In many parts of the world, mandated reporters are people who have regular contact with vulnerable people such as children, disabled persons, and senior citizens, and are therefore legally required to ensure a report is made when abuse is observed or suspected. Specific details vary across jurisdictions—the abuse that must be reported may include neglect, or financial, physical, sexual, or other types of abuse. Mandated reporters may include paid or unpaid people who have assumed full or intermittent responsibility for the care of a child, dependent adult, or elder.
Mandatory reporting requirements
Most states and territories have mandatory reporting law, requiring certain workers and professionals to report if they suspect child abuse. In some cases, workers and professionals are also required to report instances of exposure to sexual, domestic and family violence, in recognition of the seriousness of this type of harm to the developing child.
Reporting is mandatory for any adult who believes a child has been, or is likely to suffer harm or exploitation, or be a victim of a sexual offence. Harm is defined to include exposure to domestic and family violence, along with other forms of abuse or neglect. Law also requires all adults to report serious domestic and family violence to the police.
Mandated reporters should not wait for a child to tell them about abuse. Properly trained reporters should be alert to indicators of possible abuse, including grooming behaviors and “red flags” that bring to mind possible inappropriate behavior. It is not the reporter’s task to substantiate the abuse, only to report a reasonable suspicion. The most vexing part of the mandatory reporting requirement is deciding what constitutes “reasonable cause to suspect.
If you familiarize yourself with the ways in which perpetrators gain access to children, the grooming process, and the behaviors commonly recognized as “red flags” it is easier to listen when your antenna goes up. One way to think about it, recognizing how incredibly difficult it is to suspect someone you know and trust, is to listen when you have the thought, “I wonder if something is off here?” Or, “I feel uncomfortable about what I am seeing here.”
We are so naturally resistant to thinking child abuse, especially sexual abuse, could be happening, these are the interior signals that you need to pay much closer attention and act affirmatively for children. It is natural to fear that you might ruin an adult’s life by reporting. But by the time we see what is happening, we have enough information to take that step and act to save a child. All states provide immunity for anyone making a good faith report and you have the right to report anonymously.
