It is vitally important that mandated reporters understand how to recognize child abuse and how to make reports that are timely, complete and accurate.Mandated reporters generally are people who come into contact with children as a part of their employment, practice of their profession and, sometimes, as volunteers in child-serving programs.

The official designation of which professions are considered mandated reporters varies somewhat from state to state.If abuse or neglect is suspected, trust your feeling and report to DPPC's 24 - hour Hotline at 1-800-426-9009 or 1-888-822-0350 TTY. In addition to reporting suspected abuse and neglect, mandated reporters are also required to report to DPPC all cases in which an individual with a disability has died, regardless of whether or not abuse or neglect is suspected.Although it might be difficult, a mandated reporter must, by law, report suspected abuse or neglect committed against a person with a disability to the Disabled Persons Protection Commission at 1-800-426-9009 or 1-888-822-0350 TTY.However, in most cases the definition concerns anyone who works closely with a vulnerable population, such as children or the elderly.This typically includes social workers, teachers, health care workers, child care providers, law enforcement, mental health professionals, and other educators and medical professionals, although certain states hold that all citizens are mandated reporters.If a Mandated Reporter is retaliated against by their employer for filing an alleged report of abuse, or by participating in the DPPC investigation, DPPC will conduct an investigation into the retaliation.In Massachusetts, Mandated Reporters can be fined up to

The official designation of which professions are considered mandated reporters varies somewhat from state to state.

If abuse or neglect is suspected, trust your feeling and report to DPPC's 24 - hour Hotline at 1-800-426-9009 or 1-888-822-0350 TTY. In addition to reporting suspected abuse and neglect, mandated reporters are also required to report to DPPC all cases in which an individual with a disability has died, regardless of whether or not abuse or neglect is suspected.

Although it might be difficult, a mandated reporter must, by law, report suspected abuse or neglect committed against a person with a disability to the Disabled Persons Protection Commission at 1-800-426-9009 or 1-888-822-0350 TTY.

However, in most cases the definition concerns anyone who works closely with a vulnerable population, such as children or the elderly.

This typically includes social workers, teachers, health care workers, child care providers, law enforcement, mental health professionals, and other educators and medical professionals, although certain states hold that all citizens are mandated reporters.

The official designation of which professions are considered mandated reporters varies somewhat from state to state.If abuse or neglect is suspected, trust your feeling and report to DPPC's 24 - hour Hotline at 1-800-426-9009 or 1-888-822-0350 TTY. In addition to reporting suspected abuse and neglect, mandated reporters are also required to report to DPPC all cases in which an individual with a disability has died, regardless of whether or not abuse or neglect is suspected.Although it might be difficult, a mandated reporter must, by law, report suspected abuse or neglect committed against a person with a disability to the Disabled Persons Protection Commission at 1-800-426-9009 or 1-888-822-0350 TTY.However, in most cases the definition concerns anyone who works closely with a vulnerable population, such as children or the elderly.This typically includes social workers, teachers, health care workers, child care providers, law enforcement, mental health professionals, and other educators and medical professionals, although certain states hold that all citizens are mandated reporters.If a Mandated Reporter is retaliated against by their employer for filing an alleged report of abuse, or by participating in the DPPC investigation, DPPC will conduct an investigation into the retaliation.In Massachusetts, Mandated Reporters can be fined up to $1,000 for failure to report incidences of suspected abuse and neglect of children, elders, and individuals with disabilities.The definition of child abuse has been amended to require that acts or failures to act be committed intentionally, knowingly or recklessly.Child abuse has been redefined to: Causing the death of a child through any act or failure to act.Serious physical neglect was expanded to include egregious behavior, meaning situations when the behavior might have only occurred one time, but is bizarre or unimaginable and created one of the circumstances that would fall under this category of abuse.The definition of sexual abuse is unchanged with the exception that consensual activities between two children, ages 14-18 are excluded as sexual abuse unless any of the following, which involve the use of force or coercion, were committed: Rape; Statutory sexual assault; Involuntary deviate sexual intercourse; Sexual assault; Institutional sexual assault; Aggravated indecent assault; Indecent assault; Indecent exposure; Incest; Prostitution; Sexual abuse; Unlawful contact with a minor; or Sexual exploitation.These standards vary from state to state, but the spirit of the laws are the same; mandated reporters should notify the proper authorities in any case in which they have reason to believe that a child is being abused or neglected or that conditions exist in the home that may result in abuse or neglect.In most states, reports are anonymous, and there are no repercussions for making a report (“immunity for good faith reporting”), so there is no reason not to err on the side of caution and report any suspicion in which a child’s welfare may be at risk.Learn about your responsibilities as a mandated reporter. Editor’s Note: “Making the Tough Call” is a special series of articles that will address social workers’ questions about mandated reporting of suspected child abuse. Or perhaps while you’re shopping at the mall, you see a parent grab a young child by the arm and spank them for touching something off limits. The simple answer to the first question is “yes.” If you are a social worker, you are a mandated reporter.