Ethics and Laws Regarding Mandated Reporting: Child and Adult Maltreatment
$45.00
The prevalence of child, elder, and vulnerable adult abuse is dire. Being knowledgeable and alert to risks and signs of abuse is critical in protecting vulnerable victims. Marriage and family therapists, psychologists, counselors, and social workers are in unique positions to observe and interact with children, vulnerable adults, and elders. This training will provide an overview of issues related to mandated reporting and support mental health professionals to fulfill this important role. Through the use of case studies, learners will explore different child and elder welfare situations and be given resources and best practices recommendations for ensuring the safety and welfare of vulnerable persons. This course is suitable for those new to the field and for those seasoned practitioners wanting a refresher in this area.
Upon completion of this training, participants will be able to:
- Demonstrate knowledge of general mandated reporting laws and guidelines for child and elder abuse.
- Identify appropriate methods of gathering information and recommended reporting guidelines.
- Evaluate case studies by using critical thinking skills to determine if situations necessitate making a mandated report.
Social workers completing this course receive 3 Ethics asynchronous continuing education credits.
For other board approvals, this course qualifies for 3 hours of Ethics continuing education training.
Course Instructor: Diane Bigler, LCSW, LSCSW
Recording Date: 11/02/2024
Course Format: Recorded Live Webinar with downloadable presentation slides and/or handouts, evaluation, and a required quiz. The learner is required to pass with a 70% or higher to achieve the CE certificate of completion. The learner is able to reset the test until a satisfactory score is achieved.
CE Training Workshops, LLC, provider #1770, is approved as an ACE provider to offer social work continuing education by the Association of Social Work Boards (ASWB) Approved Continuing Education (ACE) program. Regulatory boards are the final authority on courses accepted for continuing education credit. ACE provider approval period: (will fill in the dates once this has been approved).
CE Training Workshops, LLC has been approved by NBCC as an Approved Continuing Education Provider, ACEP No. 7091. Programs that do not qualify for NBCC credit are clearly identified. CEUs On-Demand, LLC is solely responsible for all aspects of the programs.
System Requirements: Firefox, Chrome, Brave, Safari, Edge on any modern operating system (Windows, MacOS, Linux, Android, iOS). A desktop browser is recommended. We do not provide support resources for issues encountered using a mobile device.
For more information about our policies and board approval statements, please visit our FAQS page.
Diane Bigler, LCSW, LSCSW, is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker in Missouri and Kansas with over 25 years of experience in the mental health field.
Ethics and Laws Regarding Mandated Reporting: Child and Adult Maltreatment (3HR) Syllabus
I. Foundations of Mandated Reporting
- Mandated reporting laws exist in all 50 states with varying specifics
- Professionals must understand their legal and ethical obligations
- Definitions of abuse, neglect, exploitation, and vulnerable adults
- Important distinctions between legal duty and ethical responsibility
II. Child Abuse and Neglect
- Signs of physical, emotional, sexual abuse and neglect
- Specific examples of harm that require a report
- Factors that inhibit child self-reporting: shame, fear, isolation
- Reporting requirements for past abuse and out-of-state incidents
III. Elder and Vulnerable Adult Abuse
- Categories: physical, emotional, sexual, neglect, exploitation, abandonment
- Common signs and symptoms in older adults and adults with disabilities
- Elder abuse often underreported due to loyalty, confusion, or cognitive issues
- Guidelines for using tools like EASI, VASS, and EAI for assessments
IV. Barriers to Reporting and Offender Profiles
- Victims may fear loss of caregiver or retaliation
- Cultural and familial influences on abuse disclosure
- Offender types include overwhelmed, narcissistic, impaired, bullying, sadistic
- Recognizing trauma responses such as freeze and fawn
V. Race, Equity, and Systemic Disparities
- Overrepresentation of Black and Indigenous children in child welfare systems
- Influence of poverty and inequitable decision-making in reporting
- Encouragement to apply a culturally informed, anti-bias lens when evaluating risk
- Consideration of systemic racism in child protective investigations
VI. Responding to Disclosures and Making Reports
- Do’s and don’ts when responding to a disclosure
- Language to use with victims and alleged perpetrators
- Documentation tips: include demographics, detailed incident description, safety plans
- Next steps if a hotline counselor declines a report
VII. Ethical Dilemmas in Past Abuse
- Case vignettes illustrating disclosure of historical abuse
- Guidance on respecting client autonomy vs. protecting others
- Consulting ethics codes and state statutes for gray areas
- Applying principles of beneficence, nonmaleficence, justice, and respect
VIII. Supporting Victims During and After Disclosure
- Use of motivational interviewing and emotional intelligence
- Avoiding judgment while documenting facts neutrally
- Validating trauma responses and empowering survivors
- Connecting clients to resources, support systems, and advocacy
IX. Specialized Populations and Considerations
- Adults and children with intellectual and developmental disabilities
- Tailoring communication and involving non-offending caregivers or staff
- Referral to APS when there is subjective complaint or objective concern
- Understanding when multidisciplinary team involvement is appropriate
X. Resources, Tools, and Final Guidance
- Mandated reporter forms, online directories, and legal statutes by state
- Videos and TED Talks for professional development and client education
- Strategies for advocacy, safety planning, and follow-up documentation
- Emphasizing prevention, early detection, and continued ethical vigilance
