misprision of a felony.” Misprision of a felony is a form of obstruction of justice. If you are convicted, you face up to a $250,000 fine, imprisonment up to three years, or both fine and imprisonment. source

Learn more about what you may be getting into by not reporting:

Aiding And Abetting A Crime (Penal Code Section 31)

Penal Code § 11164-11166 – Child Abuse or Neglect – California Penal Code 11164-11166

Article 2.5. Child Abuse and Neglect Reporting Act (CANRA)

If You Would Like to Learn More About: The California Mandated Reporting Law Click Here

Child Abuse and Neglect Reporting Act (CANRA)

California Penal Code Sections 11164-11174.3
Article 2.5. Child Abuse and Neglect Reporting Act (CANRA)

11164.

• (a) This article shall be known and may be cited as the Child Abuse and Neglect Reporting Act.
• (b) The intent and purpose of this article is to protect  children from abuse and neglect. In any investigation of suspected child abuse or neglect, all persons participating in the investigation of the case shall consider the needs of the child victim and shall do whatever is necessary to prevent psychological harm to the child victim.

11165. As used in this article “child” means a person under the age of 18 years.

11165.1. As used in this article, “sexual abuse” means sexual assault or sexual exploitation as defined by the following:

• (a) “Sexual assault” means conduct in violation of one or more of the following sections:  Section 261 (rape), subdivision (d) of Section 261.5 (statutory rape), 264.1 (rape in concert), 285 (incest), 286  (sodomy),    subdivision (a) or (b), or paragraph (1) of subdivision (c) of Section 288 (lewd or lascivious acts upon a child), 288a (oral copulation), 289 (sexual penetration), or 647.6 (child molestation).
• (b) Conduct described as “sexual assault” includes, but is not imited to, all of the following:
  • (1) Any penetration, however slight, of the vagina or anal opening of one person by the penis of another person, whether or not there is the emission of semen.
  • (2) Any sexual contact between the genitals or anal opening of one person and the mouth or tongue of another person.
  • (3) Any intrusion by one person into the genitals or anal opening of another person, including the use of any object for this purpose, except that, it does not include acts performed for a valid medical purpose.
  • (4) The intentional touching of the genitals or intimate parts (including the breasts, genital area, groin, inner thighs, and buttocks) or the clothing covering them, of a child, or of the perpetrator by a child, for purposes of sexual arousal or gratification, except that, it does not include acts which may reasonably be construed to be normal caretaker responsibilities; interactions with, or demonstrations of affection for, the child; or acts performed for a valid medical purpose.
  • (5) The intentional masturbation of the perpetrator’s genitals in the presence of a child.
• (c) “Sexual exploitation” refers to any of the following:
  • (1) Conduct involving matter depicting a minor engaged in obscene acts in violation of Section 311.2 (preparing, selling, or distributing obscene matter) or subdivision (a) of Section 311.4 (employment of minor to perform obscene acts).
  • (2) Any person who knowingly promotes, aids, or assists, employs, uses, persuades, induces, or coerces a child, or any person responsible for a child’s welfare, who knowingly permits or encourages a child to engage in, or assist others to engage in, prostitution or a live performance involving obscene sexual conduct, or to either pose or model alone or with others for purposes of preparing a film, photograph, negative, slide, drawing, painting, or other pictorial depiction, involving obscene sexual conduct. For the purpose of this section, “person responsible for a child’s welfare” means a parent, guardian, foster parent, or a licensed administrator or employee of a public or private residential home, residential school, or other residential institution.
  • (3) Any person who depicts a child in, or who knowingly develops, duplicates, prints, or exchanges, any film, photograph, video tape, negative, or slide in which a child is engaged in an act of obscene sexual conduct, except for those activities by law enforcement and prosecution agencies and other persons described in subdivisions (c) and (e) of Section 311.3.
• (d)  “Commercial sexual exploitation” refers to either of the following:
  • (1) The sexual trafficking of a child, as described in subdivision (c) of Section 236.1.
  • (2) The provision of food, shelter, or payment to a child in exchange for the performance of any sexual act described in this section or subdivision (c) of Section 236.1.(Amended by Stats. 2020, Ch. 180, Sec. 1. (AB 1145) Effective January 1, 2021.)

11165.2. As used in this article, “neglect” means the negligent treatment or the maltreatment of a child by a person responsible for the child’s welfare under circumstances indicating harm or threatened harm to the child’s health or welfare. The term includes both acts and omissions on the part of the responsible person.

• • (a) “Severe neglect” means the negligent failure of a person having the care or custody of a child to protect the child from severe malnutrition or medically diagnosed nonorganic failure to thrive. “Severe neglect” also means those situations of neglect where any person having the care or custody of a child willfully causes or permits the person or health of the child to be placed in a situation such that his or her person or health is endangered, as proscribed by Section 11165.3, including the intentional failure to provide adequate food, clothing, shelter,or medical care.
  • (b) “General neglect” means the negligent failure of a person having the care or custody of a child to provide adequate food, clothing, shelter, medical care, or supervision where no physical injury to the child has occurred. For the purposes of this chapter, a child receiving treatment by spiritual means as provided in Section 16509.1 of the Welfare and Institutions Code or not receiving specified medical treatment for religious reasons, shall not for that reason alone be considered a neglected child. An informed and appropriate medical decision made by parent or guardian after consultation with a physician or physicians who have examined the minor does
    not constitute neglect.

11165.3. As used in this article, “the willful harming or injuring of a child or the endangering of the person or health of a child,” means a situation in which any person willfully causes or permits any child to suffer, or inflicts thereon, unjustifiable physical pain or mental suffering, or having the care or custody of any child, willfully causes or permits the person or health of the child to be placed in a situation in which his or her person or health is endangered.
11165.4. As used in this article, “unlawful corporal punishment or injury” means a situation where any person willfully inflicts upon any child any cruel or inhuman corporal punishment or injury resulting in a traumatic condition. It does not include an amount of force that is reasonable and necessary for a person employed by or engaged in a public school to quell a disturbance threatening physical injury to person or damage to property, for purposes of self-defense, or to obtain possession of weapons or other dangerous objects within the control of the pupil, as authorized by Section 49001 of the Education Code. It also does not include the exercise of the degree of physical control authorized by Section 44807 of the Education Code. It also does not include an injury caused by reasonable and necessary force used by a peace officer acting within the course and scope of his or her employment as a peace officer.

11165.5. As used in this article, the term “abuse or neglect in out-of-home care” includes physical injury inflicted upon a child by another person by other than accidental means, sexual abuse as defined in Section 11165.1, neglect as defined in Section 11165.2, unlawful corporal punishment or injury as defined in Section 11165.4, or the willful harming or injuring of a child or the endangering of the person or health of a child, as defined in Section 11165.3, where the person responsible for the child’s welfare is a licensee, administrator, or employee of any facility licensed to care for children, or an administrator or employee of a public or private school or other institution or agency. “Abuse or neglect in out-of-home care” does not include an injury caused by reasonable and necessary force used by a peace officer acting within the course and scope of his or her employment as a peace officer.

11165.6. As used in this article, the term “child abuse or neglect” includes physical injury inflicted by other than accidental means upon a child by another person, sexual abuse as defined in Section 11165.1, neglect as defined in Section 11165.2, the willful harming or injuring of a child or the endangering of the person or health of a child, as defined in Section 11165.3, and unlawful corporal punishment or injury as defined in Section 11165.4. “Child abuse or neglect” does not include a mutual affray between minors. “Child abuse or neglect” does not include an injury caused by reasonable and necessary force used by a peace officer acting within the course and scope of his or her employment as a peace officer.

11165.7.  

• 1) A teacher.
• 2) An instructional aide.
• 3) A teacher’s aide or a teacher’s assistant employed by any public or private school.
• 4) A classified employee of any public school.
• 5) An administrative officer or supervisor of child welfare and attendance, or a certificated pupil personnel employee of any public or private school.
• 6) An administrator of a public or private day camp.
• 7) An administrator or employee of a public or private youth center, youth recreation program, or youth organization.
• 8) An administrator or employee of a public or private organization whose duties require direct contact and supervision of children.
• 9) Any employee of a county office of education or the California Department of Education, whose duties bring the employee into contact with children on a regular basis.
• 10) A licensee, an administrator, or an employee of a licensed community care or child day care facility. California Child Abuse and Neglect Reporting Law
• 11) A Head Start program teacher.
• 12) A licensing worker or licensing evaluator employed by a licensing agency as defined in P.C. 11165.11.
• 13) A public assistance worker.
• 14) An employee of a child care institution including, but not limited to, foster parents, group home personnel, and personnel of residential care facilities.
• 15) A social worker, probation officer, or parole officer.
• 16) An employee of a school district police or security department.
• 17) Any person who is an administrator or presenter of, or a counselor in, a child abuse prevention program in any public or private school.
• 18) A district attorney investigator, inspector, or local child support agency caseworker unless the investigator, inspector, or caseworker is working with an attorney appointed pursuant to  Section 317 of the Welfare and Institutions Code to represent a minor.
• 19) A peace officer, as defined in Chapter 4.5 (commencing with Section 830) of Title 3 of Part 2 of the Penal Code, who is not otherwise described in P.C. 11165.7.
• 20) A firefighter, except for volunteer firefighters.
• 21) A physician, surgeon, psychiatrist, psychologist, dentist, resident, intern, podiatrist, chiropractor, licensed nurse, dental hygienist, optometrist, marriage, family and child counselor, clinical social worker, or any other person who is currently licensed under Division 2 (commencing with Section 500) of the Business and Professions Code.
• 22) Any emergency medical technician I or II, paramedic, or other person certified pursuant to Division 2.5 (commencing with Section 1797) of the Health and Safety Code.
• 23) A psychological assistant registered pursuant to Section 2913 of the Business and Professions Code.
• 24) A marriage, family and child therapist trainee, as defined in subdivision (c) of Section 4980.03 of the Business and Professions Code.
• 25) An unlicensed marriage, family, and child therapist intern registered under Section 4980.44 of the Business and Professions Code.
• 26) A state or county public health employee who treats a minor for venereal disease or any other condition.
• 27) A coroner.
• 28) A medical examiner, or any other person who performs autopsies.
• 29) A commercial film and photographic print processor, as specified in subdivision (e) of P.C. 11166. For purposes of the California Child Abuse Reporting Law, “commercial film and photographic print processor” means any person who develops exposed photographic film into negatives, slides, or prints, or who makes prints from negatives or slides, for compensation. The term includes any employee of such a person; it does not include a person who develops film or makes prints for a public agency.
• 30) A child visitation monitor. For purposes of the California Child Abuse Reporting Law, “child visitation monitor” means any person who, for financial compensation, acts as monitor of a visit between a child and any other person when the monitoring of that visit has been ordered by acourt of law.
• 31) An animal control officer or humane society officer. For purposes of the California Child Abuse Reporting Law, the following terms have the following meanings:
  • (A) “Animal control officer” means any person employed by a city, county, or city and county for the purpose of enforcing animal control laws and regulations.
  • (B) “Humane society officer” means any person appointed or employed by a public or private entity as a humane officer who is qualified pursuant to Section 14502 or 14503 of the Corporations Code.
• 32) A clergy member, as specified in subdivision (d) of P.C. 11166. For purposes of the California Child Abuse Reporting Law, “clergy member” means a priest, minister, rabbi, religious practitioner, or similar functionary of a church, temple, or recognized denomination or organization.
• 33) Any custodian of records of a clergy member, as specified in P.C.11165.7 and subdivision (d) of Section 11166.
• 34) Any employee of any police department, county sheriff’s department, county probation department, or county welfare department.
• 35) An employee or volunteer of a Court Appointed Special Advocate program, as defined in Rule 1424 of the Rules of the Court.
• 36) A custodial officer as defined in Section 831.5 of the Penal Code.
• 37) Any person providing services to a minor child under Section 12300 or 12300.1 of the Welfare and Institutions Code.
• 38) An “alcohol and drug counselor” is a person providing counseling, therapy, or other clinical services for a licensed or certified drug, alcohol, or drug and alcohol treatment program. However, alcohol or drug abuse, or both alcohol and drug abuse, is not in and of itself a sufficient basis for reporting child abuse or neglect.
• 39) A clinical counselor trainee, as defined in subsection (g) of Section 4999.12 of the Business and Professions Code.
• 40) A clinical counselor intern registered under Section 4999.42 of the Business and Professions Code.
• 41) An employee or administrator of a public or private postsecondary institution, whose duties bring the administrator or employee into contact with children on a regular basis, or who supervises those whose duties bring the administrator or employee into contact with children on a regular basis, as to child abuse or neglect occurring on that institution’s premises or at an official activity of, or program conducted by, the institution. Nothing in this paragraph shall be construed as altering the lawyer-client privilege as set forth in Article 3 (commencing with Section 950) of Chapter 4 of Division 8 of the Evidence Code.
• 42) An athletic coach, athletic administrator, or athletic director employed by any public or private school that provides any combination of instruction for kindergarten, or grades 1 to 12, inclusive.
• 43)
  • (A) A commercial computer technician as specified in subdivision (e) of Section 11166. As used in the article, “commercial computer technician” means a person who works for a company that is in the business of repairing, installing, or otherwise servicing a computer or computer component, including, but not limited to, a computer part, devise, memory storage or recording mechanism, auxiliary storage recording or memory capacity, or any other material relating to the operation and maintenance of a computer or computer network system, for a fee. An employer who provides an electronic communication service or a remote computing service to the public shall be deemed to comply with this Article if that employer complies with Section 2258A of Title 18 of the United States Code.
  • (B) An employer of a commercial computer technician may implement internal procedures for facilitating reporting consistent with this article. These procedures may direct employees who are mandated reporters under this paragraph to report materials described in the subdivision (e) of Section 11166 to an employee who is designated by the employer to receive the reports. An employee who is designated to receive reports under this subparagraph shall be a commercial computer technician for the purposes of this article. A commercial computer technician who makes a report to the designated employee pursuant to this subparagraph shall be deemed to have complied with the requirements of this article and shall be subject to the protections afforded to mandated reporters, including, but not limited to, those protections afforded by Section 11172.
• 44) Any athletic coach, including but not limited to, an assistant coach or a graduate assistant involved in coaching, at public or private postsecondary institutions. NOTE: Unless otherwise stated, volunteers are not mandated reporters.
• 44) Any athletic coach, including, but not limited to, an assistant coach or a graduate assistant involved in coaching, at public or private postsecondary educational institutions.
• 45) An individual certified by a licensed foster family agency as a certified family home, as defined in Section 1506 of the Health and Safety Code.
• 46) An individual approved as a resource family, as defined in Section 1517 of the Health and Safety Code and Section 16519.5 of the Welfare and Institutions Code.
• 47) A qualified autism service provider, a qualified autism service professional, or a qualified autism service paraprofessional, as defined in Section 1374.73 of the Health and Safety Code and Section 10144.51 of the Insurance Code.
• 48) A human resource employee of a business subject to Part 2.8 (commencing with Section 12900) of Division 3 of Title 2 of the Government Code that employs minors. For purposes of this section, a “human resource employee” is the employee or employees designated by the employer to accept any complaints of misconduct as required by Chapter 6 (commencing with Section 12940) of Part 2.8 of Division 3 of Title 2 of the Government Code.
• 49)
  • (a) An adult person whose duties require direct contact with and supervision of minors in the performance of the minors’ duties in the workplace of a business subject to Part 2.8 (commencing with Section 12900) of Division 3 of Title 2 of the Government Code is a mandated reporter of sexual abuse, as defined in Section 11165.1. Nothing in this paragraph shall be construed to modify or limit the person’s duty to report known or suspected child abuse or neglect when the person is acting in some other capacity that would otherwise make the person a mandated reporter.
  • (b) Except as provided in paragraph (35) of subdivision (a), volunteers of public or private organizations whose duties require direct contact with and supervision of children are not mandated reporters but are encouraged to obtain training in the identification and reporting of child abuse and neglect and are further encouraged to report known or suspected instances of child abuse or neglect to an agency specified in Section 11165.9.
  • (c)
    • (1) Except as provided in subdivision (d) and paragraph
    • (2), employers are strongly encouraged to provide their employees who are mandated reporters with training in the duties imposed by this article. This training shall include training in child abuse and neglect identification and training in child abuse and neglect reporting. Whether or not employers provide their employees with training in child abuse and neglect identification and reporting, the employers shall provide their employees who are mandated reporters with the statement required pursuant to subdivision (a) of Section 11166.5. (2) Employers subject to paragraphs (48) and (49) of subdivision (a) shall provide their employees who are mandated reporters with training in the duties imposed by this article. This training shall include training in child abuse and neglect identification and training in child abuse and neglect reporting. The training requirement may be met by completing the general online training for mandated reporters offered by the Office of Child Abuse Prevention in the State Department of Social Services.
  • (d) Pursuant to Section 44691 of the Education Code, school districts, county offices of education, state special schools and diagnostic centers operated by the State Department of Education, and charter schools shall annually train their employees and persons working on their behalf specified in subdivision (a) in the duties of mandated reporters under the child abuse reporting laws. The training shall include, but not necessarily be limited to, training in child abuse and neglect identification and child abuse and neglect reporting.
  • (e)
    • (1) On and after January 1, 2018, pursuant to Section 1596.8662 of the Health and Safety Code, a childcare licensee applicant shall take training in the duties of mandated reporters under the child abuse reporting laws as a condition of licensure, and a childcare administrator or an employee of a licensed child daycare facility shall take training in the duties of mandated reporters during the first 90 days when that administrator or employee is employed by the facility.
    • (2) A person specified in paragraph (1) who becomes a licensee, administrator, or employee of a licensed child daycare facility shall take renewal mandated reporter training every two years following the date on which that person completed the initial mandated reporter training. The training shall include, but not necessarily be limited to, training in child abuse and neglect identification and child abuse and neglect reporting.
• (f) Unless otherwise specifically provided, the absence of training shall not excuse a mandated reporter from the duties imposed by this article.
• (g) Public and private organizations are encouraged to provide their volunteers whose duties require direct contact with and supervision of children with training in the identification and reporting of child abuse and neglect.

(Amended by Stats. 2020, Ch. 243, Sec. 1. (AB 1963) Effective January 1, 2021.)

11166.  

(a) Except as provided in subdivision (d), and in Section 11166.05, a mandated reporter shall make a report to an agency specified in Section 11165.9 whenever the mandated reporter, in the mandated reporter’s professional capacity or within the scope of the mandated reporter’s employment, has knowledge of or observes a child whom the mandated reporter knows or reasonably suspects has been the victim of child abuse or neglect. The mandated reporter shall make an initial report by telephone to the agency immediately or as soon as is practicably possible, and shall prepare and send, fax, or electronically transmit a written followup report within 36 hours of receiving the information concerning the incident. The mandated reporter may include with the report any nonprivileged documentary evidence the mandated reporter possesses relating to the incident.

(1) For purposes of this article, “reasonable suspicion” means that it is objectively reasonable for a person to entertain a suspicion, based upon facts that could cause a reasonable person in a like position, drawing, when appropriate, on the person’s training and experience, to suspect child abuse or neglect. “Reasonable suspicion” does not require certainty that child abuse or neglect has occurred nor does it require a specific medical indication of child abuse or neglect; any “reasonable suspicion” is sufficient. For purposes of this article, the pregnancy of a minor does not, in and of itself, constitute a basis for a reasonable suspicion of sexual abuse.

(2) The agency shall be notified and a report shall be prepared and sent, faxed, or electronically transmitted even if the child has expired, regardless of whether or not the possible abuse was a factor contributing to the death, and even if suspected child abuse was discovered during an autopsy.

(3) A report made by a mandated reporter pursuant to this section shall be known as a mandated report.

(b) If, after reasonable efforts, a mandated reporter is unable to submit an initial report by telephone, the mandated reporter shall immediately or as soon as is practicably possible, by fax or electronic transmission, make a one-time automated written report on the form prescribed by the Department of Justice, and shall also be available to respond to a telephone followup call by the agency with which the mandated reporter filed the report. A mandated reporter who files a one-time automated written report because the mandated reporter was unable to submit an initial report by telephone is not required to submit a written followup report.

(1) The one-time automated written report form prescribed by the Department of Justice shall be clearly identifiable so that it is not mistaken for a standard written followup report. In addition, the automated one-time report shall contain a section that allows the mandated reporter to state the reason the initial telephone call was not able to be completed. The reason for the submission of the one-time automated written report in lieu of the procedure prescribed in subdivision (a) shall be captured in the statewide child welfare information system. The department shall work with stakeholders to modify reporting forms and the statewide child welfare information system as is necessary to accommodate the changes enacted by these provisions.

(2) This subdivision shall not become operative until the statewide child welfare information system is updated to capture the information prescribed in this subdivision.

(3) This subdivision shall become inoperative three years after this subdivision becomes operative or on January 1, 2009, whichever occurs first.

(4) This section does not supersede the requirement that a mandated reporter first attempt to make a report via telephone, or that agencies specified in Section 11165.9 accept reports from mandated reporters and other persons as required.

(c) A mandated reporter who fails to report an incident of known or reasonably suspected child abuse or neglect as required by this section is guilty of a misdemeanor punishable by up to six months confinement in a county jail or by a fine of one thousand dollars ($1,000) or by both that imprisonment and fine. If a mandated reporter intentionally conceals the mandated reporter’s failure to report an incident known by the mandated reporter to be abuse or severe neglect under this section, the failure to report is a continuing offense until an agency specified in Section 11165.9 discovers the offense.

(d) (1) A clergy member who acquires knowledge or a reasonable suspicion of child abuse or neglect during a penitential communication is not subject to subdivision (a). For the purposes of this subdivision, “penitential communication” means a communication, intended to be in confidence, including, but not limited to, a sacramental confession, made to a clergy member who, in the course of the discipline or practice of the clergy member’s church, denomination, or organization, is authorized or accustomed to hear those communications, and under the discipline, tenets, customs, or practices of the clergy member’s church, denomination, or organization, has a duty to keep those communications secret.

(2) This subdivision does not modify or limit a clergy member’s duty to report known or suspected child abuse or neglect when the clergy member is acting in some other capacity that would otherwise make the clergy member a mandated reporter.

(3) (A) On or before January 1, 2004, a clergy member or any custodian of records for the clergy member may report to an agency specified in Section 11165.9 that the clergy member or any custodian of records for the clergy member, prior to January 1, 1997, in the clergy member’s professional capacity or within the scope of the clergy member’s employment, other than during a penitential communication, acquired knowledge or had a reasonable suspicion that a child had been the victim of sexual abuse and that the clergy member or any custodian of records for the clergy member did not previously report the abuse to an agency specified in Section 11165.9. The provisions of Section 11172 shall apply to all reports made pursuant to this paragraph.

(B) This paragraph shall apply even if the victim of the known or suspected abuse has reached the age of majority by the time the required report is made.

(C) The local law enforcement agency shall have jurisdiction to investigate any report of child abuse made pursuant to this paragraph even if the report is made after the victim has reached the age of majority.

(e) (1) A commercial film, photographic print, or image processor who has knowledge of or observes, within the scope of that person’s professional capacity or employment, any film, photograph, videotape, negative, slide, or any representation of information, data, or an image, including, but not limited to, any film, filmstrip, photograph, negative, slide, photocopy, videotape, video laser disc, computer hardware, computer software, computer floppy disk, data storage medium, CD-ROM, computer-generated equipment, or computer-generated image depicting a child under 16 years of age engaged in an act of sexual conduct, shall, immediately or as soon as practicably possible, telephonically report the instance of suspected abuse to the law enforcement agency located in the county in which the images are seen. Within 36 hours of receiving the information concerning the incident, the reporter shall prepare and send, fax, or electronically transmit a written followup report of the incident with a copy of the image or material attached.

(2) A commercial computer technician who has knowledge of or observes, within the scope of the technician’s professional capacity or employment, any representation of information, data, or an image, including, but not limited to, any computer hardware, computer software, computer file, computer floppy disk, data storage medium, CD-ROM, computer-generated equipment, or computer-generated image that is retrievable in perceivable form and that is intentionally saved, transmitted, or organized on an electronic medium, depicting a child under 16 years of age engaged in an act of sexual conduct, shall immediately, or as soon as practicably possible, telephonically report the instance of suspected abuse to the law enforcement agency located in the county in which the images or materials are seen. As soon as practicably possible after receiving the information concerning the incident, the reporter shall prepare and send, fax, or electronically transmit a written followup report of the incident with a brief description of the images or materials.

(3) For purposes of this article, “commercial computer technician” includes an employee designated by an employer to receive reports pursuant to an established reporting process authorized by subparagraph (B) of paragraph (43) of subdivision (a) of Section 11165.7.

(4) As used in this subdivision, “electronic medium” includes, but is not limited to, a recording, CD-ROM, magnetic disk memory, magnetic tape memory, CD, DVD, thumbdrive, or any other computer hardware or media.

(5) As used in this subdivision, “sexual conduct” means any of the following:

(A) Sexual intercourse, including genital-genital, oral-genital, anal-genital, or oral-anal, whether between persons of the same or opposite sex or between humans and animals.

(B) Penetration of the vagina or rectum by any object.

(C) Masturbation for the purpose of sexual stimulation of the viewer.

(D) Sadomasochistic abuse for the purpose of sexual stimulation of the viewer.

(E) Exhibition of the genitals, pubic, or rectal areas of a person for the purpose of sexual stimulation of the viewer.

(f) Any mandated reporter who knows or reasonably suspects that the home or institution in which a child resides is unsuitable for the child because of abuse or neglect of the child shall bring the condition to the attention of the agency to which, and at the same time as, the mandated reporter makes a report of the abuse or neglect pursuant to subdivision (a).

(g) Any other person who has knowledge of or observes a child whom the person knows or reasonably suspects has been a victim of child abuse or neglect may report the known or suspected instance of child abuse or neglect to an agency specified in Section 11165.9. For purposes of this section, “any other person” includes a mandated reporter who acts in the person’s private capacity and not in the person’s professional capacity or within the scope of the person’s employment.

(h) When two or more persons, who are required to report, jointly have knowledge of a known or suspected instance of child abuse or neglect, and when there is agreement among them, the telephone report may be made by a member of the team selected by mutual agreement and a single report may be made and signed by the selected member of the reporting team. Any member who has knowledge that the member designated to report has failed to do so shall thereafter make the report.

(i) (1) The reporting duties under this section are individual, and no supervisor or administrator may impede or inhibit the reporting duties, and no person making a report shall be subject to any sanction for making the report. However, internal procedures to facilitate reporting and apprise supervisors and administrators of reports may be established provided that they are not inconsistent with this article. An internal policy shall not direct an employee to allow the employee’s supervisor to file or process a mandated report under any circumstances.

(2) The internal procedures shall not require any employee required to make reports pursuant to this article to disclose the employee’s identity to the employer.

(3) Reporting the information regarding a case of possible child abuse or neglect to an employer, supervisor, school principal, school counselor, coworker, or other person shall not be a substitute for making a mandated report to an agency specified in Section 11165.9.

(j) (1) A county probation or welfare department shall immediately, or as soon as practicably possible, report by telephone, fax, or electronic transmission to the law enforcement agency having jurisdiction over the case, to the agency given the responsibility for investigation of cases under Section 300 of the Welfare and Institutions Code, and to the district attorney’s office every known or suspected instance of child abuse or neglect, as defined in Section 11165.6, except acts or omissions coming within subdivision (b) of Section 11165.2, or reports made pursuant to Section 11165.13 based on risk to a child that relates solely to the inability of the parent to provide the child with regular care due to the parent’s substance abuse, which shall be reported only to the county welfare or probation department. A county probation or welfare department also shall send, fax, or electronically transmit a written report thereof within 36 hours of receiving the information concerning the incident to any agency to which it makes a telephone report under this subdivision.

(2) A county probation or welfare department shall immediately, and in no case in more than 24 hours, report to the law enforcement agency having jurisdiction over the case after receiving information that a child or youth who is receiving child welfare services has been identified as the victim of commercial sexual exploitation, as defined in subdivision (d) of Section 11165.1.

(3) When a child or youth who is receiving child welfare services and who is reasonably believed to be the victim of, or is at risk of being the victim of, commercial sexual exploitation, as defined in Section 11165.1, is missing or has been abducted, the county probation or welfare department shall immediately, or in no case later than 24 hours from receipt of the information, report the incident to the appropriate law enforcement authority for entry into the National Crime Information Center database of the Federal Bureau of Investigation and to the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children.

(k) A law enforcement agency shall immediately, or as soon as practicably possible, report by telephone, fax, or electronic transmission to the agency given responsibility for investigation of cases under Section 300 of the Welfare and Institutions Code and to the district attorney’s office every known or suspected instance of child abuse or neglect reported to it, except acts or omissions coming within subdivision (b) of Section 11165.2, which shall be reported only to the county welfare or probation department. A law enforcement agency shall report to the county welfare or probation department every known or suspected instance of child abuse or neglect reported to it that is alleged to have occurred as a result of the action of a person responsible for the child’s welfare, or as the result of the failure of a person responsible for the child’s welfare to adequately protect the minor from abuse when the person responsible for the child’s welfare knew or reasonably should have known that the minor was in danger of abuse. A law enforcement agency also shall send, fax, or electronically transmit a written report thereof within 36 hours of receiving the information concerning the incident to any agency to which it makes a telephone report under this subdivision.

(Amended by Stats. 2022, Ch. 50, Sec. 10. (SB 187) Effective June 30, 2022.) 

cited https://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/codes_displaySection.xhtml?lawCode=PEN&sectionNum=11166
cited https://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/codes_displaySection.xhtml?lawCode=PEN&sectionNum=11165.7

taken from the whole section
ARTICLE 2.5. Child Abuse and Neglect Reporting Act [11164 – 11174.3]
California Penal Code Sections 11164-11174.3