Making the Tough Call: Exploring the Challenges of Mandated Reporting through the Lens of Racial and Social Justice - A Cultural Competence Workshop
For over 50 years, professionals have been required by law to report suspicions of child abuse
and neglect as “mandated reporters”. This workshop explores the role of mandated reporting by
applying foundational ethical principles through the lens of racial & social justice. An
exploration of the original intent of mandated reporter laws will be juxtaposed with the evolution
of the legal responsibility, and resulting disproportionalities in the current system. As society
grapples with the role that certain systems, including the child welfare system, have played in
poor outcomes for children of color, it is vital that we explore the role that individual reporters
play in this process. This workshop will provide a framework for professionals to place their role
in context, with the goal of furthering racial and social justice for all children and families.
FREE WEBINAR
Learning Objectives:
- Describe the competing ethical and legal principles at play in the development of mandated reporting laws over time.
- Explain the contributing factors related to racial disproportionality in the child welfare system.
- Identify ethical/ moral and legal conundrums faced when making the decision to report
- Apply a framework to guide the process for considering racial and social justice when determining whether they are required to make a report to child protective services.
Agenda:
Program Agenda
1) Ethical Principles (45 minutes)
o Introduce ethical principles:
§ Autonomy
§ Beneficence
§ Non-Maleficence
§ Justice
o Explore the sub-components of “Justice”
§ Social & racial justice
o Place mandated reporting in the context of ethical responsibilities
2) Historical Development of Mandated Reporting (45 minutes)
o Origins of Mandated Reporting
o Expansion of Mandated Reporting
o Current State of Mandated Reporting & the Child Welfare System
§ Highlighting disproportionate impacts
• Socioeconomic status
• Community level factors
• Racial disproportionality
o Quasi-criminalization
3) Explore Roots of Disproportionate Impacts (30 minutes)
o Macro Level:
• Civil Rights Movement
• Neo-liberalism
• Political Systems
o Mezzo Level:
• Community resources
• Community connections
o Micro Level:
• Professionalism
• Personal lens
4) Framework for “Just” (as in “Justice”) Reporting (45 minutes)
o Legal responsibility to report
• When suspicions are required to be reported & when they are not
• Challenging legal requirements
• Abolition movement
o Evaluating influence of personal lenses to reporting decision
o Ethical responsibility for just practice
• Ethical responsibilities when report is made
• Ethical responsibilities when report is not made
o Case examples & application of framework
5) Review & Summarize (15 minutes)
1) Ethical Principles (45 minutes)
o Introduce ethical principles:
§ Autonomy
§ Beneficence
§ Non-Maleficence
§ Justice
o Explore the sub-components of “Justice”
§ Social & racial justice
o Place mandated reporting in the context of ethical responsibilities
2) Historical Development of Mandated Reporting (45 minutes)
o Origins of Mandated Reporting
o Expansion of Mandated Reporting
o Current State of Mandated Reporting & the Child Welfare System
§ Highlighting disproportionate impacts
• Socioeconomic status
• Community level factors
• Racial disproportionality
o Quasi-criminalization
3) Explore Roots of Disproportionate Impacts (30 minutes)
o Macro Level:
• Civil Rights Movement
• Neo-liberalism
• Political Systems
o Mezzo Level:
• Community resources
• Community connections
o Micro Level:
• Professionalism
• Personal lens
4) Framework for “Just” (as in “Justice”) Reporting (45 minutes)
o Legal responsibility to report
• When suspicions are required to be reported & when they are not
• Challenging legal requirements
• Abolition movement
o Evaluating influence of personal lenses to reporting decision
o Ethical responsibility for just practice
• Ethical responsibilities when report is made
• Ethical responsibilities when report is not made
o Case examples & application of framework
5) Review & Summarize (15 minutes)
This presentation is open to:
- Social Workers
- Professional Counselors
- Therapists
- Psychologists
- Licensed Mental Health Practitioners
- Medical Doctors and Other Health Professionals
- Other professionals interacting with populations engaged in mental health based services
Course Level: intermediate
Level of Clinician: intermediate
- New practitioners who wish to gain enhanced insight surrounding the topic
- Experienced practitioners who seek to increase and expand fundamental knowledge surrounding the subject matter
- Advanced practitioners seeking to review concepts and reinforce practice skills and/or access additional consultation
- Managers seeking to broaden micro and/or macro perspectives
Participants will receive their certificate electronically upon completion of the webinar and course evaluation form.
Disability Access - If you require ADA accommodations, please contact our office 30 days or more before the event. We cannot ensure accommodations without adequate prior notification.
Please Note: Licensing Boards change regulations often, and while we attempt to stay abreast of their most recent changes, if you have questions or concerns about this course meeting your specific board’s approval, we recommend you contact your board directly to obtain a ruling.
The grievance policy for trainings provided by the NEFESH INTERNATIONAL is available here
Satisfactory Completion Participants must have paid the tuition fee, logged in and out each day, attended the entire workshop, and completed an evaluation to receive a certificate (If this is a pre-recorded program, a post-test with a passing grade of 80% to receive a certificate.) Failure to log in or out will result in forfeiture of credit for the entire course. No exceptions will be made. Partial credit is not available. Certificates are available after satisfactory course completion by clicking here.
There is no conflict of interest or commercial support for this program.
- NEFESH International, Inc. is recognized by the New York State Education Department's State Board for Psychology as an approved provider of continuing education for licensed psychologists #PSY-0116.
- NEFESH International is recognized by the New York State Education Department's State Board for Mental Health Practitioners as an approved provider of continuing education for licensed marriage and family therapists #MFT-0046
- NEFESH International is recognized by the New York State Education Department's State Board for Social Work as an approved provider of continuing education for licensed social workers #SW-0048.
- This Program meets the Anti-Oppressive Social Work Practice content requirement.
CE You! is an approved sponsor of the Maryland Board of Social Work Examiners for continuing education credits for licensed social workers in Maryland.
CE You! maintains responsibility for this program. - CE You! is an approved sponsor of the Maryland Board of Social Work Examiners for continuing education credits for licensed social workers in Maryland.
CE You! maintains responsibility for this program. - Interborough Developmental and Consultation Center, Inc. is recognized by the New York State Education Department's Board for Mental Health Practitioners as an approved provider of continuing education for licensed mental health counselors. MHC# -0235
Refund Policy:
Full Refund until 48 hours before scheduled date.
48 hours before: full refund less $5.00 processing fee. After event no refund will be given.
*exclusions apply for reasonable need and cause.