Ethical and Legal Issues in Mandated Reporting

Mandated reporting laws require mental health providers to report suspected abuse or neglect of vulnerable populations, including children, elderly individuals, and individuals with disabilities. Clinicians will learn about mandated reporting requirements as well as some of the issues they need to keep front of mind as they build relationships with their clients or are faced with mandatory reporting situations. We’ll also address how to approach these situations in the context of clinical supervision.

You’ll learn to:

• Understand the legal requirements for mandated reporting for mental health providers, including the types of abuse and neglect that must be reported, the populations covered by reporting laws, differences in state requirements, and the consequences of noncompliance with reporting laws.

• Identify and analyze ethical considerations that arise in the context of mandated reporting such as confidentiality, informed consent, and potential conflicts of interest. , cultural considerations, You’ll apply ethical principles to real-world scenarios so you can make informed decisions about reporting.

• Develop strategies for effective documentation and communication when reporting suspected abuse or neglect, and identify techniques for managing the emotional impact of mandated reporting on mental health providers, including coping with stress and maintaining self-care.

• Strategize how to build trust in various populations and increase your ability to evaluate situations of abuse or neglect without reinforcing power imbalances or marginalizing members of vulnerable populations.

As behavioral health clinicians, we’re all called upon to be mandated reporters for those who are in vulnerable situations — children, the elderly, those with disabilities, and those whose lives are threatened.

Our clients place their trust in us, We’re obligated to evaluate situations so we don’t unnecessarily place the sanctity of their family’s well-being in jeopardy.

Our panelists, Dr. LaVerne Ware and Catherine Pfuntner, discuss issues surrounding mandated reporting with Rachel McCrickard and apply real-life examples so you can learn to apply principles to the situations you’ll possibly encounter as you treat individuals and families.