What mandated reporter training misses about racism and family safety. “I’ll never forget being called to do a psychiatric consult on a preschooler hospitalized for a serious heart condition. His parents had been labeled “noncompliant” and “difficult.” “They’re refusing surgery,” the resident calling in the consult said. “My attending said we might have to call Child Protective
“A growing number of states are debating whether to alter their policies on summoning child protection officials if a student has excessive absences. In the largest county in Nevada, child welfare officials typically are required by state law to investigate when a student repeatedly misses school. But recently, they made a striking request to the
“Debates about which types of authority figures should be mandatory reporters of child abuse and neglect ended in one proposal’s failure and another’s advancement Wednesday at the South Dakota Capitol in Pierre. The state House of Representatives approved a bill that would add coaches of school activities to a list of mandatory reporters in state law that
“To improve child safety outcomes, eviction and homelessness should not be treated as proxies for parental failure. Across the country, housing instability places families with children in frequent contact with the child welfare system, even in the absence of abuse or intentional neglect. Families who are homeless, temporarily sharing housing with relatives or friends because
“Marking a major victory for parents rights advocates, New York Gov. Kathy Hochul signed a bill Friday night to end the long-standing yet controversial practice of accepting anonymous reports to the state’s child abuse and neglect hotline. Supporters of the legislation have argued that callers to the Statewide Central Register of Child Abuse and Maltreatment
“Each year, millions of children in the United States are reported to be victims of abuse or neglect. Between 2014 and 2015, nearly 3.5 million children were reported to have been victims of suspected maltreatment, and approximately two-thirds of these cases resulted in investigations by Child Protective Services (CPS). Available data indicate that reported cases
Options for mandated reporters when children resist reporting. “Across the United States, state laws designate licensed mental health professionals (MHPs) as mandated reporters when they have reasonable suspicion of child abuse or neglect (Ettinger, 2022). This legal obligation requires MHPs to report such concerns to child protection authorities and exposes them to potential criminal charges, fines, or
“More than three in four investigations of child abuse or neglect in Monroe County come up with no credible evidence to support the claim, according to a recent report. That strains the system, advocates say, and traumatizes predominately lower-income families of color. “They are flagging poverty itself as a problem and using it as a
Surveys are now closed. Thank you for your participation. Are you a mandated reporter, child protection hotline staff, or community helpline staff or volunteer? Every day, caring professionals like you make important decisions in order to keep children safe and help families succeed. The Quality Improvement Center on Helplines and Hotlines is conducting practical research
Across the United States, educators are mandatory reporters of child abuse and neglect. But reporting rarely helps protect children from harm. We need an alternative model that prioritizes family relationships and addresses family challenges. To facilitate such a transition—from mandatory reporting to mandated support—we must understand our current landscape. Here we present insights from a
