Child Abuse Reporting: Clinical and Legal Issues

Course content available in articles.

Fulfills:

PA requirements for child abuse reporting for all mental health professionals (renewal only)

NY requirements for child abuse reporting for all mental health professionals (including adverse childhood experiences, virtual assessments, and implicit bias)

Other states-check with your licensing board

Assessing for child abuse and neglect and discerning whether to make a report to child and family services are among the most stressful responsibilities of mental health professionals. The decision can change the lives of the child and all family members, and it also can significantly impact social groups and communities. Many states require that mental health professionals and other mandatory reporters complete training on child abuse recognition and reporting upon initial issuance of their license and/or as a condition for license renewal. This introductory/intermediate course is designed to meet these requirements for mental health professionals.

The course consists of two articles, with audio versions, that provide a comprehensive overview of child abuse and neglect. The first article reviews the legal definitions of child abuse and neglect, the scope of the problem, risk and protective factors, adverse childhood experiences, prevention strategies, and recognition of signs and symptoms in both in-person and virtual settings. The second article helps mental health professionals understand their role in the child welfare system, best practices in responding to direct child disclosures, responsibilities as mandatory reporters, what happens after a report has been made, and strategies for reducing bias in decision-making related to child abuse and neglect.

Though not officially part of the course, supplementary information consists of the following materials of particular interest to mental health professionals who practice in New York and/or Pennsylvania: New York State and Pennsylvania laws related to child abuse reporting, the New York State Citizen Review Panels for Child Protective Services’ 2023 Annual Report and the Pennsylvania Department of Human Services’ Child Protective Services 2022 Annual Report.

Educational Objectives

This course will teach the participant to

Recognize the signs of child abuse and neglect in in-person and virtual settings.
Understand the mental health professional’s role in the child welfare system and how reports are made, screened, and processed.
Describe strategies for reducing adverse childhood experiences and implicit bias as they relate to child abuse.

Syllabus

Part One: Overview of Child Abuse and Neglect

Federal and state legal definitions of child abuse and neglect
- Physical abuse
- Neglect and abandonment
- Sexual abuse/exploitation
- Emotional abuse
- Parental substance abuse
Scope of the problem
Risk and protective factors
Prevention strategies related to adverse childhood experiences
Recognizing the signs
Conducting virtual assessments

Part Two: Advanced Issues in Identification, Response, Reporting, and Bias

Child welfare and mental health professionals’ role
Responding to direct child disclosures
Reporting child abuse and neglect
- Mandatory reporters and training requirements
- Other reporters
- Institutional policies
- Mandatory reporting standards
- Privilege and confidentiality
- Content of reports
- Special circumstances (military, tribal membership)
Understanding what happens after a report is made
- Initial screening procedures
- Coordination of investigating agencies
- Investigation procedures
Reducing bias in decision-making
- Explicit versus implicit bias
- Addressing implicit bias

CAR101

September 9, 2024

Educational Objectives

This course will teach the participant to

Recognize the signs of child abuse and neglect in in-person and virtual settings.
Understand the mental health professional’s role in the child welfare system and how reports are made, screened, and processed.
Describe strategies for reducing adverse childhood experiences and implicit bias as they relate to child abuse.

Syllabus

Part One: Overview of Child Abuse and Neglect

Federal and state legal definitions of child abuse and neglect
- Physical abuse
- Neglect and abandonment
- Sexual abuse/exploitation
- Emotional abuse
- Parental substance abuse
Scope of the problem
Risk and protective factors
Prevention strategies related to adverse childhood experiences
Recognizing the signs
Conducting virtual assessments

Part Two: Advanced Issues in Identification, Response, Reporting, and Bias

Child welfare and mental health professionals’ role
Responding to direct child disclosures
Reporting child abuse and neglect
- Mandatory reporters and training requirements
- Other reporters
- Institutional policies
- Mandatory reporting standards
- Privilege and confidentiality
- Content of reports
- Special circumstances (military, tribal membership)
Understanding what happens after a report is made
- Initial screening procedures
- Coordination of investigating agencies
- Investigation procedures
Reducing bias in decision-making
- Explicit versus implicit bias
- Addressing implicit bias