FLORIDA DEPARTMENT OF CHILDREN AND FAMILIES - CHILD WELFARE CERTIFICATION
PREPARATION
DCF Child Abuse and Neglect (CAAN) Test
Questions and Answers 2026/2027
(Verified Answers) - Aligned with Chapter 39, Florida Statutes, and Current Florida DCF Abuse
Hotline Procedures
Examination DCF Child Abuse and Neglect (CAAN) Practice Examination
Edition 2026/2027 - Updated to current Chapter 39, Florida Statutes and DCF procedures
Total Questions 110 multiple-choice questions (A through D), one correct answer each
Sections 8 sections mapping the full CAAN examination blueprint, Q1 through Q110
Cognitive Levels 35% recall, 45% application, 20% analysis
Verified Answers Each correct option is marked [CORRECT] and followed by the answer letter and a
detailed Florida-specific rationale
Statutory Basis Chapter 39, F.S. (ss. 39.01, 39.201, 39.202, 39.203, 39.205, 39.301, 39.303, 39.402,
39.6013, 39.701, 39.806, 39.810); ss. 383.50 and 787.06, F.S.; Florida Safe Harbor Act;
DCF Abuse Hotline intake standards
Section 1: Florida DCF Framework and Mandatory Reporting (Chapter 39 F.S.,
Legal Obligations, and Reporter Immunity)
Questions 1 through 16
Q1: Which chapter of the Florida Statutes, known as "Proceedings Related to Children," contains the
statutory definitions, mandatory reporting requirements, and dependency court procedures tested on the DCF
CAAN examination?
A. Chapter 61, Florida Statutes
B. Chapter 39, Florida Statutes [CORRECT]
C. Chapter 45, Florida Statutes
D. Chapter 381, Florida Statutes
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Chapter 39, F.S. is the controlling body of Florida child welfare law, containing the definitions at s.
39.01, the mandatory reporting statute at s. 39.201, protective investigation procedures at s. 39.301, and all
dependency proceedings. Chapter 61 governs dissolution of marriage and support matters, Chapter 45 regulates
health professions, and Chapter 381 addresses public health, so none of them define child maltreatment or
reporting duties.
Florida DCF CAAN Examination Preparation 1 2026/2027 Edition
,DCF Child Abuse and Neglect (CAAN) Test Questions and Answers 2026/2027 Verified Answers
Q2: Under s. 39.201, F.S., a person who develops reasonable cause to suspect child abuse must report that
suspicion to the Florida Abuse Hotline within what timeframe?
A. Within 24 hours of forming the suspicion
B. Within 48 hours of forming the suspicion
C. By the end of the next business day
D. Immediately upon forming reasonable suspicion [CORRECT]
Correct Answer: D
Rationale: Florida requires the report to be made immediately; unlike some states, Chapter 39 provides no
24-hour or 48-hour grace period, and those windows are common distractors built from other states' laws. Because
the hotline operates 24 hours a day, seven days a week, there is never a valid reason to delay a report until the next
business day. Immediate reporting allows a child protective investigator to assess present danger while the child is
still exposed to it.
Q3: A teacher notices patterned bruises on a student's back. The principal tells her, "Give me the
information and I will handle the reporting." What is the teacher's legal obligation?
A. Comply with the principal, who is the designated reporter for the school
B. Wait 24 hours to see whether the injuries resolve before acting
C. Report directly to the Florida Abuse Hotline; internal notification does not relieve her personal duty
to report [CORRECT]
D. Contact the parents first to obtain their consent for a report
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Section 39.201, F.S. requires each person who suspects abuse to report personally to the hotline;
notifying a supervisor or principal supports institutional cooperation but is never a substitute for the individual
report. Waiting 24 hours permits continued risk, and parental consent is not required to report suspected
maltreatment. A knowing failure to report is a third-degree felony under s. 39.205, F.S.
Q4: Which statement accurately describes who is legally required to report suspected child abuse,
abandonment, or neglect in Florida?
A. Every person in Florida who knows or has reasonable cause to suspect abuse, abandonment, or
neglect [CORRECT]
B. Only professionals whose work regularly involves children, such as teachers and physicians
C. Only government employees of DCF and sworn law enforcement officers
D. Only individuals who personally witnessed the abusive act occur
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: Since Florida adopted a universal mandate, s. 39.201(1)(a), F.S. requires each person with knowledge
or reasonable cause to suspect to report, rather than limiting the duty to a listed class of professionals as some
states do. Professionals reporting in their official capacity carry enhanced obligations, such as providing their
names, but every person must report. A personal eyewitness account is not required; indicators and secondhand
information can supply reasonable suspicion.
Florida DCF CAAN Examination Preparation 2 2026/2027 Edition
,DCF Child Abuse and Neglect (CAAN) Test Questions and Answers 2026/2027 Verified Answers
Q5: A nurse reports suspected abuse in good faith. The subsequent investigation ends with a "not
substantiated" disposition, and the family threatens to sue her. What is the legally correct outcome?
A. She is liable because the allegation was not verified
B. She is immune from civil and criminal liability under s. 39.203, F.S., because she acted in good faith
[CORRECT]
C. She is liable because she provided her name when reporting
D. She must reimburse the state for the cost of the investigation
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Section 39.203, F.S. grants any person participating in a good-faith report immunity from civil and
criminal liability and presumes good faith; the protection applies regardless of how the investigation is ultimately
dispositioned. Providing her name is required of professionals reporting officially and creates no liability.
Investigation costs are not chargeable to reporters, and an unsubstantiated outcome does not retroactively negate
good faith.
Q6: Under s. 39.205, F.S., a person who knowingly and willfully fails to report suspected child abuse
commits which offense?
A. A noncriminal infraction punishable by a written warning
B. A second-degree misdemeanor
C. A civil violation punishable only by a fine
D. A felony of the third degree [CORRECT]
Correct Answer: D
Rationale: Section 39.205(1)(a), F.S. classifies knowing and willful failure to report as a felony of the third
degree. Professional licensing boards may also impose discipline against licensees who fail to report, so
consequences extend beyond the criminal charge into licensure. The felony classification reflects Florida's policy
that silence allows continued harm to children.
Q7: A residential facility supervisor discovers that an employee is preparing to report suspected abuse of a
resident child and orders the employee to remain silent to protect the facility's reputation. What offense has
the supervisor committed?
A. A felony of the third degree for preventing another person from making a report [CORRECT]
B. No offense, because supervisors may lawfully control internal communications
C. A civil infraction subject only to internal agency discipline
D. A first-degree misdemeanor for obstruction of a general business matter
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: Section 39.205(2), F.S. makes it a felony of the third degree to knowingly and willfully prevent
another person from making a required report. Internal communication policies never override another person's
statutory reporting duty. Florida treats suppressing a report as seriously as failing to report, because both leave the
child unprotected.
Florida DCF CAAN Examination Preparation 3 2026/2027 Edition
, DCF Child Abuse and Neglect (CAAN) Test Questions and Answers 2026/2027 Verified Answers
Q8: Under s. 39.202, F.S., how is the identity of the person who made a report of child abuse handled?
A. It becomes a public record once the investigation is closed
B. It is automatically released to the parents named in the report
C. It is confidential and may not be released without the reporter's written consent or a court order
finding good cause [CORRECT]
D. It is released to any law enforcement officer upon verbal request
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Chapter 39 classifies abuse reports and records as confidential and exempt from public records law,
and the reporter's identity is protected from release except upon the reporter's written consent or a court order for
good cause. Parents do not automatically learn who reported, which shields reporters from retaliation. Law
enforcement access to identity is confined to authorized purposes rather than informal requests.
Q9: After a report involving a student, coworkers repeatedly ask a teacher, "Who called DCF on this
family?" What is the proper response?
A. Share the information, since coworkers are also mandated reporters
B. Decline to disclose, because reporter identity remains confidential except by written consent or
court order [CORRECT]
C. Share the information only with the child's parents
D. Share the information only with the principal, who may then tell others
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Section 39.202, F.S. protects the reporter's identity, and disclosure is limited to the reporter's written
consent or a court order for good cause; coworkers' status as reporters gives them no right to know who reported.
Parents likewise are not entitled to the reporter's name. Routing the name through the principal is still an
unauthorized disclosure.
Q10: What is the correct telephone number for the Florida Abuse Hotline?
A. 1-800-962-2873 (1-800-96-ABUSE) [CORRECT]
B. 1-888-373-7888
C. 1-800-422-4453
D. 1-877-632-4357
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: 1-800-96-ABUSE (1-800-962-2873) is the Florida Abuse Hotline, available around the clock, and it is
the statutory intake channel under s. 39.201, F.S. The number 1-888-373-7888 belongs to the National Human
Trafficking Hotline and 1-800-422-4453 to the national Childhelp child abuse line; both are useful resources but
do not replace the Florida statutory report. Non-emergency reports may also be submitted through the hotline's
secure online portal, and institutional incidents may be faxed.
Q11: An emergency department physician treats a 2-year-old with a femur fracture and findings inconsistent
with the history provided by the caregivers. What is the physician's reporting obligation?
A. Discharge the child and report only if a subsequent injury occurs
B. Report only after the parents admit how the injury happened
C. Notify the child's pediatrician in writing within 72 hours
D. Make an immediate report to the Florida Abuse Hotline [CORRECT]
Correct Answer: D
Florida DCF CAAN Examination Preparation 4 2026/2027 Edition
PREPARATION
DCF Child Abuse and Neglect (CAAN) Test
Questions and Answers 2026/2027
(Verified Answers) - Aligned with Chapter 39, Florida Statutes, and Current Florida DCF Abuse
Hotline Procedures
Examination DCF Child Abuse and Neglect (CAAN) Practice Examination
Edition 2026/2027 - Updated to current Chapter 39, Florida Statutes and DCF procedures
Total Questions 110 multiple-choice questions (A through D), one correct answer each
Sections 8 sections mapping the full CAAN examination blueprint, Q1 through Q110
Cognitive Levels 35% recall, 45% application, 20% analysis
Verified Answers Each correct option is marked [CORRECT] and followed by the answer letter and a
detailed Florida-specific rationale
Statutory Basis Chapter 39, F.S. (ss. 39.01, 39.201, 39.202, 39.203, 39.205, 39.301, 39.303, 39.402,
39.6013, 39.701, 39.806, 39.810); ss. 383.50 and 787.06, F.S.; Florida Safe Harbor Act;
DCF Abuse Hotline intake standards
Section 1: Florida DCF Framework and Mandatory Reporting (Chapter 39 F.S.,
Legal Obligations, and Reporter Immunity)
Questions 1 through 16
Q1: Which chapter of the Florida Statutes, known as "Proceedings Related to Children," contains the
statutory definitions, mandatory reporting requirements, and dependency court procedures tested on the DCF
CAAN examination?
A. Chapter 61, Florida Statutes
B. Chapter 39, Florida Statutes [CORRECT]
C. Chapter 45, Florida Statutes
D. Chapter 381, Florida Statutes
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Chapter 39, F.S. is the controlling body of Florida child welfare law, containing the definitions at s.
39.01, the mandatory reporting statute at s. 39.201, protective investigation procedures at s. 39.301, and all
dependency proceedings. Chapter 61 governs dissolution of marriage and support matters, Chapter 45 regulates
health professions, and Chapter 381 addresses public health, so none of them define child maltreatment or
reporting duties.
Florida DCF CAAN Examination Preparation 1 2026/2027 Edition
,DCF Child Abuse and Neglect (CAAN) Test Questions and Answers 2026/2027 Verified Answers
Q2: Under s. 39.201, F.S., a person who develops reasonable cause to suspect child abuse must report that
suspicion to the Florida Abuse Hotline within what timeframe?
A. Within 24 hours of forming the suspicion
B. Within 48 hours of forming the suspicion
C. By the end of the next business day
D. Immediately upon forming reasonable suspicion [CORRECT]
Correct Answer: D
Rationale: Florida requires the report to be made immediately; unlike some states, Chapter 39 provides no
24-hour or 48-hour grace period, and those windows are common distractors built from other states' laws. Because
the hotline operates 24 hours a day, seven days a week, there is never a valid reason to delay a report until the next
business day. Immediate reporting allows a child protective investigator to assess present danger while the child is
still exposed to it.
Q3: A teacher notices patterned bruises on a student's back. The principal tells her, "Give me the
information and I will handle the reporting." What is the teacher's legal obligation?
A. Comply with the principal, who is the designated reporter for the school
B. Wait 24 hours to see whether the injuries resolve before acting
C. Report directly to the Florida Abuse Hotline; internal notification does not relieve her personal duty
to report [CORRECT]
D. Contact the parents first to obtain their consent for a report
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Section 39.201, F.S. requires each person who suspects abuse to report personally to the hotline;
notifying a supervisor or principal supports institutional cooperation but is never a substitute for the individual
report. Waiting 24 hours permits continued risk, and parental consent is not required to report suspected
maltreatment. A knowing failure to report is a third-degree felony under s. 39.205, F.S.
Q4: Which statement accurately describes who is legally required to report suspected child abuse,
abandonment, or neglect in Florida?
A. Every person in Florida who knows or has reasonable cause to suspect abuse, abandonment, or
neglect [CORRECT]
B. Only professionals whose work regularly involves children, such as teachers and physicians
C. Only government employees of DCF and sworn law enforcement officers
D. Only individuals who personally witnessed the abusive act occur
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: Since Florida adopted a universal mandate, s. 39.201(1)(a), F.S. requires each person with knowledge
or reasonable cause to suspect to report, rather than limiting the duty to a listed class of professionals as some
states do. Professionals reporting in their official capacity carry enhanced obligations, such as providing their
names, but every person must report. A personal eyewitness account is not required; indicators and secondhand
information can supply reasonable suspicion.
Florida DCF CAAN Examination Preparation 2 2026/2027 Edition
,DCF Child Abuse and Neglect (CAAN) Test Questions and Answers 2026/2027 Verified Answers
Q5: A nurse reports suspected abuse in good faith. The subsequent investigation ends with a "not
substantiated" disposition, and the family threatens to sue her. What is the legally correct outcome?
A. She is liable because the allegation was not verified
B. She is immune from civil and criminal liability under s. 39.203, F.S., because she acted in good faith
[CORRECT]
C. She is liable because she provided her name when reporting
D. She must reimburse the state for the cost of the investigation
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Section 39.203, F.S. grants any person participating in a good-faith report immunity from civil and
criminal liability and presumes good faith; the protection applies regardless of how the investigation is ultimately
dispositioned. Providing her name is required of professionals reporting officially and creates no liability.
Investigation costs are not chargeable to reporters, and an unsubstantiated outcome does not retroactively negate
good faith.
Q6: Under s. 39.205, F.S., a person who knowingly and willfully fails to report suspected child abuse
commits which offense?
A. A noncriminal infraction punishable by a written warning
B. A second-degree misdemeanor
C. A civil violation punishable only by a fine
D. A felony of the third degree [CORRECT]
Correct Answer: D
Rationale: Section 39.205(1)(a), F.S. classifies knowing and willful failure to report as a felony of the third
degree. Professional licensing boards may also impose discipline against licensees who fail to report, so
consequences extend beyond the criminal charge into licensure. The felony classification reflects Florida's policy
that silence allows continued harm to children.
Q7: A residential facility supervisor discovers that an employee is preparing to report suspected abuse of a
resident child and orders the employee to remain silent to protect the facility's reputation. What offense has
the supervisor committed?
A. A felony of the third degree for preventing another person from making a report [CORRECT]
B. No offense, because supervisors may lawfully control internal communications
C. A civil infraction subject only to internal agency discipline
D. A first-degree misdemeanor for obstruction of a general business matter
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: Section 39.205(2), F.S. makes it a felony of the third degree to knowingly and willfully prevent
another person from making a required report. Internal communication policies never override another person's
statutory reporting duty. Florida treats suppressing a report as seriously as failing to report, because both leave the
child unprotected.
Florida DCF CAAN Examination Preparation 3 2026/2027 Edition
, DCF Child Abuse and Neglect (CAAN) Test Questions and Answers 2026/2027 Verified Answers
Q8: Under s. 39.202, F.S., how is the identity of the person who made a report of child abuse handled?
A. It becomes a public record once the investigation is closed
B. It is automatically released to the parents named in the report
C. It is confidential and may not be released without the reporter's written consent or a court order
finding good cause [CORRECT]
D. It is released to any law enforcement officer upon verbal request
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Chapter 39 classifies abuse reports and records as confidential and exempt from public records law,
and the reporter's identity is protected from release except upon the reporter's written consent or a court order for
good cause. Parents do not automatically learn who reported, which shields reporters from retaliation. Law
enforcement access to identity is confined to authorized purposes rather than informal requests.
Q9: After a report involving a student, coworkers repeatedly ask a teacher, "Who called DCF on this
family?" What is the proper response?
A. Share the information, since coworkers are also mandated reporters
B. Decline to disclose, because reporter identity remains confidential except by written consent or
court order [CORRECT]
C. Share the information only with the child's parents
D. Share the information only with the principal, who may then tell others
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Section 39.202, F.S. protects the reporter's identity, and disclosure is limited to the reporter's written
consent or a court order for good cause; coworkers' status as reporters gives them no right to know who reported.
Parents likewise are not entitled to the reporter's name. Routing the name through the principal is still an
unauthorized disclosure.
Q10: What is the correct telephone number for the Florida Abuse Hotline?
A. 1-800-962-2873 (1-800-96-ABUSE) [CORRECT]
B. 1-888-373-7888
C. 1-800-422-4453
D. 1-877-632-4357
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: 1-800-96-ABUSE (1-800-962-2873) is the Florida Abuse Hotline, available around the clock, and it is
the statutory intake channel under s. 39.201, F.S. The number 1-888-373-7888 belongs to the National Human
Trafficking Hotline and 1-800-422-4453 to the national Childhelp child abuse line; both are useful resources but
do not replace the Florida statutory report. Non-emergency reports may also be submitted through the hotline's
secure online portal, and institutional incidents may be faxed.
Q11: An emergency department physician treats a 2-year-old with a femur fracture and findings inconsistent
with the history provided by the caregivers. What is the physician's reporting obligation?
A. Discharge the child and report only if a subsequent injury occurs
B. Report only after the parents admit how the injury happened
C. Notify the child's pediatrician in writing within 72 hours
D. Make an immediate report to the Florida Abuse Hotline [CORRECT]
Correct Answer: D
Florida DCF CAAN Examination Preparation 4 2026/2027 Edition
