Child Abuse and Neglect Reporting and Investigation:

Abstract

This report seeks to provide guidance to sl;!te and local officials, professionals, and advocates seeking to improve the reporting and investigation of suspected child abuse and neglect.The need for clearer guidelines for reporting and case disposition is emphasized.Over the past twenly years, much progress has been made in prokcting abused and neglected children. Every state has passed a mandatory rcporling law. The result has been an enormous increase in reported cases.'

Mandatory Reporting and Child Exposure to Domestic Violence: Issues Regarding the Therapeutic Alliance with Couples

“…They did not attribute their failure to report to a lack of knowledge regarding reporting requirements, but rather to the professional's concern about the effect reporting would have on the treatment or on the client. Compounding this situation is the incidence of unsubstantiated reports, which has been estimated to be as high as 60-70% (Besharov 1991). A report which is substantiated in the eyes of a clinician but not by child welfare services can be confusing and frustrating for the clinician who determined it was necessary to report the situation and who worked to manage the clients' emotions during this process.…”

Review of The Role of Professional Background, Case Characteristics, and Protective Agency Response in Mandated Child Abuse Reporting.

“…A number of writers ~v.g., Meriwether, 1986, andBesharov, 1988) have argued that a major failing of the reporting laws is their lack of specific written guidelines concerning what constitutes abuse and neglect, or the requirement that such guidelines be developed. The ultimate purpose of these guidelines would be to increase compliance with the existing laws, which seek to have all suspected abuse and neglect reported.…”

“…A number of writers have argued that the reporting laws should be revised to give potential reporters more specific guidelines conceming what does and does not constitute reportable abuse and neglect. They variously contend that such guidelines would reduce reluctance to report, decrease the likelihood of discrimination in reporting, and increase the apparently declining rate of case substantiations (see, e.g., Besharov, 1988;Meriwether, 1986;Wald, 1975;Weisberg and Wald, 1984).…”

Factors associated with the decision to investigate child protective services referrals: A systematic review

“…Decision‐making at the point of child protective services (CPS) intake is a challenge in all developed child protection systems. Across the world and over a significant period of time, CPS agencies have faced stark challenges in achieving responses that minimize the ‘false positives’ that result in unnecessary intrusions into family life and the ‘false negatives’ that result in grave consequences when maltreatment goes undetected (Bescharov, 1986; Besharov, 1991; Broadhurst et al, 2009; Browne & Saqi, 1988; Parton, Thorpe, & Wattam, 1995; Thorpe, 1994). Such challenges are largely a function of historically insufficient resources, dramatic increases in referrals over time, and ongoing difficulties in maintaining a skilled workforce (General Accounting Office, 1997) and are periodically compounded by child maltreatment tragedies that result in intense public criticism and scrutiny (Ayre, 2001; Pollard, 2017).…”