What is the reporting requirement for the unauthorized absence of a child 13 years or older?

• A. To Licensing and to Parents and to Law Enforcement: No later than 6 hours from when the child's absence is discovered and the child is still missing. However, you must report the child's absence immediately if the child has previously been alleged or determined to be a trafficking victim, or you believe the child has been abducted or has no intention of returning to the foster home.
• B. To Licensing only; within 72 hours; To Law Enforcement never
• C. To Parents only; within 24 hours; To Licensing within 1 hour
• D. To Law Enforcement within 1 hour; To Licensing within 6 hours; To Parents after 6 hours

Answer: (A)

When a child aged 13 or older goes missing without authorization, the reporting requirements center on rapid, coordinated notification to all parties involved in the child's care and safety. The correct approach is to notify Licensing, the parents (or guardians), and Law Enforcement no later than six hours after the absence is discovered, as long as the child remains missing. This timely, multi-party reporting ensures that regulatory oversight, family involvement, and law enforcement resources work together to locate the child quickly.

There are important exceptions that require even faster action: if the child has previously been alleged or determined to be a trafficking victim, or if there is a belief that the child has been abducted or does not intend to return to the foster home. In those cases, reporting must be immediate to the appropriate authorities. The emphasis here is on speed and broad communication to maximize the chances of locating the child and ensuring safety.

The other options fall short because they either limit who must be informed (keeping it to licensing only or to parents only) or prescribe longer time frames (such as 24 or 72 hours), which delay essential protective actions and coordination. The required six-hour window with all three parties, plus the immediate escalation in high-risk scenarios, best supports rapid intervention and safety.