State child abuse registry contacts help 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: Family Services Division, 334-242-9500, dhr_fsd@dhr.alabama.gov
Alaska
Form and instructions: Office of Children’s Services website
Contact: Ken Saucier, 907-269-4026, kenneth.saucier@alaska.gov
Arizona
Form and instructions: Arizona Department of Child Safety website
Contact: Sally Gerardo, 602-255-2842, FHLAWA@azdcs.gov
Arkansas
Form and instructions: Not available online
Contact: Ron Tolson, 501-682-0405, Ron.Tolson@Arkansas.gov
California
Form and instructions: California State Department of Justice Office of the Attorney General website
Contact: 916-227-5052, 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, 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, 671-475-2672, Linda.rodriguez@dphss.guam.gov
Hawaii
Form and instructions: Department of Human Services website
Contacts: Tonia Mahi, 808-832-0609, TMahi@dhs.hawaii.gov, or Karlyn Kitamori, 808-832-5052, kkitamori@dhs.hawaii.gov
Idaho
Form and instructions: not available online
Contact: Fernando Castro, 208-332-7990, 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, 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, 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, DCFS.ChildProtectiveServices@LA.GOV
Maine
Form and instructions: Department of Health and Human Services
Contact: 207-624-7965
Maryland
Form and instructions: Maryland Department of Human Resources
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, 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, 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 and Family Services Division, 406-841-2400
Nebraska
Form and instructions: Nebraska government website
Contact: CPS Central Registry, 402-471-9272, 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
Forms and contacts: Children, Youth & Families Department website
Contact: 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 and Licensing Office, 828-232-3160
North Dakota
Form: “Child Abuse and Neglect Background Inquiry” (465 KB PDF)
Contact: Tara Reed, 701-328-1846, dhscfscbc@nd.gov
Ohio
Form and instructions: Ohio Department of Job and Family Services
Contact: 614-752-1298, OSAPSRequest@jfs.ohio.gov
Oklahoma
Form and instructions: Oklahoma Department of Human Services
Contact: Jimmy Arias, jimmy.arias@okdhs.org, 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, 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, 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, portia.Hawkins@dss.sc.gov
South Dakota
Form and instructions: Department of Social Services website
Contact: Nicole LeBeau, 605-773-3227, 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, TXAbuseNeglectBGC@dfps.texas.gov
Utah
Form and instructions: Child Abuse Registry Request (649 KB PDF)
Contact: dcfscentralregistry@utah.gov
Vermont
Form and instructions: Department for Children and Families website
Contact: Dianne Jabar, 802-241-6474, 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 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), 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: English form
Contact: CWBckgrdRequests@wisconsin.gov
Wyoming
Form: Department of Family Services
Contacts: Stephanie Ross: 307-777-5894, sross@wyo.gov, or Heidi Teasley: 307-777-5491, 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 U.S. 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.