Background: The mandate to report suspected cases of child abuse or neglect involves a diverse array of professionals whose training and experience vary. Methods: We conducted 30 Key Informant Interviews with professionals designated as mandated reporters. The goal was to identify critical attitudes, knowledge, and beliefs concerning the definitions of child abuse and neglect, the appropriate people required to intervene, and how interventions should ideally unfold. Results: Mandated reporters' comfort with assessment and intervention (including making the call to government agencies) varied. Health professionals (social workers, physicians, family therapists, and administrators) and law enforcement personnel were the most confident about their abilities. Educators voiced the most concern about their preparedness to assess and intervene. They recommended additional training, clearer policies, and a team approach to assessment and reporting that included the participation of a social worker. Respondents from all professions expressed concern about biased assessments of poor families. Discussion: Assessing cases of child maltreatment is a difficult and complicated task requiring experience, appropriate training, and institutional support. The variety of professionals mandated to report such cases is so diverse as to require education programs specifically tailored to groups of professionals. Reporters were eager to recommend changes that would enhance their ability to accurately assesses and intervene in cases of child maltreatment especially across boundaries of social class.
Learning Objectives: 1. To understand the dilemmas presented by professional diversity among reporters. 2. To develop a plan for a team approach to reporting child maltreatment 3. To consider the difficulties of assessing child maltreatment in poor families
Keywords: Child Care, Policy/Policy Development
Presenting author's disclosure statement:
Organization/institution whose products or services will be discussed: NONE
I do not have any significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.