Factors that Influence Child Abuse Reporting: A Survey of Child-Serving Professionals

Date

2015

Journal Title

Journal ISSN

Volume Title

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

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.

DOI