Report Abuse

A report can go to more than one place at once, and usually should. The licensing board can take a therapist's licence. The state licensor can act against the program. Child protection and the police handle the crime. They do not talk to each other reliably, so telling one is not telling the others.

If you need help right now rather than a place to report, the Resources page lists the crisis lines.

Which state is the program in?

Report to the state the program is in, not the state you live in. The agency with the power to act is the one where the facility sits.

Nevada

Nevada has no single child abuse hotline. Clark County and Washoe County each run their own, and the Division of Child and Family Services covers everywhere else - and in those rural counties, out of hours, the Division tells you to call local law enforcement instead. Nevada's board websites were also mid-reorganisation when this was checked, and several published complaint forms had gone; where that is the case the phone number and address below came from the board's own live page, and it is worth asking them to send you the current form.

Time limits in Nevada: a general guide

This was correct as far as we could tell when we checked it on 28 September 2026. Laws on time limits change often, sometimes every legislative session, so some of what follows may have been updated since. It is a starting point, not legal advice: please check with a lawyer before relying on any date here. A time limit on a lawsuit or a criminal charge is also not a time limit on telling someone, and most of the places listed below will still take a report.

Time limits for abuse of a child often run from the survivor's 18th birthday, or from when they came to understand what happened, rather than from the day the program closed. Many states have lengthened them, removed them for child sexual abuse, or reopened claims that had already expired. A criminal charge, a lawsuit and a licence complaint each have their own time limit, so one having passed does not necessarily mean the others have.

Lawsuits

Physical abuse or injury: Two years. The same two-year limit covers assault, battery and false imprisonment, and personal injury caused by negligence. Nev. Rev. Stat. 11.190(4)(c), (4)(e)
If it happened before you turned 18: Yes. Time while you are under 18 does not count, so the two years usually run to your 20th birthday. Time spent in the State's custodial care (for example foster care or a state placement begun before 18) also does not count, unless the person is imprisoned, paroled or on probation. No general extended period for physical (non-sexual) child abuse. Nev. Rev. Stat. 11.250
If the program was run by or for the government: A tort claim against the State of Nevada is filed with the Attorney General, and against a county, city or other political subdivision with its governing body, within two years; filing that administrative claim is not a precondition to suing, and the lawsuit itself follows the normal two-year limit. Nev. Rev. Stat. 41.036(1)-(3)
Child sexual abuse: There is no SOL for CSA, sex trafficking, and CSAM claims against perpetrators for all past and future offenses. The SOL for claims against other defendants is age 38 with revival up to age 38. CHILD USA's summary

Criminal charges

Physical child abuse: Three years from the offense for felony child abuse or neglect. For physical abuse there is no pause until the child turns 18; the longer child-victim deadlines (age 36 or 43) apply only to sexual abuse and sex trafficking. If the abuse was committed in a secret manner, the three years start when it is discovered. Nev. Rev. Stat. 171.085(4), 171.095(1)(a); offense at 200.508
Assault: Three years from the offense for felony battery or assault. Gross misdemeanors: two years. Misdemeanor battery or assault: one year. Nev. Rev. Stat. 171.085(4); 171.090
Child sexual abuse: CSA: There is no criminal SOL for sexual assault if a report is filed by age 36. If a report is not filed by age 36, the SOL for sexual assault is age 36, or age 43 if the abuse was not reasonably discoverable by age 36. For other CSA felonies, the SOL is age 36 with a discovery rule. Trafficking: The SOL for trafficking is the same as the SOL for sexual assault. CSAM: The SOL for CSAM violations is 3 years from the offense. CHILD USA's summary

The injury, assault and physical abuse lines are our reading of the statutes linked, as they stood on 28 September 2026. The child sexual abuse lines are CHILD USA's summary as it stood on 28 September 2026; their page may be more current than ours. In them SOL means statute of limitations, CSA child sexual abuse, and CSAM child sexual abuse material. Exceptions, court rulings and the details of what happened can all change which time limit applies, and some of these may be longer or shorter for you than they look here. CHILD USA's statute of limitations tracker, updated as each state changes its law. A lawyer can tell you which time limit applies to you, and many offer a free first consultation.

The therapist's licensing board

Holds the individual clinician's licence and can suspend or revoke it.

Nevada Board of Examiners for Marriage and Family Therapists and Clinical Professional Counselors

Multiple professions

Takes complaints against Nevada marriage and family therapists, clinical professional counselors, their interns, and anyone else under its jurisdiction including allegations of unlicensed practice, and disciplines licences.

Use this whenAn LMFT or CPC in Nevada, an intern working under one, or somebody practising without the licence.

HowThe complaint must be in writing and signed by you, and posted with your supporting documents. Ask the Board for its current complaint form.

702-486-7388 Walk-in, phone and email hours are Tuesday to Thursday, 9am to 4pm only.
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mftbd2@mftbd.nv.gov
By postBoard of Examiners for Marriage and Family Therapists and Clinical Professional Counselors, 500 N. Rainbow Boulevard, Suite 201, Las Vegas, NV 89107

Nevada Board of Psychological Examiners

Psychologist

Reviews and disciplines complaints against licensed psychologists in Nevada.

Use this whenA licensed psychologist.

HowComplete the Board's complaint form, and the Release of Psychological Records form where it applies, with as much detail and supporting documentation as you can. Complaints cannot be taken by phone - they must be in writing.

702-276-0926
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complaints@nvbope.net
By postNevada Board of Psychological Examiners, 3080 South Durango Drive, Suite 102, Las Vegas, NV 89117

The agency that licenses the program

Inspects the facility itself and can cite, fine, suspend or close it.

Nevada Bureau of Health Care Quality and Compliance (HCQC)

Licenses, certifies and investigates health care facilities in Nevada, including facilities for the treatment of alcohol and drug abuse and residential psychiatric facilities. Investigators use interviews, records reviews and in-person observation.

Use this whenAn HCQC-licensed facility - complaints about patient care or about how the facility is run.

HowCall the complaint intake line; a message can be left at any hour and calls are returned within 48 to 72 hours. A complaint form can also be faxed to 702-486-6520.

You may give your name or stay anonymous, and if you give it you can ask that it be kept confidential during the investigation. Every complaint is triaged by how much harm it suggests: a serious one can start an investigation within 48 hours, a lesser one waits for staff to be free.

702-668-3250 Complaint intake. Messages can be left 24/7; calls returned in 48 to 72 hours.
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Law enforcement and legal channels

Child protection, the Attorney General, and the criminal side.

Nevada child abuse and neglect reporting

Starts a child protective services investigation. Which agency takes the report depends on the county.

Use this whenA child at a Nevada program. Report to the county the program is in: Clark County (Las Vegas and Henderson) on 702-399-0081, Washoe County (Reno and Sparks) on 833-900-7233, and the Division of Child and Family Services for every other county on 833-571-1041.

HowCall the number for that county. In the rural counties, out of hours and at weekends, the Division tells you to call local law enforcement to make the report instead. In an emergency, 911.

1-833-571-1041 Division of Child and Family Services, for counties other than Clark and Washoe.
File a complaint

Oversight and advocacy

Bodies with a right to investigate, and advocates who can act for you.

Nevada Disability Advocacy and Law Center

Nevada's Protection and Advocacy agency, with federal authority to investigate abuse and neglect of people with disabilities in facilities, a right of access to them, and free legal advocacy.

Use this whenA Nevada program where the young person has a disability or a mental health diagnosis.

HowContact the intake line.

1-888-349-3843 Main line 702-257-8150.
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Wherever the program is

Bodies that take a report wherever the program is. None of these replaces the state channels: the state licensing board and the state licensor are the ones that can take somebody's licence away. For crisis lines, see the Resources page - this list is about reporting, not about getting through tonight.

Law enforcement and legal channels

Child protection, the Attorney General, and the criminal side.

Childhelp National Child Abuse Hotline

Talks through what happened, tells you which state agency takes the report, and stays on the line while you work out what to say. Counselors are available 24/7.

It is not itself an investigating agency. It routes you; it does not open a case.

Use this whenAnyone unsure where a report about a child should go, including a survivor who is now an adult and a parent who has just got their child out.

HowCall, text GO to the same number, or use the live chat on the site.

1-800-422-4453 24 hours, every day. Text GO to 800-422-4453, or chat from the website.
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State child abuse and neglect reporting numbers (Child Welfare Information Gateway)

The federal government's directory of every state's child protection intake line, with each state's online reporting option where one exists.

Use this whenA child currently at the program. Report to the state the program sits in, not the state the family lives in - the agency with jurisdiction is the one where the child is.

HowFind the state on the directory page, then call that state's intake line.

Most states take an anonymous report but will act on more of it if they can call you back.

U.S. Department of Justice, Civil Rights Division

Takes reports of civil rights violations, including conditions in institutions where people are held. Its Special Litigation Section is the part that investigates residential facilities under CRIPA and can sue an institution or a state over a pattern of abuse.

It does not act for one person against one program. It looks for patterns, and it decides on its own whether to open anything.

Use this whenA facility where the abuse is systemic rather than one member of staff - restraint practice, seclusion, denial of medical care, conditions across a whole program.

HowSubmit the online report form. Paper forms can be downloaded and mailed.

1-855-856-1247 Toll free. Direct line 202-514-3847, TTY 711.
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By postU.S. Department of Justice, Civil Rights Division, 950 Pennsylvania Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20530-0001

U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Office of Inspector General hotline

Investigates fraud and abuse in federally funded health programs. Where a program bills Medicaid, this is often the lever that moves first, because billing for treatment that was not given is easier to prove than the treatment being abusive.

It will not get you a refund or a remedy in your own case, and says so plainly. Volume means most complaints get no reply.

Use this whenA program billing Medicaid or another federal program - for therapy hours nobody delivered, for staff who were not qualified, for a level of care the child was not getting.

HowSubmit through the online tips portal. It only takes unclassified complaints online.

Oversight and advocacy

Bodies with a right to investigate, and advocates who can act for you.

Your state's Protection and Advocacy agency

Every state has one, funded by Congress. Under the DD Act and PAIMI they have legal authority to investigate abuse and neglect wherever a person with a disability receives services, and a right of access to the place itself - they can go in. Several of the hardest reports on programs in this industry came from P&A investigations.

Use this whenA program where the young person has a disability or a mental health diagnosis, which covers most placements in this industry. You do not need a formal diagnosis to call and ask.

HowFind your state's agency in the NDRN directory and contact its intake line. Report to the state the program is in.

The Joint Commission, Office of Quality and Patient Safety

Accredits behavioral health organisations and can review, cite, or ultimately withdraw accreditation. Losing accreditation can cost a program its insurance contracts and its Medicaid participation, which is sometimes the fastest real consequence available.

It only has standing over organisations it accredits, and it does not discipline an individual clinician. Check the program is accredited first.

Use this whenA Joint Commission accredited facility. Its Find Accredited Organizations search will tell you whether a program is one.

HowUse the online submission form, which it prefers, or call. It does not take walk-ins, faxes or email, and it shreds medical records, photos and invoices on arrival.

You can file anonymously, but it can only tell you what it did with the complaint if you give your name.

1-800-994-6610
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By postOffice of Quality and Patient Safety, The Joint Commission, One Renaissance Boulevard, Oakbrook Terrace, IL 60181

CARF International

The other accreditor much of this industry uses. Takes concerns about an accredited provider and can act on its accreditation.

Like any accreditor it has no power over an unaccredited program, and none over an individual therapist's licence.

Use this whenA CARF-accredited program. CARF asks you to try the provider's own grievance process first, and says to go to your state P&A agency or the state licensor if that does not resolve it.

HowUse the feedback form on the public page, or call the dedicated line.

1-866-510-2273 Toll free, 866-510-CARF.
File a complaint
By postCARF International, 6951 East Southpoint Road, Tucson, AZ 85756

This is a directory, not legal advice. Which channel fits your situation, and what a deadline means for your case, are questions for a lawyer. The Resources page lists where to start looking for one.