How to File a Complaint About a Missouri Summer Camp

If you have witnessed or suspect unsafe conditions at a Missouri summer camp, you have the right — and in some cases, the legal obligation — to report it. This guide walks through the process step by step.

When to File a Complaint

You should consider filing a complaint when:

• Your child was injured due to unsafe conditions or inadequate supervision
• You observed health or sanitation violations (contaminated water, unsafe food handling, unsanitary facilities)
• Staff were unqualified, untrained, or behaved inappropriately
• The camp is operating without required licensing
• Safety equipment was missing or non-functional (fire extinguishers, pool fencing, life jackets)
• Staff-to-camper ratios seemed dangerously low
• Your child reported unsafe conditions, bullying that staff ignored, or inappropriate behavior by staff

Who to Contact

For Licensed Residential Camps — DHSS

Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services Section for Child Care Regulation

• Phone: (573) 751-6400
• Fax: (573) 526-5345
• Mail: PO Box 570, Jefferson City, MO 65102
• Website: health.mo.gov/safety/childcare

DHSS oversees licensed residential camps. If the camp holds a DHSS license, this is your primary regulatory complaint pathway.

For Suspected Child Abuse or Neglect — Children’s Division

Missouri Children’s Division (CD)

• Hotline: 1-800-392-3738 (24/7)
• Online reporting: dss.mo.gov/cd/keeping-kids-safe/report-child-abuse

This is for suspected abuse, neglect, or exploitation of a child. This agency investigates allegations against individuals and institutions.

For Unlicensed Camps

If the camp is not licensed by DHSS (day camps, church camps, sports camps, etc.), your options include:

• Local law enforcement if criminal conduct is suspected
• Missouri Children’s Division if abuse or neglect is suspected
• Missouri Attorney General’s Consumer Protection Division at (573) 751-3321 for deceptive practices
• The camp’s sponsoring organization (church, school district, nonprofit board) directly
• ACA (American Camp Association) if the camp is ACA-accredited: acacamps.org/contact

What Information to Include in Your Complaint

A thorough complaint increases the likelihood of investigation. Include:

Basic Information

• Camp name and physical address
• Camp license number (if known — check our Camp Lookup Tool)
• Your name and contact information (required for most formal complaints; anonymous tips are also accepted by some agencies)
• Your child’s name and age (if applicable)
• Dates your child attended the camp

Description of the Problem

• What happened — Be specific and factual. Describe exactly what you observed or what your child reported.
• When it happened — Dates and approximate times.
• Where it happened — Specific location within the camp.
• Who was involved — Names of staff members, if known. Descriptions if names are not known.
• Who witnessed it — Names and contact information of any witnesses.
• What the camp did in response — Did they acknowledge the problem? Dismiss it? Refuse to discuss it?

Supporting Documentation

• Photographs of unsafe conditions
• Medical records from injuries
• Written communications with the camp (emails, texts, letters)
• The camp’s enrollment agreement and waiver
• Incident reports provided by the camp
• Your child’s written or recorded account of what happened

Sample Complaint Letter

You can use this as a template:

[Your Name] [Your Address] [Date]

Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services Section for Child Care Regulation PO Box 570 Jefferson City, MO 65102

Re: Safety Complaint — [Camp Name], [Camp Address], License #[if known]

Dear Sir or Madam:

I am writing to file a formal safety complaint regarding [Camp Name], located at [address]. My child, [name], age [age], attended this camp from [dates].

On [date], the following occurred: [factual description of what happened, who was involved, and what the consequences were].

I reported this to [camp staff name/title] on [date]. Their response was [description].

I am attaching [list of supporting documents: photos, medical records, etc.].

I request that DHSS investigate this complaint and take appropriate action. Please contact me at [phone] or [email] if you need additional information.

Sincerely, [Your Name]

What Happens After You File

DHSS Process

1. Complaint received and logged. DHSS assigns a case number.
2. Initial review. DHSS staff review the complaint to determine if it falls within their jurisdiction and warrants investigation.
3. Investigation. If warranted, DHSS may conduct an unannounced inspection of the camp, interview staff, review records, and assess conditions.
4. Findings. DHSS issues findings. If violations are confirmed, the camp may be required to correct them within a specified timeframe.
5. Enforcement. For serious or repeated violations, DHSS can impose sanctions including license revocation.
6. You may or may not be informed of the outcome. DHSS investigation records are generally public, but the agency may not proactively notify you of the result. Follow up if you don’t hear back.

Children’s Division Process

Reports to the CD Hotline are handled differently:

1. Screening. The hotline screens the report to determine if it meets the criteria for investigation.
2. Investigation. If accepted, a Children’s Division investigator is assigned. Investigations typically involve interviews with the child, the accused, and witnesses.
3. Finding. The investigation results in a finding of “substantiated” or “unsubstantiated.”
4. Reporting. Substantiated findings may be reported to the Missouri Child Abuse/Neglect Central Registry.

Your Protection as a Reporter

Good Faith Reporting

Under Missouri law (Section 210.135 RSMo), any person who makes a good-faith report of suspected child abuse or neglect is immune from civil and criminal liability for making that report. This means:

• You cannot be sued by the camp for filing a complaint in good faith
• You are legally protected even if the investigation does not substantiate your report
• It is a criminal offense for anyone to retaliate against you for making a report

Mandatory Reporters

If you are a camp staff member, volunteer, or any professional who works with children, you are a mandatory reporter under Missouri law (Section 210.115 RSMo). You are legally required to report suspected abuse or neglect. Failure to report is a Class A misdemeanor.

If the System Doesn’t Respond

If you file a complaint and feel the response is inadequate:

• Follow up in writing. Document that you followed up and when.
• Contact your state legislator. Constituent complaints to legislators can prompt agency attention.
• Contact the Missouri Attorney General’s office at (573) 751-3321.
• Contact local media. Public reporting on camp safety failures has historically been one of the most effective drivers of change. (Consult an attorney first if litigation is possible.)
• Consult an attorney if your child was injured and the camp or regulatory agencies are unresponsive.

Key Contact Numbers

This guide is provided for informational purposes by Rights Watch Media Group LLC. It is not legal advice. Sources: Missouri DHSS, Missouri Revised Statutes Sections 210.115 and 210.135, Missouri Attorney General’s Office.