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Training in Reporting of Child Maltreatment: Where We Are and Where We Need to Go

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Mandatory Reporting Laws and the Identification of Severe Child Abuse and Neglect

Part of the book series: Child Maltreatment ((MALT,volume 4))

Abstract

Given the international prevalence of child maltreatment, it is critical that adequate training in detection and reporting of child abuse be provided to all professionals. This chapter reviews the current state of training for professionals (educators, physicians, mental health professionals, and law enforcement) and provides recommendations for critical content areas. The model for training includes repeated training throughout professionals’ career (preservice, on-the-job, and continuing education), a format that includes discussion of sensitive material and emphasis on skill development and effective evaluation. The author acknowledges that training is only one component of a comprehensive prevention program.

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. College of Education, Florida International University, Miami, FL, USA

    Maureen C. Kenny

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  1. Maureen C. Kenny
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Correspondence to Maureen C. Kenny .

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Editors and Affiliations

  1. Australian Centre for Health Law Research, Faculty of Law, Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia

    Ben Mathews

  2. Program in Pediatric Law, Policy and Ethics, Kempe Center for the Prevention and Treatment of Child Abuse and Neglect, Aurora, Colorado, USA

    Donald C. Bross

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Kenny, M.C. (2015). Training in Reporting of Child Maltreatment: Where We Are and Where We Need to Go. In: Mathews, B., Bross, D. (eds) Mandatory Reporting Laws and the Identification of Severe Child Abuse and Neglect. Child Maltreatment, vol 4. Springer, Dordrecht. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-017-9685-9_16

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