Factors that Influence Child Abuse Reporting: A Survey of Child-Serving Professionals
Date
2015
Authors
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Publisher
Crimes Against Children Research Center
Abstract
Policies and procedures to improve child abuse reporting are revised regularly but
rarely based on data. To help inform new directions for child abuse reporting policy
reforms, we conducted an online survey of 556 child-serving professionals about
their experiences with reporting suspicions of abuse and neglect. Most of the
respondents (61%) said the reporting process needs to be improved. Clarifying and
improving the screening process and making it easier to make a report were among
the most commonly cited suggestions for improvement. Respondents rated process
related factors (not knowing what happens after report, concerns that the response
would not help the family) as more likely to hold them back from reporting than
statute related factors (vague protocols, not knowing were to report). Only 38% of
respondents said their most recent training on child abuse reporting was fully
adequate. Many of the suggestions offered by survey respondents could be piloted
and evaluated to move toward establishing child abuse reporting procedures and
policies with a stronger research base.
Description
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Keywords
mandatory reporting, factors, child-serving professionals, policy
Citation
Walsh, W. A., & Jones, L. M. (2015). Factors that Influence Child Abuse Reporting: A Survey of Child-Serving Professionals. Portsmouth, NH: Crimes Against Children Research Center.