Child Abuse Assessment and Reporting

Dr. Lauren Szyper

Training Description

Participants will learn about the role of a mandated reporter, signs of abuse reporters look for, and the process of making a report.  Child welfare laws will be reviewed.  Participants will also have an opportunity to discuss the challenges with being a mandated reporter.

Learning Objectives

• Identify signs of sexual abuse, physical abuse, emotional abuse, and neglect.
• Understand your legal obligations as a mandated reporter as defined by your state.
• Know the steps for reporting, including essential information to provide.
• Understand the value of your role as a mandated reporter and name potential positive outcomes of reporting.

Agenda

8:45      Sign In

9:00-9:20

• Overview of the agenda

• Review of training goals and objectives

• Introductions and discussion of current experiences as a mandated reporter

• Review of what the group would like to be sure to learn from the training aside from the establish training goals and objectives 

9:20-10:30

• Examining our own biases and concerns around mandated reporting 

• The role of a mandated reporter

• The importance of explaining your role as a mandated reporter to your clients 

• Child welfare laws

10:30-10:40: Morning Break (CEUs will not be issued for this time)

10:40-12:00

• What constitutes abuse

• Physical abuse, sexual abuse, emotional abuse, neglect

• Recent addendum for sexual exploitation and media

• Assessing for abuse

12:00-1:00: Lunch break (CEUs will not be issued for this time)

1:00-2:30:

• Brief review of material covered in the morning

• The process of making a CPS report

• Informing your client of making a report

• The role of child welfare

• Differential Response intensive case management  

2:30-2:40: Afternoon Break (CEUs will not be issued for this time)

2:40-3:45:

• Case Studies 

• Applying what you have learned to scenarios 

• Discussion of personal experiences when making a report

3:45-4:00

• Opportunities for final questions 

• Review of training objectives and assuring they have been met

• Discussion of how participants will utilize what they learned in their day to day work

• Complete evaluations

4:00:      ADJOURNMENT

Meet Our Trainer

Dr. Lauren Szyper is a clinical psychologist who has worked with individuals, families, and groups for over 18 years.  Her background involves working in community mental health and school-based settings serving predominantly diverse high-risk clientele including those in the juvenile justice and child welfare systems. Areas of specialty include working with mood disorders, co-occurring disorders, complex trauma, and with the LGBTQ+ community. She is presently the Clinical Director for the SF Stress and Anxiety Center, has a Saturday private practice in Oakland, and is a clinical trainer.

This course meets the qualifications for (6) BBS CEUs for LCSWs and MFTs as required by the California Board of Behavioral Sciences & is provided by Fred Finch Youth Center, CAMFT Provider #045295.