Social Services

Report of Maltreatment Emergencies

To report suspected maltreatment or abuse of a child or a vulnerable adult in an emergency, dial the police at 9-1-1.

Child Protection Reports

You can report suspected child maltreatment 24 hours a day, seven days a week.  A child protection social worker will assist you even if you are not sure whether or not to make a report.  

If you are a mandated reporter, you should call to make a report with 24 hours and personally file a written report within 72 hours of the verbal report (excluding weekends and holidays).

To make a child protection report by phone, call child protection services at       507-375-3294 or 888-299-5941, Monday through Friday 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. and ask to speak with the Social Services Intake worker. For evenings, weekends, and holidays call 507-375-3121 and state that you need to make a child protection report.

Adult Protection/Vulnerable Adult Reports

To make an adult maltreatment/vulnerable adult report, call the Minnesota Adult Abuse Reporting Center (MAARC) at 844-880-1574 (24 hours/day).

Adult protection is a federally mandated service in which social workers investigate allegations of maltreatment and arrange services to help assure the safety of Vulnerable Adults in Watonwan County.

Vulnerable Adults

• A vulnerable adult is anyone 18 years or older that:
• Lives in a facility such as a nursing home, assisted living, or adult foster care
• Receives licensed services in their home such as nursing visits
• Has a physical or mental dysfunction that impairs their ability to care for themselves, and protect themselves from maltreatment

Maltreatment

The following definitions and prioritization quidelines are used to determine the agency's response to reports of alleged maltreatment.

• Physical Abuse: slapping, hitting, kicking, punching, pinching, etc
• Sexual Abuse: inappropriate touching, fondling, forcible sex
• Emotional Abuse: yelling, harassing, threatening, put-downs, name calling, isolation
• Caregiver Neglect: a caregiver not supplying adequate food, clothing, shelter, medical services or supervision
• Self-Neglect: a person living in uninhabitable conditions, not attending to medical needs, not taking medications, etc.
• Financial Exploitation: spending a vulnerable adult's funds without permission, taking their Social Security checks, abusing Power of Attorney, and not providing to vulnerable adult's needs.

Prioritizing Guidelines

Reporting Maltreatment
Mandated reporters such as persons in medical occupations, social services, education, law enforcement and caregivers for Vulnerable Adults are required to report known or suspected maltreatment. All other persons are voluntary reporters. The Minnesota Vulnerable Adults Act provides immunity from civil and criminal liability when a report is submitted in good faith. The identity of the reporter is always kept confidential.

Be prepared to report the following:

• What happened or is happening?
• To whom did it happen?
• When did it happen?
• Where did it happen?
• Who is responsible for the abuse, exploitation, or neglect?