Those in the community who interact with children and the elderly on a regular basis are frequently given mandated reporter training. The majority of those who require training are social workers, medical officials, and teachers. The most common type of training consists of a 13-question pre-assessment exam followed by a self-paced interactive training lasting 60 to 120 minutes. The completion of a 13-question post-training examination is the final step in many mandated reporter training sessions. The trainee receives a certificate upon completion of the training.
Many members of a community are required to complete mandatory reporter training in order to recognize and properly report suspected child abuse, elderly abuse, and victims of human trafficking. The mandatory reporter training covers the identification of clues that may lead to the recognition of abuse. Bruises, unexplained injuries, and frequent and reoccurring injuries are all common indicators of abuse. Learning how to properly question the suspected victim about the injuries is part of the training. The training also includes information on how to report abuse to the appropriate person or organization. People have frequently reported informing the wrong person about suspected abuse, resulting in continued violence until the proper authorities were notified.
Mandatory reporter education covers the requirements for reporting suspected abuse. The reporting requirement does not have to be positive; the suspected abuse only has to be probable or likely. The training examines how to recognize bruising and other injuries, as well as the most common excuses for injuries. The reporter can better judge the likelihood of an actual case of abuse versus a normal, accidental injury by learning the typical responses and explanations used to describe the manner in which the injuries were sustained.
As important as it is to know how to react in a suspected abuse situation, it is also important to know how not to react in a suspected abuse situation. A lot of mandatory reporter training includes how to respond to and not respond to abuse reports. When a reporter hears of alleged abuse, it is critical that he or she remain calm and steady. When a reporter is met with horror or disbelief, it is common for them to shut down and even claim that they are fabricating the story. It’s critical that the person hearing the suspected victim’s report remain calm and collected, as if he or she is hearing something that happens all the time in the neighborhood. The goal of mandatory reporter training is to make the victim feel safe, supported, and that they are not to blame.