Which of the following is NOT true regarding reporting child abuse?

The statement that reports must always be verified before being made is not true. In the context of child abuse reporting, it's emphasized that anyone who suspects abuse or neglect has a responsibility to report their concerns, regardless of whether those suspicions have been fully verified. The primary goal is to protect the child, which may require immediate reporting to authorities who are trained to conduct investigations. The verification process is the responsibility of child protective services or law enforcement, not the individual making the report. This encourages individuals to act on their concerns rather than delaying action until they have gathered enough evidence, which could potentially leave a child in a harmful situation.

In contrast, the other statements reflect accurate aspects of the reporting process: reports can indeed be made anonymously to protect the identity of the reporter; anyone can file a report if they are concerned about a child's welfare; and there can be legal ramifications for failure to report suspected child abuse, especially for professionals mandated by law to do so.