Citation

Pietrantonio AM, Wright E, Gibson KN, Alldred T, Jacobson D, Niec A. Child Abuse Negl. 2013; 37(2-3): 102-109.

Affiliation

Child Advocacy and Assessment Program, McMaster Children's Hospital, Box 2000, Hamilton, ON, Canada L8N 3Z5; McMaster University, 1280 Main St. W., Hamilton, ON, Canada L8S 4L8.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2013, Elsevier Publishing)

DOI

10.1016/j.chiabu.2012.12.007

PMID

23337443

Abstract

Health professionals working with children and their families are often required by law to report to governmental authorities any reasonable suspicion of child abuse and/or neglect. Extant research has pointed toward various barriers to reporting, with scant attention to positive processes to support the reporting process. This paper focuses on the context for mandatory reporting and evidence-informed practice for supporting a more structured and purposeful process of mandatory reporting. These practical strategies discusses: (1) the factors that positively influence the relationship between a child's caregivers and the mandated health professional reporter; (2) a framework and specific skills for discussing concerns about maltreatment and reporting to child protective services with the caregiver(s); and (3) the need for further training and education of health professionals.

Language: en