Job & Family Services Office of Families and Children
OFC Front Page
Who We Are
Rules & Policies
Publications
Contact Us
E-Mail OFC
Help Desk/Technical Assistance Center
AdoptOHIO
Child Care in Ohio
County Directory
SACWIS
Acronyms
ADA Compliance
External Link Disclaimer
Contact Us
Feedback/
Case-Specific Concerns
Help/FAQs
Media Inquiries
Privacy Statement
Recent Additions
Site Index
Site Map
Central Registry

HOW TO OBTAIN A SEARCH OF

OHIO'S CENTRAL REGISTRY ON CHILD ABUSE AND NEGLECT

In accordance with the Privacy Act (Ohio Revised Code Chapter 1347), an individual who may be the subject of information maintained within the Central Registry may make a request for information.  Information maintained in the Central Registry is confidential. 
 
Requests must be made in writing and include the following:

  • Full name, including maiden name (if applicable), or other names used
  • Date of birth
  • Social Security Number
  • Home address
  • Original signature*

 *The original signature of the individual requesting a central registry search is required to be on file with this office.  Search requests must be submitted by mail or other delivery service (e.g., UPS, FedEx).  A signature on a faxed or e-mailed document is not considered an original signature.

 Requests must EITHER be notarized OR be accompanied by copies of two forms of appropriate identification.  Appropriate identification includes: 

  • Driver license
  • Social Security card*
  • Birth certificate
  • U.S. Visa (travel passport)

*At least one of the IDs submitted must contain the individual's Social Security Number.  If the Social Security number is not printed on an individual's driver license, a copy of the individual's Social Security card must be submitted.

Mailed requests must be sent to:

Central Registry on Child Abuse and Neglect
Ohio Department of Job and Family Services
Office of Families and Children
PO Box 182709
Columbus, Ohio 43218-2709

Delivery service requests (e.g., UPS, FedEx) must be sent to:

Central Registry on Child Abuse and Neglect
Ohio Department of Job and Family Services
Office of Families and Children
50 W. Town Street, 6th Floor
Columbus, Ohio 43215

Search results will be sent directly to the subject of the search at his or her home address.  Responses cannot be sent to a third party or agency.

 Inquiries about the Central Registry can be made by calling 614-752-1298.

 

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS ABOUT

OHIO'S CENTRAL REGISTRY ON CHILD ABUSE AND NEGLECT

 

The Privacy Act (ORC 1347) states that an individual whose name is contained in a personal database maintained by the state is able to request and receive information about the status of his/her name on that database. 

 

WHAT IS THE CENTRAL REGISTRY ON CHILD ABUSE & NEGLECT?

  • Ohio's Central Registry on Child Abuse and Neglect is a confidential database of all reports of child abuse and/or neglect investigated by Ohio public children services agencies (PCSAs) and information on the parties involved. 
  • The Central Registry database is maintained within Ohio's Statewide Automated Child Welfare Information System (SACWIS).
  • Parties involved in a Central Registry report may include the alleged perpetrator, alleged child victim, caretaker, and other children and adults involved in the report.
  • Information contained in the Central Registry is highly confidential and may be released only under strict guidelines set forth in federal and state rules and law. 

HOW CAN I OBTAIN A SEARCH OF THE CENTRAL REGISTRY FOR MY NAME?

Requests must be made in writing and include the following:

  • Full name, including maiden name (if applicable), or other names used
  • Date of birth
  • Social Security Number
  • Home address
  • Original signature

Requests must EITHER be notarized OR be accompanied by copies of two forms of appropriate identification.  Appropriate identification includes: 

  • Driver license
  • Social Security Card*
  • Birth certificate
  • U.S. Visa (travel passport)

*At least one of the IDs submitted must contain the individual's Social Security Number.  If the Social Security number is not printed on an individual's driver license, then a copy of the individual's Social Security card must be submitted.

 

IF MY SS# IS PRINTED ON MY DRIVER LICENSE DO I STILL NEED TO SEND A SECOND FORM OF APPROPRIATE IDENTIFICATION?

Yes.  Two forms of appropriate identification must accompany the CR search request unless the request is notarized.

 

CAN I SEND MY HEALTH INSURANCE/MILITARY ID/OTHER GOVERNMENT - ISSUED DOCUMENT IN LIEU OF MY SOCIAL SECURITY CARD?

No.  A copy of the individual's Social Security card or driver license containing the imprint of the SS# are accepted as appropriate identification to confirm an individual's Social Security number. 

 

IS THERE A SPECIFIC FORM REQUIRED TO SUBMIT A CENTRAL REGISTRY SEARCH REQUEST?

No.  A form with instructions on how to request a Central Registry search is available to individuals and can be provided via e-mail or U.S. mail.  However, use of the form is not required so long as the request includes all required information.

 

I AM CONCERNED ABOUT MAINTAINING CONFIDENTIALITY OF MY PERSONAL INFORMATION AND DO NOT WANT TO SEND MY SOCIAL SECURITY CARD. 

In lieu of submitting two forms of appropriate identification, the request may be notarized over the individual's original signature.  The notarized request must contain all required information; i.e., full name, date of birth, Social Security Number and home address.

 

CAN I FAX / E-MAIL MY REQUEST?

No.  The original signature of the individual requesting a central registry search is required to be on file with this office.  Search requests must be submitted by mail or other delivery service (e.g. UPS, Fed Ex).  A signature on a faxed or e-mailed document is not considered an original signature.

 

I RECEIVED A LETTER ASKING FOR ADDITIONAL REQUIRED INFORMATION BEFORE A SEARCH CAN BE CONDUCTED (e.g., TWO FORMS OF APPROPRIATE ID, SOCIAL SECURITY #, ORIGINAL SIGNATURE).  CAN I FAX OR E-MAIL THE ADDITIONAL INFORMATION?

  • In response to a request for additional information, a copy of the driver license, Social Security card, birth certificate and/or passport can be faxed to the attention of Barbara Parker at 614-728-6726. 
  • Only legible faxed documents can be accepted.  If the transmission is illegible, then copies of the IDs will need to be mailed to the office.
  • Requests requiring the individual's original signature must be mailed to the office.

HOW LONG WILL IT TAKE TO OBTAIN RESULTS OF MY CENTRAL REGISTRY SEARCHES?

Central registry search requests are processed in the order received.  An individual should allow at least 30 days for completion of searches; a specific time frame cannot be guaranteed.

 

IS THERE ANY WAY TO OBTAIN AN EXPEDITED SEARCH?

A response letter can be returned more quickly if a pre-paid express delivery envelope is included with the request.  A specific time frame cannot be guaranteed.

 

CAN I HAND-DELIVER MY CENTRAL REGISTRY SEARCH REQUEST?  IF SO, CAN THE SEARCH BE COMPLETED WHILE I WAIT?

No.  This is a mail process.  

 

MY ADOPTION AGENCY TOLD ME TO HAVE THE RESULTS OF MY CENTRAL REGISTRY SEARCH SENT DIRECTLY TO THE AGENCY.

Responses to search requests submitted by an individual are returned directly to the individual at their home address.   

WHO HAS ACCESS TO CENTRAL REGISTRY INFORMATION FOR MY NAME?

Information contained in the Central Registry is highly confidential and may be released only under strict guidelines set forth in federal and state rules and law.

  • An individual who is the subject of the search may request and receive information about the status of his or her name on the Central Registry.
  • A private foster care or adoption agency or out-of-state children services agency (CSA) may request and receive Central Registry information about prospective applicants for foster care or adoption as well as all adult residents of the applicants' home.  The private agency or CSA may also request Central Registry searches for approved foster and adoptive families at the time of their license recertification and home study updates.
  • A CSA may request and receive Central Registry information if they are currently investigating a report of child abuse and/or neglect and have reason to believe a party of the report once resided in Ohio.

 

CAN MY EMPLOYER REQUEST AND RECEIVE CENTRAL REGISTRY INFORMATION ABOUT ME?

No.  Central Registry information can only be released to: (1) the subject of the information, (2) an agency processing foster/adoption applications or (3) a CSA investigating a report of child abuse and/or neglect.  If an employer requires Central Registry search results as a condition of employment, the individual may request the search on their own and provide a copy of the results letter to the employer.

 

CAN THE SERVICE ORGANIZATION FOR WHICH I DO VOLUNTEER WORK REQUEST  AND RECEIVE CENTRAL REGISTRY INFORMATION FOR MY NAME (e.g., BOY SCOUTS, GIRL SCOUTS, SUMMER CAMP)?

No.  If an organization requires a search of the Central Registry its volunteer workers, the individual may request the search on their own and provide a copy of the results letter to the service organization.

 

I RECEIVED A "MATCH" LETTER AS A RESULT OF MY CR SEARCH REQUEST.  HOW CAN I GET THE REPORT REMOVED FROM THE CENTRAL REGISTRY?

PCSAs are required by state law and policy to permanently maintain records of all investigations of child abuse and/or neglect.  Individuals who disagree with the finding or disposition of a report may appeal the finding with the PCSA that conducted the investigation. The match letter an individual receives includes contact information for the PCSA that investigated the report, and the subject of the search may contact the PCSA directly for information about the agency's appeal and/or grievance policy.

 

I RECEIVED A "MATCH" LETTER AS A RESULT OF MY CENTRAL REGISTRY SEARCH REQUEST.  THE COURT DROPPED THE CASE SO WHY DOES A CENTRAL REGISTRY MATCH REMAIN?

The Central Registry is a social services database used by PCSA workers in the performance of their duties to children and families in Ohio.  The Central Registry is not connected to criminal/civil court activities or court dispositions.