1. Mandated Reporter Training
Child Abuse & Neglect
Community Action Partnership of
San Luis Obispo County Inc.
Child, Youth, & Family Services Division

2. A Training Curriculum for Mandated Reporters
Mandated Reporter Training
A Training Curriculum for Mandated Reporters
on the California Child Abuse Neglect Reporting (CANRA) Law
Presented by
San Luis Obispo County
Child Abuse Prevention Council

3. Mandated Reporter Training Objectives
How the law defines child abuse and neglect
What is a Mandated Reporter? What is required of you as a Mandated Reporter?
What protections the law provides for you as a mandated reporter
How to identify signs of child abuse.
Child Abuse & Neglect Reporting Procedure
What happens after a report is filed.
Special Concerns

4. Mandated Reporter Training
Introduction
The goal of today’s presentation is to make each of you aware that as paid staff serving children you are mandated by California state law to report any knowledge or suspicion that a child’s safety or welfare is at risk.
It is not your responsibility to investigate such suspicions.
In fact, if you do investigate, you might create obstacles to the ability of Child Welfare Services (CWS) to protect the children.
Your sole responsibility is to report your concerns to the CWS by phone as soon as possible and in writing within 36 hours.

5. Mandated Reporter Training
Two Types of Reporters
Mandated reporters – those required to report suspected child abuse
Have legal duty to report
Can be held liable for failure to report
Discretionary reporters – those who report simply because they develop a concern for a child’s welfare

6. Mandated Reporter Training
Duty to Report
Additional Reference:
See Child Abuse Prevention Handbook and Intervention Guide pages for duty to report and pages for penal codes.

7. Circumstances for Reporting
Mandated Reporter Training
Circumstances for Reporting
Reasonable suspicion – if a person is suspicious, based on facts that could create a reasonable person with his/her training and experience to suspect child abuse
Knowledge criteria – this includes actual observation of child abuse or obtaining knowledge of abuse

8. Your Legal Responsibilities
Mandated Reporter Training
Your Legal Responsibilities
Legal duty to report if you have “reasonable suspicion” of abuse and obtain this knowledge during the course of your work
You are NOT required to prove the abuse or collect evidence
Your are NOT obligated to report if you are not serving in your professional capacity

9. Mandated Reporter Training
What must be reported?
Under CANRA, suspicions of the following must be reported in California
Physical abuse
Sexual abuse
Emotional abuse
Neglect
When the victim is under the age of 18, and the perpetrator is any age

10. Identifying Child Abuse
Mandated Reporter Training
Identifying Child Abuse
Requires first the understanding that child abuse can occur in any family, regardless of socio-economic status, religion, education, ethnic background, or other factors.
Cultural beliefs may affect our perception of this
Secondly, the professional must be aware of and alert to the signs of child abuse.
A set of beliefs, attitudes, values, and behavior that is passed down from generation to generation
Shaped by many factors including race, religion, and ethnicity
Influences attitudes and ideas about acceptable child behavior and discipline
Also affects perceptions of stress, trauma, abuse and reactions to all of those
It is natural to see one’s own culture as the normal or correct culture
We must be aware of our own values, beliefs and biases, and how those influence our expectations of others so that we
are best able to understand differences in parenting
avoid unnecessary reports
meet the needs of all children in a sensitive manner

11. Obstacles to Reporting
Mandated Reporter Training
Obstacles to Reporting
Denial
Fear of making a mistake
Fear that parent will be angry
Belief that nothing happens when you make a report, or that it makes things worse

12. Definitions of Child Abuse and Neglect
Mandated Reporter Training
Definitions of Child Abuse and Neglect
Additional Reference:
See Child Abuse Prevention Handbook and Intervention Guide pages 4-21 and

13. Mandated Reporter Training
Physical Abuse
CANRA defines as a physical injury inflicted by other than accidental means on a child by parent, caretaker, or other adult known or unknown to child.
Also includes unlawful corporal punishment or injury, willfully inflicted, resulting in a traumatic condition
Spanking or corporal punishment is not necessarily illegal, it should be “reasonable and age-appropriate”
A physical injury or action of harming a child
Bruises, bites, burns, fractures, abusive head trauma
Although the injury is not an accident, the parent or caretaker may not have intended to hurt the child
May result from excessive discipline or inappropriate physical punishment
The injury may be the result of a single episode or of repeated episodes and can range in severity from minor bruising to death

14. Mandated Reporter Training
Physical Abuse
Abusive bruises and burns may also be patterned, or have a distinct outline
Accidental bruises usually do not leave a clear pattern or outline
While an outline or pattern should raise concern, abusive injuries are not always patterned, and may look very similar to accidental bruises
Some common patterns of INFLICTED bruises are shown next

15. Mandated Reporter Training
Slap mark, note linear red lines 15

16. Mandated Reporter Training
Ear bruise from being struck on side of side of head 16

17. Mandated Reporter Training
Patterned bruising from being struck with an objects (shoe and belt) 17

18. Mandated Reporter Training
Grab mark 18

19. Mandated Reporter Training
Loop mark from being struck with cord 19

20. Mandated Reporter Training
Patterned burn - space heater, note clear demarcation lines and buttocks as common area for discipline 20

21. Mandated Reporter Training
Sexual Abuse
Per CANRA, child sexual abuse includes both sexual assault and sexual exploitation.
Sexual assault includes
Sex acts with children
Child molestation
Intentional masturbation in the presence of a child
Sexual exploitation includes
Preparing, selling, or distributing pornographic materials involving children
Performances involving obscene sexual conduct
Child prostitution
P.C ). 21

22. Sexual Abuse - Disclosure
Mandated Reporter Training
Sexual Abuse - Disclosure
Most victims of sexual abuse report the crime(s) months or even years after they have occurred
Many victims never report at all
It is very common for children to recant a disclosure of sexual abuse
They disclose the abuse and then change their story, denying that it ever happened
This happens for a variety of reasons including fear, guilt, shame, embarrassment, or even a desire not to hurt the perpetrator or family unit

23. Mandated Reporter Training
Neglect
Under CANRA neglect of a child, whether "severe" or "general," must be reported if the perpetrator is a person responsible for the child's welfare
Includes:
Acts (i.e. locking a toddler in a hot car)
Omissions (i.e. not providing food)
The neglect may cause harm to the child or just threaten to harm the child's health or welfare
Must still report even if no injury
(P.C ). 23

24. Mandated Reporter Training
Neglect
General neglect
Failure of a caregiver to provide adequate food, clothing, shelter, medical care, or supervision, where no physical injury to the child has occurred
Severe neglect
The intentional failure of a caregiver to provide adequate food, clothing, shelter, or medical care
Or caregiver willfully causes or permits the child to be placed in a situation such that his or her person or health is endangered
(P.C ). 24

25. Neglect- Religious Considerations
Mandated Reporter Training
Neglect- Religious Considerations
Refusing medical care for religious reasons is a hotly debated topic when children are involved
Per CANRA, a child receiving treatment by spiritual means or not receiving specified medical treatment for religious reasons, shall not for that reason alone be considered a neglected child
An informed and appropriate medical decision made by a caregiver after consultation with a physician does not constitute neglect
(P.C [b]) 25

26. Intimate Partner Violence
Mandated Reporter Training
Intimate Partner Violence
California is one of the few states that mandates reports of intimate partner abuse between adolescents / teenagers
“Intimate relationship” not dependent on age
Can be reported to either local child welfare services or law enforcement agency
Unfortunately, responses to reports of intimate partner violence affecting minors vary enormously from jurisdiction to jurisdiction

27. Mandated Reporter Training
Emotional Abuse
Under CANRA, also called cruelty
Defined as willful cruelty or unjustified punishment
includes:
Inflicting or permitting physical pain or mental suffering
Or permitting the endangerment of the child's person or health
(P.C ). 27

28. Mandated Reporter Training
Emotional Abuse
Includes acts or omissions that have or could cause serious behavioral, cognitive, emotional, or mental disorders
In some cases, the acts alone, without any obvious harm are sufficient to warrant reporting
i.e. extreme or bizarre forms of punishment, such as torture or confinement of a child in a dark closet
For less severe acts, such as belittling or cruel words, it can be more difficult to determine what constitutes emotional abuse
For the mandated reporter, reporting the concern is the only requirement
It is up to the child protective agency to decide if the act(s) in question are emotional abuse

29. Mandated Reporter Training
Emotional Abuse
Most difficult form of child maltreatment to identify
The effects of emotional maltreatment (lags in physical development, learning problems, and speech disorder) are nonspecific
The effects of emotional maltreatment may only become evident in later developmental stages of the child's life
The behaviors of emotionally abused and emotionally disturbed children are often similar

30. Mandated Reporter Training
Emotional Abuse
Although any of the forms of child maltreatment may be found alone, they often occur in combination
Emotional abuse is most often seen in combination with other forms of abuse
The red flags for emotional abuse are very similar to the red flags for other forms of abuse

31. Red Flags – Child Behaviors
Mandated Reporter Training
Red Flags – Child Behaviors
Hostile, aggressive, or verbally abusive toward others
Anxious, fearful or withdrawn behavior
Self-injurious
self-mutilates, bangs head, etc.
Destructive
breaks windows, sets fires, etc.
Frightened of going home, frightened of parents/caretakers
Attempts to hide injuries
Frequent absence from school
Clingy, forms indiscriminate attachments
Tries to be perfect

32. Red Flags – Child Behaviors
Mandated Reporter Training
Red Flags – Child Behaviors
Sexual Abuse:
Inappropriate sexual knowledge for age
Demonstrating sexual acts on other children or toys
Molesting other children
Post-traumatic stress disorder
Sexually transmitted infections
Neglect:
Dirty clothes, poor hygiene
Failure to thrive, or a malnourished child
Severe dental cavities

33. Red Flags – Home environment
Mandated Reporter Training
Red Flags – Home environment
Neglect:
Medications, cleaners, toxins within reach of a child
Guns or other weapons that are not properly secured
Trash, rotted food, insects, or animal waste
Choking hazards within reach of an infant or toddler

34. Red Flags – Parent Behaviors
Mandated Reporter Training
Red Flags – Parent Behaviors
Parental depression or other mental illness
Parent tells you of use of objects to discipline the child
belts, whips, clothes hanger
Parent has unrealistic expectation of child
toilet-training a 6-month-old
Parent is unduly harsh and rigid about childrearing
Parent singles out one child as "bad," "evil," or "beyond control"
Parent berates, humiliates, or belittles child
Parent misinterprets child's normal behavior
a parent interprets an infant's crying as evidence that child hates the parent
Parent is indifferent to child

35. Red Flags – Stressors on Parents / Contributing Factors
Mandated Reporter Training
Red Flags – Stressors on Parents / Contributing Factors
Domestic violence
Unemployment
Poverty
Lack of social support
History of abuse as a child
Substance abuse

36. Mandated Reporter Training

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38. When should I file a report?
Mandated Reporter Training
When should I file a report?
When one "has knowledge of or observes a child in his or her professional capacity, or within the scope of his or her employment whom he or she knows or reasonably suspects has been the victim of child abuse..."
If you suspect, report.
Proof of abuse is not required; that will be determined through investigation by the child welfare professionals or law enforcement

39. Mandated Reporter Training
Who files the report?
Responsibility rests solely with the mandated reporter
Reporting to an employer, supervisor, school principal, school counselor, coworker, or other person is NOT required nor adequate.
When two or more mandated reporters jointly have knowledge of suspected child abuse or neglect, a single report may be made
Any member of the reporting team who has knowledge that the designated person has
failed to report must do so him or herself
(P. C [g]). 39

40. Mandated Reporter Training
To Whom do I report?
To a child protective agency
“Child protective agency” is defined as a county welfare or probation department, or a police or sheriff’s department
An example of a child protective agency is your local office of the Department of Children and Family Services
The only types of law enforcement agency you may report to are the Sheriff’s or Police Department in your community
Other law enforcement persons, such as school security, are not authorized to receive reports
County CWS numbers in packet
(P.C , P.C [a]). 40

41. Mandated Reporter Training
How do I report
Complete the SCAR (Suspected Child Abuse Report)
Immediately call CWS
Then submit the report:
Within 36 hours a written report must be sent to the child protective or law enforcement agency to which the telephone report was made

42. Mandated Reporter Training
8572
Reporting Party’s information
Name
Date
Address
Phone

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8572
Information of person taking report
Name
Phone
Title
Address
Date

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8572
Victim’s Information
Name
DOB
Address
School
Present location
Language

45. Mandated Reporter Training
8572
Involved Parties
Siblings
Parents
Suspects

46. Mandated Reporter Training
8572
Incident Information
What happened?
What is the concern for abuse?

47. mom
child
child
child
(Child’s dad)
child’s
child
child
Mom
child
mom
Mom
mom
child
Mom
child’s
child
child

48. What Happens After a Report?
Mandated Reporter Training
What Happens After a Report?
The primary purpose of the report is to make child protective agencies aware of possible abuse
Reports are investigated either by the local law enforcement agency and/or by the county child welfare (child protective services) agency

49. Child Welfare Services
Mandated Reporter Training
Child Welfare Services
Interviews the child and family to evaluate the situation
Primary responsibility is protection of the child
The child may need to be removed and placed in a safer environment or the family may just need additional services
Often, parents or others who mistreat children are overwhelmed by their situation/problems
Financial problems, mental illness, anger issues , etc.
May not be able to handle the stresses of raising children without help
CWS offers services and resources to help manage the problems of the family and child
Counseling, referrals to self-help groups ; assistance in obtaining medical care, emergency shelter, transportation

50. Child Welfare Services
Mandated Reporter Training
Child Welfare Services
The CWS worker's goal is to protect children and enable families to stay together whenever possible
Reports received (except neglect) must be cross-reported immediately, or as soon as possible, to local law enforcement agency
Not all reports are serious enough to require the assistance of the law enforcement agency
In these events, the family may be contacted only by local child welfare services

51. Mandated Reporter Training
What Happens Next?
The report is determined to be one of the following
Unfounded - the report is determined to be false, inherently improbable, to involve an accidental injury, or not to constitute child abuse
Substantiated - the report is determined to constitute child abuse or neglect
Inconclusive - the report is determined not to be unfounded, but the findings are inconclusive and there is insufficient evidence to determine whether child abuse or neglect has occurred

53. Mandated Reporter Training
SLO County Department of Social Services Intake & Community Response Structure
CWS Response
(24 hr response)
High to Very High Risk
Reporting Party Calls in
(805)
781-KIDS
CWS Intake
Review
Evaluate
Determine
Face-To-Face Response Path
Request Feedback
(Mandated Reporters only) OR
Team Decision Making
CWS & CAP-SLO Family Support Services
(10 day response)
Moderate to High Risk
CAP-SLO
Family Support Services
(10 day response)
NO known safety issues
Low Risk

54. Safeguards for Mandated Reporters
Mandated Reporter Training
Safeguards for Mandated Reporters
Confidentiality
Mandated reporters are required to give their names when making a report
The reporter's identity is kept confidential and may only be disclosed as follows:
Between child protective agencies
To counsel representing a child protective agency
To the district attorney
To the child's attorney
To a licensing agency when abuse in out-of-home care is reasonably suspected
By court order
When the reporter waives confidentiality
P.C [d]) 54

55. Safeguards for Mandated Reporters
Mandated Reporter Training
Safeguards for Mandated Reporters
Confidentiality
Reports of suspected child abuse and the information they contain are also confidential
May only be disclosed to official agencies and professionals involved in the investigation, treatment, prosecution, or record-keeping of these cases
Any violation of confidentiality of this information is a misdemeanor punishable by up to six months in the county jail, or by a fine of $500, or by both
Parties that may legally receive information from suspected Child Abuse Reports
• To persons or agencies to whom a reporter's identity may be disclosed • To persons or agencies to whom disclosure of index and investigative information is permitted under P.C (b) • To persons or agencies with whom investigations of child abuse are coordinated under the regulations in P.C • To multidisciplinary personnel teams as defined in Welfare and Institutions Code section (d) • To persons or agencies responsible for the licensing of facilities that care for children, as specified in P.C • To the state Department of Social Services or any county licensing agency that has contracted with the state, when an individual has applied for a community care license, child day care license, for employment in an out-of-home care facility; or when a complaint alleges child abuse by an operator or employee of an out-of-home care facility • To hospital scan teams • To coroners and medical examiners when conducting a postmortem examination of a child • To the Board of Prison Terms when subpoenaed for parole revocation proceedings against a parolee charged with abuse • To personnel from a child protective agency responsible for making a placement of a child • To persons who have been identified by the Department of Justice as listed in the Child Abuse Central Index pursuant to subdivision (c) of Section • To out-of-state law enforcement agencies conducting an investigation of child abuse only when an agency makes the request for reports of suspected child abuse in writing and on official letterhead, identifying the suspected abuser or victim by name • To persons who have verified with the Department of Justice that they are listed in the Child Abuse Central Index as provided by subdivision (e) of Section • To the chairperson of a county child death review team, or his or her designee (P.C [b]) 55

56. Safeguards for Mandated Reporters
Mandated Reporter Training
Safeguards for Mandated Reporters
Immunity
Mandated Reporters have immunity from criminal or civil liability for reporting as required
Unless the report is proven to be false and the person reporting knows it is false
Or the report is made with reckless disregard of the truth
Mandated reporters are not liable civilly or criminally for photographing the victim of child abuse and disseminating the photograph with the report
P.C [a]). (P.C [f]).
(P.C [c])
(P.C ) 56

57. Mandated Reporter Training
Failure to Report
Misdemeanor, punishable by
Up to six months in jail
Up to a $1,000 fine
May also be subject to a civil lawsuit, and found liable for damages, especially if the child-victim or another child is further victimized because of the failure to report
No supervisor or administrator may impede or inhibit a report or subject the reporting person to any sanction
to do so is punishable by imprisonment, a fine, or both
(P.C [e]). 57

58. Employer’s Responsibilities
Mandated Reporter Training
Employer’s Responsibilities
Any person entering employment that makes him or her a mandated reporter must sign a statement that he or she has knowledge of the reporting law and will comply with its requirements
Statement must be provided and retained by the employer
A form for this statement is available from your local child protective agency
Licensing Requirement The state agency issuing a license to a person who is required to report child abuse must either send a statement to the licensee explaining reporting requirements and the penalty for failure to report, or print the information on all application forms
(P.C [a]).
(P.C [b] [c]). 58

59. Mandated Reporter Training
Conclusion
Primary intent of the reporting laws is to protect the child
Protecting the identified child may also provide the opportunity to protect other children in the home
It is equally important to provide help for the parents
The report of abuse may be a catalyst for bringing about change in the home environment, which may help to lower the risk of abuse in the home
As a mandated reporter you play an obviously crucial role in this process, identifying and reporting concerns of abuse or neglect of children that may otherwise go unseen

60. Mandated Reporter Training Objectives
How the law defines child abuse and neglect
What is a Mandated Reporter? What is required of you as a Mandated Reporter?
What protections the law provides for you as a mandated reporter
How to identify signs of child abuse.
Child Abuse & Neglect Reporting Procedure
What happens after a report is filed.
Special Concerns