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Tennessee CARAT Online Child Abuse Report (DCS)

Tennessee law (TCA 37-1-403 and 37-1-605) requires all persons who suspect abuse, neglect or exploitation of a child to report it, and the Department of Children's Services takes those reports online through CARAT, its Child Abuse Referral And Tracking site. Clinicians use it like any other reporter for non-emergency concerns about abuse that took place in Tennessee. Each referral receives a Referral ID.

Who completes it

Any person, including physicians, nurses and other health care providers, completes the whole online referral after acknowledging that it is made in good faith. There is no part for the family.

Submitting and payment

How to submit it
Submit online through CARAT at apps.tn.gov/carat or in the MyTN app; online reports can take up to 24 hours to process. Life-threatening emergencies go to 911, and child deaths, near deaths or uncertain situations go to the DCS Child Abuse Hotline by phone.

Good to know

  • The first screen asks whether the situation is a life-threatening emergency; DCS defines an emergency as a child who appears to face an immediate risk of abuse or neglect.
  • Reporters acknowledge good-faith reporting, which gives immunity from civil and criminal liability; knowingly and maliciously false reports are a Class E felony under TCA 37-1-413.
  • Keep the Referral ID shown after submission: CARAT's Track a Referral feature uses it to look up the status of the report.
  • CARAT is for abuse or neglect that occurred in Tennessee. When unsure whether a situation is urgent, DCS asks reporters to call the hotline rather than use the online form.

Get the official form

Download the current version from the source each time; forms change without notice.

Child Abuse Referral And Tracking (CARAT) online report

Official page

Get the note ready with Vero

This form is completed online with Tennessee Department of Children's Services (DCS), so there is no PDF to fill. Vero Scribe writes the visit note it draws on, so the details are ready when you complete it.

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How this list is checked

A form is listed only after its name and number were confirmed on the issuing agency’s or insurer’s own website, or in the form itself. Each entry links to that source. The list was last checked in October 2026. Forms and their requirements change without notice, so check the official page for the current version before you complete one.

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Frequently asked questions

When should I call the Tennessee hotline instead of using CARAT?

Call 911 for a life-threatening emergency. Call the DCS Child Abuse Hotline for any child death or near death from suspected abuse or neglect, and whenever you are unsure whether the child faces immediate risk. Online reports can take up to 24 hours to process, so they suit non-urgent situations.

Are Tennessee clinicians required to report child abuse?

Yes. Tennessee requires all persons, not only professionals, to report suspected abuse, neglect or exploitation of a child, citing TCA 37-1-403 and 37-1-605. Physicians, nurses and other health care providers can meet that duty through the CARAT online report or the hotline.

Can I check the status of a CARAT report?

Yes. CARAT assigns a Referral ID to each report. Enter it on the Track a Referral page of the CARAT site, or reach CARAT through the MyTN app under the Children & Families tab, to see the status of the referral.