Date of Award

5-2021

Document Type

Project

Degree Name

Master of Social Work

Department

School of Social Work

First Reader/Committee Chair

McAllister, Carolyn

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to identify educators’ perceptions of Mandated Reporting Training. This study used a quantitative design with 88 participants from Southern California. Child abuse can impact a child’s life severely and may even cause death in extreme situations. Child Protection Services receives millions of child abuse allegations every year. Abuse continues to be underreported despite state regulations that require teachers to complete the Mandated Reporter Training. Professionals in the educational field believe this training is insufficient as it is only taken once a year and does not provide enough information to report and identify abuse. This research study evaluated teacher’s perspectives about the effectiveness of the Mandated Reporter Training to assess if it was sufficient in helping teachers identify and report abuse. The research question was “Is there is a relationship between mandated reporter training, experience, and preparedness to report child abuse in teachers?” The research was conducted through an online questionnaire that was created using Qualtrics. Participants were recruited using social media platforms such as LinkedIn, Facebook, and Instagram. The study found that most educators received training and were able to identify signs of abuse. Future research should focus on using qualitative interviews with open-ended questions to obtain more knowledge. The study also recommends a collaboration on trainings between educators and social workers in child welfare.

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