Which statement about reporting when an incident is a return of a child before the reporting deadline is true?

Which statement about reporting when an incident is a return of a child before the reporting deadline is true?

• A. You must still report the incident to licensing as soon as you become aware, regardless of return.
• B. You are not required to report the absence as a serious incident.
• C. You must notify law enforcement if the child returns late.
• D. You must document the absence only to parents.

Answer: (B)

The key idea is how licensing defines a reportable incident. If a child goes missing or is absent but returns before the agency’s reporting deadline, that absence typically does not meet the criteria for a serious incident that must be reported to licensing. So, you don’t file a licensing serious-incident report for the absence itself. You should still document what happened, verify the child’s safety, and follow internal procedures (and inform the family) per policy. If the child had remained missing beyond the deadline or if harm occurred, then reporting to licensing (and possibly law enforcement) would be warranted.

The key idea is how licensing defines a reportable incident. If a child goes missing or is absent but returns before the agency’s reporting deadline, that absence typically does not meet the criteria for a serious incident that must be reported to licensing. So, you don’t file a licensing serious-incident report for the absence itself. You should still document what happened, verify the child’s safety, and follow internal procedures (and inform the family) per policy. If the child had remained missing beyond the deadline or if harm occurred, then reporting to licensing (and possibly law enforcement) would be warranted.