Preparing social workers as reporters of suspected child maltreatment

Abstract

Social workers are an important source of reports to child protective services in the United States (US). However, it is unclear what role social work education plays in preparing social workers for this responsibility. The current study explores how undergraduate and graduate social work programs in the US prepare students as reporters. This study found that while almost all programs that participated in this study provide students with some content related to their role as reporters of child maltreatment, there are varying ways such content is provided, and many avenues for improvement. International implications are highlighted.

Keywords:

• Child abuse and neglect
• Mandated reporting
• Curriculum development-education
• Professional conduct-education
• Law-knowledge
• Social policy-knowledge
• Ethics and values
• Child protection
• Children & families