An Organized Approach: Reporting Child Abuse

ABSTRACT Professionals who work with minors are mandated reporters, required by law to report suspicions of maltreatment to Child Protective Services (CPS). School counselors are not only legally mandated to report, they are ethically obligated to train staff to recognize symptoms of child maltreatment and to offer support to staff throughout the reporting process. An organized approach to reporting benefits mandated reporters, as well as the students at the focus of reports. A data collection tool is offered as an effective method of gathering important data required for reporting, but more importantly, it provides useful documentation of the mandated report.