State child abuse registries

We’ve compiled this listing of state child abuse registry contacts to help you conduct the background checks required by the Adam Walsh Child Protection and Safety Act.

The type of information contained in central registries and department records varies by state. Some states maintain all investigated reports of abuse and neglect in their central registries, while others maintain only substantiated reports. The length of time the information is held and the conditions for removal also vary by state.

To update a state listing, please email updates@adoptuskids.org using the subject line “child abuse registry change.”

Adam Walsh state contacts for child abuse registry background checks

Alabama
Form and instructions: Alabama Department of Human Resources website

Contact: Harold Brown
334-353-3477 or harold.brown@dhr.alabama.gov

Alaska
Form and instructions: Office of Children’s Services website

Contact: Ken Saucier
907-269-4026 or kenneth.saucier@alaska.gov

Arizona
Form and instructions: Arizona Department of Child Safety website

Contact: Sally Gerardo
602-255-2842 or FHLAWA@azdcs.gov

Arkansas
Form and instructions: Not available online

Contact: Ron Tolson
501-682-0405 or Ron.Tolson@Arkansas.gov

California
Form and instructions: California State Department of Justice Office of the Attorney General website

Contact:
916-227-5052 or CACI-Inquiry@doj.ca.gov

Colorado
Form and instructions: Colorado Office of Early Childhood website

Contacts: Background investigation unit
800-799-5876

Connecticut
Form and instructions: Connecticut Department of Children and Families

Delaware

Form and instructions: State of Delaware website (must create an account)

Contact: Beth Kramer
800-292-9582

District of Columbia
Form and instructions: Child and Family Services website

Contact: Child Protection Register
202-727-8885 or cfsa@dc.gov

Florida
Form: not available online

Contact: 855-776-2729

Georgia
Form and instructions: Georgia Department of Human Services website

Contact: Georgia Adam Walsh team
georgiaadamwalshcheck@dhs.ga.gov

Guam
Form and instructions: not available online

Contact:
671-475-2653/2672 or Linda.rodriguez@dphss.guam.gov

Hawaii
Form and instructions: Department of Human Services website

Contacts:
Tonia Mahi
808-832-0609 or TMahi@dhs.hawaii.gov
Karlyn Kitamori
808-832-5052 or kkitamori@dhs.hawaii.gov

Idaho
Form and instructions: not available online

Contact: Fernando Castro
208-332-7990 or castrof@dhw.idaho.gov

Illinois
Form and instructions: Illinois Department of Children and Family Services website (search for “689 background check”)

Contact:
217-557-0758 or cfs689background@illinois.gov

Indiana
Form and instructions: Indiana Department of Child Services website

Contact:
Phone: 317-234-4410; fax: 317-234-4633; Background.CheckUnit@dcs.IN.gov

Iowa
Form and instructions: Iowa Department of Human Services website (search for form 470-0643)

Contact:
800-362-2178 or DHSAbuseRegistry@dhs.state.ia.us

Kansas
Form and instructions: Department for Children and Families website

Contact: Child Abuse/Neglect Central Registry
DCF.CentralRegistry@ks.gov

Kentucky
Form and instructions: Kentucky Cabinet for Health and Family Services website

Contact: Erika Bauford
502-564-3834 or erikad.bauford@ky.gov

Louisiana

Form and instructions: Department of Children & Family Services website

Contact: Anthony Ellis
225-342-6827 or DCFS.ChildProtectiveServices@LA.GOV

Maine
Form and instructions: not available online

Contact: Amber Casey
800-452-1999, ext. 2 or Amber.Casey@maine.gov

Maryland
Form and instructions: Maryland Department of Human Resources, Form 1279A, Form 1279B

Contact for technical assistance: nathaniel.madden@maryland.gov

Massachusetts
Form and instructions: Massachusetts Department of Children and Families

Contact: 857-338-3030

Michigan
Form and instructions: Michigan Department of Health and Human Services website

Contact: Ann LaHaine
517-284-9714 or Lahainea@michigan.gov

Minnesota
Form and instructions: Minnesota Department of Human Services

Contact: 651-431-6620

Mississippi
Form and instructions: Mississippi Department of Human Services website

Contact: Tinkea Mack
601-359-4487 or mscentralregistry@mdcps.ms.gov 

Missouri
Form and instructions: Missouri Department of Health & Senior Services

Contact: Family care safety registry
866-422-6872

Montana
Form and instructions: State of Montana website (search for form “DPHHS-CFS/LIC018”)

Contact: Child & Family Services Division
406-841-2400

Nebraska
Form and instructions: Nebraska government website

Contact: CPS Central Registry
402-471-9272 or Dhhs.CFSCentralRegistry@nebraska.gov

Nevada
Form and instructions: Division of Child & Family Services website

Contact: Bruce Cole
775-684-7941

New Hampshire
Form and instructions: Department of Health and Human Services

Contact: Leandra Platt or Elena Marcotte
603-271-4259; 603-271-8383

Non-residents: dhhs.dcyfcentralregi@dhhs.nh.gov

New Jersey
Form and instructions: Department of Children and Families website

Contact: Judith Williams
855-744-4913

New Mexico
Form and instructions: Children, Youth & Families Department website

Contact: Loretta Perea
800-610-7610 or CYFD.PSCriminalReco@state.nm.us

New York
Form and instructions: Office of Children and Family Services website

Contact: Roberta Frederick
518-474-8740

North Carolina
Form and instructions: Division of Social Services website

Contact: NCDSS Regulatory & Licensing Office
828-232-3160

North Dakota
Form: “Child Abuse and Neglect Background Inquiry” (465 KB PDF)

Contact: Tara Reed
701-328-1846 or dhscfscbc@nd.gov

Ohio
Form and instructions: Ohio Department of Job and Family Services

Contact: 614-752-1298 or OSAPSRequest@jfs.ohio.gov

Oklahoma
Form and instructions: Oklahoma Department of Human Services

Contact: Jimmy Arias
jimmy.arias@okdhs.org or 405-213-4532

Oregon
Form and instructions: not available online

Contact: Adam Walsh Coordinator
Adam-Walsh.Oregon@state.or.us

Pennsylvania
Form and instructions: Pennsylvania Department of Human Services website

Contact: Tracey Isom
800-932-0313 or tlsom@state.pa.us

Puerto Rico
Form and instructions: not available online

Contact: Lisa Agosto Carrasquillo or Melissa Viana-Salas
787-625-4900, ext. 1728 or ejrivera@adfan.pr.gov

Rhode Island
Form and instructions: not available online

Contact: Jan Mitchell
800-742-4453

South Carolina
Form: South Carolina Department of Social Services website (26 KB PDF)

Contact: Portia Hawkins
803-898-7884 or portia.Hawkins@dss.sc.gov

South Dakota
Form and instructions: Department of Social Services website

Contact: Nicole LeBeau
605-773-3227 or nicole.lebeau@state.sd.us

Tennessee
Form and instructions: Department of Children's Services website

Contact: Larry Phillips
615-532-9856

Texas
Form and instructions: Texas Department of Family and Protective Services website (search for form 2970)

Contact: Centralized Background Check Unit
800-645-7549 or TXAbuseNeglectBGC@dfps.state.tx.us

Utah
Form and instructions: Child Abuse Registry Request (132 KB PDF)

Contact: dcfscentralregistry@utah.gov

Vermont
Form and instructions: Department for Children and Families website

Contact: Dianne Jabar
802-241-6474 or Dianne.jabar@state.vt.us

Virginia
Form and instructions: Department of Social Services website

Contact: Kristen Eckstein, Program Manager
crs_operations@dss.virginia.gov

Virgin Islands
Form and instructions: Email a request on letterhead and a consent consent of release form

Contact: vicanregistrycheck@dhs.vi.gov

Washington
Form and instructions: Department of Children, Youth, and Families website

Contact:
800-998-3898 (option 1) or CANhistorychecks@dcyf.wa.gov

West Virginia
Form and instructions: West Virginia Bureau for Social Services provider formsFoster Adoption formChild Care form

Contact: 
Phone: 304-352-4429
Fax: 304-558-4563

Address:
West Virginia DHHR Bureau for Social Services
ATTN: APS/CPS Background Check Unit
350 Capitol Street, Room B-18
Charleston, WV 25301

Wisconsin

Form:

Contact:
CWBckgrdRequests@wisconsin.gov

Wyoming
Form: Department of Family Services

Contacts:
Stephanie Ross: 307-777-5894 or sross@wyo.gov
Heidi Teasley: 307-777-5491 or heidi.teasley@wyo.gov

 

To update a state listing, please email updates@adoptuskids.org using the subject line “child abuse registry change.”

Obtaining International Records and Documents

The US Department of State maintains tables of “Reciprocity and Civil Documents by Country.” These tables include country-specific information for how to obtain international police clearance and a wide range of other documents. In general, a table will indicate if a foreign resident of the country can obtain the required document, and if so, the procedure for accessing it. To find information using these tables, choose a country from the drop-down menu. On the country webpage, use the menu on the left side of the screen to select the type of documents and records (e.g., “general documents”, “police, court, prison records”) you are seeking.

Additional Resources on Child Abuse Registries and Interjurisdictional Child Welfare Work