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
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 Jackson
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 forms, Foster Adoption form, Child 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
- Learn about state disclosure laws and state procedures for maintaining child abuse records at the Child Welfare Information Gateway website.
- Download our publications and watch archived webinars about making interjurisdictional placements.
- Read about the National Electronic Interstate Compact Enterprise (NEICE), a cloud-based electronic system for exchanging the data and documents needed to place children across state lines, at the Association of Administrators of the Interstate Compact on the Placement of Children website.