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.

Ohio

Ohio has something rare and worth knowing about: a Youth and Family Ombudsmen Office that takes complaints directly from young people, with a separate form for youth and for families. Most state oversight assumes an adult is doing the reporting. Ohio's child abuse line is also a directory rather than a call centre - it connects you to the county office that will actually handle it.

Time limits in Ohio: 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: One year for assault, battery or false imprisonment. Two years for other bodily injury claims, such as negligence (for example, a program that failed to protect you). Ohio Rev. Code §§ 2305.111(B), 2305.11(A), 2305.10(A)
If it happened before you turned 18: If you were under 18 when you were hurt, the clock does not start until you turn 18. So assault or battery claims are due by your 19th birthday, and negligence claims by your 20th. Ohio Rev. Code § 2305.16
If the program was run by or for the government: Less certain Claims against the State of Ohio go to the Court of Claims within two years (or a shorter period if one applies, such as one year for assault); claims against a county, city or other local government must be filed within two years, paused while the victim is a minor. Ohio Rev. Code §§ 2743.16(A), 2744.04(A)
Child sexual abuse: CSA: The civil CSA SOL is age 30 against all defendants with a fraudulent concealment tolling rule. A 5-year window opened on October 12, 2023 for expired claims against the bankruptcy estate of the Boy Scouts of America. Trafficking: The civil SOL for trafficking is age 19. CSAM: The civil SOL for CSAM is age 19. CHILD USA's summary

Criminal charges

Physical child abuse: Six years for a felony. For crimes that injured a child in a way that suggests abuse or neglect, the six years do not start until the victim turns 18 or until a children services agency or police officer is told about the abuse, whichever comes first. Ohio Rev. Code § 2901.13(A)(1), (J)
Assault: Six years for felony assault. Misdemeanor assault must be charged within two years. Ohio Rev. Code § 2901.13(A)(1)
Child sexual abuse: CSA: The criminal SOL is age 43 for rape and sexual battery, age 38 for other felonies, and age 20 for misdemeanors, with a D NA rule. Trafficking: The SOL is age 38 for trafficking offenses. CSAM: The SOL is age 38 for CSAM offenses. 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. "Less certain" marks a line where the law is unclear or where our reading has not been confirmed, so please treat it with extra care. 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.

Ohio Counselor, Social Worker and Marriage and Family Therapist Board

Multiple professions

Licenses and disciplines counselors, social workers and marriage and family therapists in Ohio, and investigates complaints including incompetent practice, breaking confidentiality, failure to tell clients the nature and extent of services, sexual harassment, discrimination, physical or verbal abuse and conflict of interest.

Use this whenA licensed counselor, social worker or marriage and family therapist in Ohio. Psychologists have their own board.

HowFile through the Board's eLicense complaint portal, or download the form and fax it.

Ohio State Board of Psychology

Psychologist

Licenses and disciplines psychologists and school psychologists in Ohio, and publishes how its investigation process works alongside its complaint form.

Use this whenA licensed psychologist in Ohio.

HowUse the Board's complaint page, which sets out the investigation process as well as the form.

The agency that licenses the program

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

Ohio Department of Behavioral Health

Licenses and certifies behavioral health providers in Ohio, including residential treatment, and takes complaints about the services they give.

Use this whenA certified or licensed behavioral health provider or residential program.

HowContact the Department.

Formerly the Ohio Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services (OhioMHAS); the old mha.ohio.gov address now redirects here.

Law enforcement and legal channels

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

Ohio child abuse and neglect reporting line

An automated directory that connects you straight to the child welfare or law enforcement office in the relevant county, which is where the report is actually handled.

Use this whenA child at an Ohio program. Report to the county the program is in.

HowCall. Reports can be anonymous.

1-855-642-4453 1-855-O-H-CHILD.
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Oversight and advocacy

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

Ohio Youth and Family Ombudsmen Office

An independent office for anyone concerned about the Ohio children services system. It takes complaints directly from young people, with a separate route for youth and for families.

Use this whenA young person in the Ohio system who wants to complain themselves, or a family who has hit a wall with an agency.

HowUse the Youth complaint form or the Family complaint form on the office's site.

Disability Rights Ohio

Ohio'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 whenAn Ohio program where the young person has a disability or a mental health diagnosis.

HowContact the intake line.

1-800-282-9181 Main line 614-466-7264.
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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.
File a complaint
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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
File a complaint
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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.