When a preschool teacher pulls you aside and whispers that a colleague grabbed your child and withheld food and water, the ground shifts under you. The scenario is not hypothetical for many families. Reports of suspected abuse in licensed childcare settings surface regularly across the country, and Indiana law is explicit about what must happen next: every adult who has reason to believe a child has been harmed is legally required to report it.
This guide walks through what Indiana parents, teachers, and caregivers need to know when abuse is suspected in a preschool or daycare, from recognizing warning signs to filing a report and understanding what follows.
What counts as abuse in a preschool setting
Grabbing a child forcefully and denying food or water are not gray-area discipline. Under Indiana law (Ind. Code § 31-9-2-14), child abuse includes any act or omission by a caregiver that results in physical injury, pain, or impairment, or that creates a substantial risk of harm. Withholding basic necessities like food and water falls under neglect.
From a clinical standpoint, the Mayo Clinic’s overview of child abuse notes that warning signs can include unexplained bruises or marks, sudden fearfulness around specific adults, regression in behavior such as bedwetting or clinginess, and changes in eating habits. A child who was previously happy at drop-off and now screams or refuses to enter the building is communicating something. Parents should pay attention to those shifts, even when the child cannot articulate what happened.
Indiana’s mandatory reporting law covers everyone
Indiana is one of roughly 18 states where every adult is a mandatory reporter, not just teachers, doctors, or social workers. Under Ind. Code § 31-33-5-1, any person who has reason to believe that a child is a victim of abuse or neglect shall immediately make a report to the Indiana Department of Child Services (DCS) or local law enforcement.
That means the teacher who witnessed the incident has a legal obligation to report it, not just mention it to a parent in the hallway. And once a parent hears a credible allegation, that parent is also obligated to report. The law does not require proof. It requires reasonable suspicion. Failing to report can result in a Class B misdemeanor charge under Ind. Code § 31-33-22-1.
The Indiana Chapter of Children’s Advocacy Centers puts it plainly: Indiana’s mandated reporting law means every adult is responsible to report known information about suspected abuse or neglect.
How to respond when your child may have been harmed
The hours after learning about a possible incident are critical. Child advocacy organizations, including the National Child Protection Training Center, recommend a specific sequence:
- Stay calm in front of your child. Move to a quiet, private space. Your child will mirror your emotional state, and panic can shut down communication.
- Listen without leading. Ask open-ended questions like “Tell me about your day” rather than “Did your teacher hurt you?” Leading questions can contaminate a child’s account and complicate any later forensic interview.
- Affirm and reassure. Tell your child you are glad they talked to you. Make clear that what happened was not their fault. Do not promise to keep it a secret, because you will need to involve other adults.
- Document what you hear. Write down your child’s exact words, the date and time, and any physical signs you notice. Photograph any visible marks.
- See your pediatrician. A medical professional can check for bruising, tenderness, dehydration, or weight changes and create a clinical record. If the allegation involves withholding food or water, the doctor can assess hydration status and nutritional indicators. This documentation matters if the case moves to investigation or court.
Where and how to file a report in Indiana
Indiana’s DCS operates a 24-hour Child Abuse and Neglect Hotline:
1-800-800-5556
Reports can also be made to local law enforcement. According to CASY (Child Advocates of Southern Indiana), complaints can be made anonymously, though providing your name allows investigators to follow up with questions.
When you call, be prepared to share:
- The child’s name, age, and address
- The name and location of the preschool or daycare
- The name of the person suspected of abuse, if known
- A description of what you were told or observed
- Any physical evidence or behavioral changes in the child
For concerns specifically about a licensed childcare provider, the Indiana Family and Social Services Administration (FSSA) handles complaints through its Office of Early Childhood and Out-of-School Learning (OECOSL). Families can reach the office through the Carefinder portal or by calling the same 1-800-800-5556 number. The OECOSL investigates licensing violations, which can include staffing ratios, supervision failures, and disciplinary practices that fall outside state standards.
Filing with DCS and filing a licensing complaint are not mutually exclusive. In serious cases, parents should do both.
What happens after a report is filed
Once DCS receives a report, a screener evaluates whether the allegation meets the threshold for investigation. If it does, a family case manager is assigned and typically must initiate contact within 24 hours for allegations involving immediate danger, or within five days for other cases, per DCS policy.
The investigation may include interviews with the child (sometimes conducted at a Children’s Advocacy Center using forensic interview protocols), interviews with the accused staff member, a review of the facility’s records, and coordination with law enforcement if criminal conduct is suspected. At the conclusion, DCS classifies the report as substantiated or unsubstantiated.
A substantiated finding can lead to the individual being placed on Indiana’s child abuse registry, loss of childcare licensure, and criminal charges. An unsubstantiated finding does not necessarily mean nothing happened; it means the evidence did not meet the legal standard. Parents who believe the investigation was inadequate can contact the DCS ombudsman or consult a family law attorney.
Protections for the teacher who spoke up
The teacher who disclosed the allegation to a parent took a risk, but Indiana law offers some protection. Under Ind. Code § 31-33-6-1, any person who makes a report of suspected child abuse or neglect in good faith is immune from civil and criminal liability. That immunity applies whether the report turns out to be substantiated or not, as long as the reporter genuinely believed the child was at risk.
Retaliation by an employer against a mandatory reporter is a separate legal concern. While Indiana does not have a statute specifically labeled as “whistleblower protection for childcare workers,” wrongful termination claims can be pursued under the public policy exception to at-will employment when a firing is tied to fulfilling a legal duty. Teachers in this position should document everything and consider consulting an employment attorney.
Should you pull your child out immediately?
Many parents’ first instinct is to withdraw their child from the program the same day. That instinct is reasonable, but the decision involves practical trade-offs. Removing the child protects them from further exposure to the accused staff member. However, if the facility is cooperating with an investigation and has already separated the accused employee from classroom duties, continued enrollment may be safe while the process unfolds.
Questions to ask the program director:
- Has the accused staff member been removed from contact with children during the investigation?
- Has the facility filed its own report with DCS and the OECOSL?
- What supervision changes have been implemented?
If the director is dismissive, defensive, or unwilling to confirm that a report has been filed, that response itself is a red flag. Parents should trust that reaction and make arrangements for alternative care.
Key takeaways for Indiana families
Indiana’s reporting framework is built on a simple premise: when a child may be in danger, the obligation to act belongs to every adult in the room, not just the professionals. A hallway whisper from a concerned teacher is not the end of the process. It is the beginning.
Parents who find themselves in this situation should document what they learn, talk to their child gently and without leading questions, call the DCS hotline at 1-800-800-5556, see a pediatrician, and file a licensing complaint with the OECOSL if the facility is a licensed provider. These steps are not optional courtesies. Under Indiana law, they are duties.
| Resource | Contact | Purpose |
|---|---|---|
| Indiana Child Abuse & Neglect Hotline | 1-800-800-5556 (24/7) | Report suspected abuse or neglect |
| Local law enforcement | 911 or non-emergency line | Report if child is in immediate danger |
| FSSA Carefinder / OECOSL | 1-800-800-5556 | File licensing complaint against childcare provider |
| Indiana Children’s Advocacy Centers | See website for local center | Forensic interviews, family support |
| Your child’s pediatrician | Your provider’s office | Medical exam, documentation of injuries |
More from Decluttering Mom:
