Mandated

Reporting
in the
Education
System
Mandated Reporter Training for
Teachers, Staff, Faculty, &
Administrators
Candace Boudreaux
CSPU 512
Mandating
Reporting:
What is it?
Who is a Mandated Reporter?
A mandated reporter is an individual
who holds a professional position (as
of social worker, physician, teacher,
or counselor) that requires him or
her to report to the appropriate state
agency cases of child abuse that he
or she has reasonable cause to
suspect.

Are we Mandated Reporters?

Yes! As school personnel, we are required
by law to report suspected child abuse
and neglect (CA Penal Code 11164).
California's
Child Abuse
Neglect &
Reporting Act
The Child Abuse
Neglect and Reporting
ACT (CANRA)
The Child Abuse and Neglect
Reporting Act (CANRA) is a
California law requiring employers
to identify Mandated Reporters
and secure acknowledgement of
their status and reporting
obligation as a condition of
employment. Any person who has knowledge of or observes a child
whom he or she knows or resonably suspects has been a
victim of child abuse or neglect may report the known or
suspected instance of child abuse or neglect.
CA Penal Code § 11166(g)
We have a duty to
report abuse and/or
neglect-
IT'S THE LAW!
What is our role?

Educators, staff, faculty members, and

administrators whose duties bring them into
contact with children on a regular basis, or who
supervise others with such duties, are Mandated
Reporters.

CA Penal Code § 11166(a):

Report whenever in your professional capacity or
within the scope of your employment, you have
knowledge of or observe a child whom you know or
reasonably suspect has been a victim of child abuse
or neglect.
 DEFINITIONS
Neglect
When the guardian does not provide the very basics that a child needs
to be healthy and safe. These basic needs include food, shelter, medical
care, and supervision.

Abuse
Physical: Occurs when someone injures a child, and it is NOT an
accident. Some injuries include bruises, broken bones, and burns.
Sexual: Any sexual act between an adult and a child, including
penetration, intercourse, incest, rape, oral sex, and sodomy.
Emotional: The behaviors, speech, & actions of parent/guaridan,
caregiver, or another significant figure in the child's life that
interferes with a child's mental health or social development. This
often occurs at the same time as the other forms of child abuse.
 Data & Nearly 700,000
children are
Statistics Item 1
abused in the U.S.
annually.
100%

Item 1
A report of child

50%
abuse is made
every ten seconds.

50%
Item 2
20% 5 children die
every day from
Item 1
80%
child abuse and
neglect.

Statistics retrieved from:

https://mandatedreporterca.com
Most reported
abuses occur in
infants and
young children.
Recognizing
Red Flags

Video Link: Signs of Abuse & Neglect in Students

 Signs of Child Abuse
Physical Social
Has unexplained injuries, such as Resistance to going home
burns, black eyes, bites, bruises, Fear of adults
broken bones, cuts, or welts in the Bathroom accidents
shape of an object Discomfort & shifting
Has fading bruises or other marks after Hypervigilant
being absent from school Changes in story of injury
Wears inappropriate clothing to cover Either over-compliance or excessive
up injuries (i.e. long sleeve shirt on a aggression
hot day) Fear of a particular person or family
Shows changes in eating or sleeping member
habits
Shies away from touch
Flinches at sudden movements
Signs of Child Neglect
Physical
Clothing unsuited to the weather.
Being dirty or unbathed.
Extreme hunger
Consistently sick
Lacks needed medical care

Social
Withdrawn/ Depressed
Bathroom accidents
Often alone & apparent lack of supervision
Lack of routine including:
School attendance
Eating schedule
Sleep schedule
Responding to
a Student's
Disclosure of
Abuse

Video Link: Responding to a Child's Disclosure of Abuse

 Tips for Supporting
Students
Help the student open up!
Show them that they are in a safe space & that you
are listening.
Slow down & take your time!
Don't rush the conversation - let them guide it.
Reflect on the conversation with the student
Summarize what they have told you.
Be confident in your ability to support the student.
THEY TRUST YOU!
 When you report:
It is important to provide an honest and complete
account of what led you to suspect the occurrence of
child abuse or neglect. Explain any occurrences, signs

What can or symptoms, and examples of behavior that occurred

leading to the report. Any reasonable suspicion is

you expect sufficient, so use your best judgement about the

allegations.

when you What will happen after the report is

made?
make a After you make a child abuse report, it will be sent to

report? Child Protective Services (CPS). When CPS receives

the report, they will determine if an investigation is
needed, based on the information provided. The CPS
Social Worker may need to follow up with more
information and talk with the family, child, school, or
others in order to determine if the child is unsafe.
 Following a child abuse report, it is important to follow

School & school policy and procedure, in addition to state laws,

that are set in place regarding child abuse reporting.

State It is important for all school staff, faculty,

administrators, and other personnel to have
Policies knowledge of these policies in order to maintain safety
for the student.
Child Abuse
Reporting:
Sexual
Intercourse
This document can be utilized to
reference when sexual intercourse with
a minor must be reported as child
abuse by Mandated Reporters stated by
California Law.

Child Abuse Chart Resource

 Mandated Reporter
Training

School Personnel Mandated Reporter

Training
The School Personnel training satisfies the requirements of AB 1432
and should be taken by every Mandated Reporter that works in a
school environment.

Training Link:
School Personnel | Child Abuse Mandated Reporter Training
(mandatedreporterca.com)
 Resources
California County Emergency Response Child Abuse Reporting Telephone Numbers

California Mandated Reporting-Cheat Sheet

Childhelp Child Abuse National Hotline:

(1-800) 4-A-CHILD or (1-800) 422-4453
 References
California Law: Code Section. (n.d.). Retrieved April 23, 2021, from
https://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/codes_displaySection.xhtml?lawCode=PEN§ionNum=11166

Child Abuse Identification & Reporting Guidelines. (n.d.). Retrieved April 23, 2021, from
https://www.cde.ca.gov/ls/ss/ap/childabusereportingguide.asp

Child Maltreatment & Neglect Statistics. (2021, March 25). Retrieved April 23, 2021, from
https://americanspcc.org/child-abuse-statistics/

Childhelp National Child Abuse Hotline Information. (n.d.). Retrieved April 23, 2021, from
https://www.childhelp.org/hotline/

Reporting Child Abuse and Neglect. (n.d.). Retrieved April 23, 2021, from
https://www.childwelfare.gov/topics/responding/reporting/

Tracy, N. (2008, December 15). Types of child abuse. Retrieved April 23, 2021, from
https://www.healthyplace.com/abuse/child-abuse-information/types-child-abuse