# WAC 110-30-0030: WAC 110-30-0030. Abuse or neglect of children and youth > Washington · Regulations · In force URL: https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_WA_ADC_110_30_0030 ## Section - **Citation:** WAC 110-30-0030 - **Heading:** WAC 110-30-0030. Abuse or neglect of children and youth - **Jurisdiction:** Washington - **Kind:** Regulations - **Status:** In force - **Text as of:** August 14, 2026 - **Source:** Compiled text - **Location:** Washington Administrative Code / Title 110 / Chapter 110-30 / Section 110-30-0030 ## Text The department determines whether children or youth have been abused or neglected based on RCW 26.44.020 and the following: (1) Physical abuse means the nonaccidental infliction of physical injury or physical mistreatment on a child or youth that harms their health, welfare, or safety. It includes, but is not limited to: (a) Throwing, kicking, burning, or cutting a child or youth; (b) Striking a child or youth with a closed fist; (c) Shaking a child under age three; (d) Interfering with a child's or youth's breathing; (e) Threatening a child or youth with a deadly weapon; (f) Performing female genital mutilation as defined in RCW 18.130.460 ; or (g) Doing any other act that is likely to cause and that does cause bodily harm greater than transient pain or minor temporary marks or that is injurious to the child's or youth's health, welfare, or safety; (2) Physical discipline of a child or youth, including the reasonable use of corporal punishment, is not considered abuse when it is reasonable and moderate and is inflicted by a parent or guardian for the purposes of restraining or correcting the child or youth. Factors considered when determining whether bodily harm was not reasonable or moderate include, but are not limited to: (a) The age, size, and condition of the child or youth; (b) The location of any inflicted injury; (c) The developmental level of the child or youth; (d) The nature of the child's or youth's misconduct; and (e) Whether a parent or guardian believes that it is necessary to punish a child or youth with the use of excessive or unreasonable force; (3) Sexual abuse means: (a) Committing or allowing any sexual offense to be committed against a child or youth as defined in the criminal code; (b) Intentionally touching, either directly or over the clothing, of the sexual or other intimate parts of a child or youth. Exceptions include the following who may touch a child or youth in the sexual or other intimate parts for the purposes of providing hygienic care or medical treatment and diagnosis: any sexual offense to be committed against a child or youth as defined in the criminal code; (b) Intentionally touching, either directly or over the clothing, of the sexual or other intimate parts of a child or youth. Exceptions include the following who may touch a child or youth in the sexual or other intimate parts for the purposes of providing hygienic care or medical treatment and diagnosis: (i) Parents or guardians of a child or youth; (ii) Individuals authorized by the parents or guardians to provide care for the child or youth; or (iii) Individuals providing medically recognized services for the child or youth; or (c) Intentionally allowing, permitting, compelling, encouraging, aiding, or otherwise causing a child or youth to engage in touching the sexual or other intimate parts of another for the purpose of gratifying the sexual desire of the individual touching the child or youth, the child or youth, or a third party; (4) Trafficking means the same as defined in RCW 9A.40.100 and includes the following as defined in the Trafficking Victims Protection Act of 2000, 22 U.S.C. Sec. 7101 et. seq.: (a) Sex trafficking includes harboring, transporting, provision, obtaining, patronizing, or soliciting an individual for the purpose of a commercial sex act; and (b) Severe forms of trafficking in persons includes: (i) Recruiting, harboring, transporting, provision, or obtaining individuals for labor or services using force, fraud, or coercion for the purpose of involuntary servitude, peonage, debt bondage, or slavery, commonly known as labor trafficking; or (ii) Sex trafficking in which a commercial sex act is induced by force, fraud, or coercion, or the individual persuaded to perform the act is under 18 years old; (5) Sexual exploitation means the same as defined in RCW 26.44.020 , which includes commercial sexual exploitation. Actions include, but are not limited to, allowing, compelling, encouraging, aiding, or otherwise causing a child or youth to participate in one or more of the following: act is induced by force, fraud, or coercion, or the individual persuaded to perform the act is under 18 years old; (5) Sexual exploitation means the same as defined in RCW 26.44.020 , which includes commercial sexual exploitation. Actions include, but are not limited to, allowing, compelling, encouraging, aiding, or otherwise causing a child or youth to participate in one or more of the following: (a) Any sex act that includes giving or receiving anything of value to any individual for the sex act; (b) Sexually explicit, obscene, or pornographic activity to be photographed, filmed, or electronically reproduced or transmitted; or (c) Sexually explicit, obscene, or pornographic activity as part of a live performance or for the benefit or sexual gratification of another individual; and (6) Negligent treatment or maltreatment means the same as defined in RCW 26.44.020 . Suspected or diagnosed disabilities do not, in and of itself, constitute negligent treatment or maltreatment. A child or youth does not have to suffer actual damage or physical or emotional harm to be in circumstances that create a clear and present danger to their health, welfare, or safety. Negligent treatment or maltreatment may include, but is not limited to: (a) Failure to provide adequate food, shelter, clothing, supervision, or health care; (b) Actions, failures to act, or omissions that result in injury or risk of injury to the physical, emotional,or cognitive development of a child or youth including, but is not limited to, allowing, permitting, compelling, encouraging, aiding in female genital mutilation as defined in RCW 18.130.460 ; (c) The cumulative effects of a pattern of conduct, behavior, or inaction by a parent or guardian in providing for the physical, emotional or developmental needs of the child or youth; or physical, emotional,or cognitive development of a child or youth including, but is not limited to, allowing, permitting, compelling, encouraging, aiding in female genital mutilation as defined in RCW 18.130.460 ; (c) The cumulative effects of a pattern of conduct, behavior, or inaction by a parent or guardian in providing for the physical, emotional or developmental needs of the child or youth; or (d) The effects of chronic failure on the part of a parent or guardian to perform basic parental functions, obligations, or duties that causes injury or substantial risk of injury to the physical, emotional, or cognitive development of the child or youth. ## Nearby sections - [WAC 110-30-0010 WAC 110-30-0010. What is the child protective services program?](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_WA_ADC_110_30_0010.md) - [WAC 110-30-0020 WAC 110-30-0020. Definitions](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_WA_ADC_110_30_0020.md) - [WAC 110-30-0030 WAC 110-30-0030. Abuse or neglect of children and youth](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_WA_ADC_110_30_0030.md) - [WAC 110-30-0040 WAC 110-30-0040. What is child abandonment?](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_WA_ADC_110_30_0040.md) - [WAC 110-30-0050 WAC 110-30-0050. Who may receive child protective services?](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_WA_ADC_110_30_0050.md) - [WAC 110-30-0060 WAC 110-30-0060. What is the responsibility of CPS regarding reports of abuse or neglect?](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_WA_ADC_110_30_0060.md) - [WAC 110-30-0070 WAC 110-30-0070. How does CPS respond to reports of alleged child abuse or neglect?](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_WA_ADC_110_30_0070.md) - [WAC 110-30-0080 WAC 110-30-0080. What special requirements must CPS follow for Indian children?](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_WA_ADC_110_30_0080.md) - [WAC 110-30-0090 WAC 110-30-0090. What information may CPS share with mandated reporters?](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_WA_ADC_110_30_0090.md) - [WAC 110-30-0100 WAC 110-30-0100. When will CPS involve local community resources?](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_WA_ADC_110_30_0100.md) - [WAC 110-30-0110 WAC 110-30-0110. Under what circumstances may CPS place a child in out-of-home care?](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_WA_ADC_110_30_0110.md) - [WAC 110-30-0120 WAC 110-30-0120. When will CPS involve the juvenile court?](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_WA_ADC_110_30_0120.md) - [WAC 110-30-0130 WAC 110-30-0130. What are the department's responsibilities regarding notification of the parent or legal custodian in child protective services cases?](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_WA_ADC_110_30_0130.md) - [WAC 110-30-0140 WAC 110-30-0140. When must the department notify the parent, guardian or legal custodian of allegations of child abuse or neglect made against them?](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_WA_ADC_110_30_0140.md) --- Source: Frix Law Library, https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_WA_ADC_110_30_0030. Check the current official text before relying on it. Not legal advice.