How to Report Child Sexual Abuse
When a member of your staff suspects that a child is being abused and/or neglected, they are required to immediately call your local Department of…
Home / Reporting / Who Are Mandated Reporters?
Massachusetts law defines a number of professionals as mandated reporters (for the full list, see MGL Chapter 119, Section 51A).
*As of Jan 1, 2020
Note that the list of mandated reporters above identifies professionals and other paid staff employed by certain organizations in a variety of roles. However, there is nothing in the law that prevents anyone from making a report. So even if you don’t employ mandated reporters, your policies and procedures should acknowledge the role of statutorily mandated reporters as a model for all staff and volunteers to follow. You should also convey the expectation that all staff and volunteers who interact directly with children/youth are required to report any suspected child abuse or neglect, or any situations involving inappropriate activity with a child/youth, and will be trained in the procedures to do so. You’ll find more details on training structures and programs in Training.
It’s also recommended that your Code of Conduct includes the requirement for all staff and volunteers to follow the reporting laws of the Commonwealth and the organization, and that their signature acknowledges that they understand the penalties if they fail to do so—up to and including dismissal. Non-mandated reporters are protected by law in the same way as mandated reporters.
Reporting
When a member of your staff suspects that a child is being abused and/or neglected, they are required to immediately call your local Department of…
Training
Staff and volunteers must be trained on child abuse prevention, including the signs and symptoms of child abuse. In order to identify and vet these…
Code of Conduct
Your Code of Conduct will be unique to your organization, based on your size, purpose, location, staffing, ages served, additional vulnerabilities…
Code of Conduct
Every YSO has certain risks associated with its activities, functions, and responsibilities—and thinking about those risks is an important part of…
Safe Environments
In the past, youth-serving organizations needed to worry about safety only within the physical environment—the building(s) where their services…
Code of Conduct
Once your Code of Conduct is in place, it’s important to implement it through training and by disseminating the information widely, in a variety…
Code of Conduct
Your Code of Conduct will provide your staff, volunteers, and others responsible for children and youth with very specific guidelines that will…
Code of Conduct
Along with guiding appropriate behavior, your Code of Conduct should include a clear description of the lines of communication and reporting…
Reporting
Staff and volunteers should have a detailed understanding of their responsibility to report child abuse and neglect. At your YSO (Youth-Serving…
Reporting
All staff must be aware of the warning signs and symptoms of child abuse and neglect, know how to respond appropriately, and report suspected cases…
Customized child sexual abuse prevention guidelines to meet the unique needs of any organization that serves children.
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