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Experiences of mandated reporting among family therapists

Contemporary Family Therapy volume 27, pages 177–191 (2005)Cite this article

Abstract

Mandated reporting of child abuse has rarely been examined in terms of its impact on Family Therapy (FT) systemic processes. This study is designed to assess negative experiences FTs have with mandated reporting. A survey instrument was devised to assess negative experiences of FTs with mandated reporting. The instrument was administered to 101 FTs. The results indicate four statistically significant findings regarding frequent negative experiences, largely related to the under funding and understaffed nature of Child Protective Services (CPS). The results also indicated that negative experiences with CPS begin in the early stages of FTs’ careers.

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Author information

Affiliations

  1. Director of Behavioral Sciences and Associate Professor in Psychiatry, Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Science, Mercer University School of Medicine, 655 First Street, Macon, GA, 31201, USA

    Melton Strozier

  2. Department of Psychiatry and Professor in Psychiatry, Mercer University School of Medicine, 655 First Street, Macon, GA, 31201, USA

    Rachel Brown

  3. Instructor in Psychiatry and Behavioral Science, Mercer University School of Medicine, 655 First Street, Macon, GA, 31201, USA

    Martha Fennell & Jane Hardee

  4. Jiann-Ping Hsu School of Public Health, Karl Peace Endowed Chair of Biostatistics, Georgia Southern University, Statesboro, GA, 30460, USA

    Robert Vogel

Authors
  1. Melton Strozier
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  2. Rachel Brown
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  3. Martha Fennell
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  4. Jane Hardee
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  5. Robert Vogel
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Melton Strozier.

Additional information

The authors express appreciation to Elizabeth Bizzell, MFT (Can.), research assistant, for her work in manuscript preparation.

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Strozier, M., Brown, R., Fennell, M. et al. Experiences of mandated reporting among family therapists. Contemp Fam Ther 27, 177–191 (2005). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10591-005-4038-2

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10591-005-4038-2

Keywords

  • behavioral sciences and the law
  • child sexual abuse
  • child abuse
  • family therapy