What You Should Know About Mandatory Reporting

Monday, April 23rd, 2018

If you’ve taken the Safe Gatherings training, you’re familiar with the term “mandatory reporting.” You might be in a position at your school, church, or organization that designates you as a mandatory reporter, and maybe you’ve reported abuse in the past.

But many people are unsure about mandatory reporting. Who is required to report? Does every state have the same reporting requirements? Can I disclose abuse if I’m not a designated mandatory reporter? These questions and more often mean that abused children and youth fall through the cracks.

Here are some facts about mandatory reporting:

• All states have statutes identifying persons who are required to report suspected child maltreatment to an appropriate agency, such as child protective services, a law enforcement agency, or a state’s toll-free child abuse reporting hotline.
• People designated as mandatory reporters typically have frequent contact with children. They may include clergy; social workers, teachers, principals, and other school personnel; physicians, nurses, and other healthcare workers; counselors, therapists, and other mental-health professionals; childcare providers; and law enforcement officers.
• Permissive reporters are people who voluntarily report abuse, i.e., they are not required to report.
• Mandatory reporters are required to report the facts and circumstances that led them to suspect that a child has been abused or neglected. They do not have to provide proof that abuse or neglect has occurred. Permissive reporters follow the same standards when making a report.
• It’s very important to know what laws apply in your state and to have written policies about mandatory reporting in your organization. Need more information or specific information about your state? Run a state search here.

The most important thing to remember about this topic is that ANYONE can report abuse. If you are serving children, youth, or vulnerable adults and witness abuse, designate yourself as a mandatory reporter and report it!