Social Work Under the California Child Abuse

Social Work

Under the California Child Abuse and Neglect Reporting Law, counselors, teachers, and other professionals are legally obliged to report suspected abuse or neglect. The legal obligation to report instances of child abuse or neglect to a local, state or federal social services agency is generally a good idea because it ensures reporting by teachers, counselors, and others who are in contact with the child. It is assumed that mandatory reporting means immediate and beneficial intervention. The reality is more complicated than this. Alerting child protective services can have unwanted detrimental effects on the child. As Lough (n.d.) points out, "nagging doubts about how the person suspected of abusing a child will react, what the outcome will be, and whether or not the report will put the child at greater risk" are what make the mandatory reporting laws controversial.

Theoretically, with a legal obligation, the individual is more motivated to report. In Riverside County, for example, the Department of Public Social Services has a link on their Website that includes a toll-free number used to report abuse. A separate number used for abuses occurring outside of county jurisdiction is also provided. The State of California Department of Social Services likewise has links on its website for reporting suspected abuse. This method makes it relatively simple to report abuse.

Furthermore, it is essential that reporting be a standardized procedure involving predictable channels of information sharing and collection. Responses to the report should also be handled in a consistent manner. With state mandated reporting, a system is in place whereby interventions can be free from legal or ethical problems. The State of California offers a clear outline as to what types of abuse to report, why to report them, when, and to whom. The reporter has full legal immunity for criminal liability, which protects the reporter. Failure to report may lead to a fine or to jail time (Lough, n.d.). This is to ensure that anyone in the position to report will do so.

However, there are many problems associated with this method of addressing child abuse and neglect. The most obvious is the fact that social services agencies are bureaucratic, and might not be the most efficient means of dealing with the issue. Perhaps a clergy member or a family member could provide more immediate and effective intervention in some cases. There are ethnic and cultural barriers that might be taken into account when reporting child abuse or neglect. There are also questions as to who is legally obliged to report the suspected abuse, and how cases may be opened. Many professionals that are not covered under the mandatory reporting law can exempt themselves from reporting, whereas some individuals that are in the position of being able to report might not know exactly how to go about doing so.