Protecting children through mandated child-abuse reporting

Educational Forum, The, Winter 2003 by Dombrowski, Stefan C, Ahia, C Emmanuel, McQuillan, Kathleen

Along with training for all school professionals, there is a need for increased support from the school district's administration. As a result, it might be prudent to establish a district-wide policy for mandated child-abuse reporting. This might include the creation of explicit policies or protocol, containing such information as what to do during normal as well as emergency situations and who within the school should be aware of a report once filed. These mandated reporting policies/protocol should also be clearly communicated to caregivers/legal guardians of children. This communication will demonstrate support for school professionals by making explicit rather than leaving tacit the recognition of the deleterious impact of maltreatment for children and the obligation of the school professional to report when maltreatment has been reasonably suspected.

School professionals and systems ought to provide to caregivers at risk for child abuse a list of community resources for effective parenting. This will indicate an interest in supporting rather than policing caregivers' parenting practices and may offset a possible perception that schools function as a quasi-official law enforcement agency.

Finally, schools and the local CPS agency must increase collaboration. The CPS agency may then be able to assist in training via workshops and in-service presentations regarding mandated reporting. CPS may also be able to provide a directory of preventative community resources for effective parenting. This collaboration will facilitate an open forum between two intertwined yet autonomous systems that share a common purpose: ensuring the well-being of children in our society.

For a table listing Indicators of Child Maltreatment, please go to KDP Online at http://www.kdp.org/publications/forum_W03_Dfigures.html.

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