Does changing mandated reporting laws improve child maltreatment reporting in large U.S. counties?

Risk Factors and Services to Reduce Child Sexual Abuse Recurrence

“…We were unsure as to the potential effects of CPS service referrals but hypothesized that there may be commonly used services that can reduce the risk of CSA recurrence. In previous studies, we have used NCANDS data to study reporting and recurrence of other forms of CM and believe it could also be helpful to better understand CSA (Palusci, 2011; Palusci et al, 2005; Palusci & Ondersma, 2012; Palusci & Vandervort, 2014; Palusci, Vandervort, & Lewis, 2016). The objectives of the present study are to (1) determine the recurrence rate 5 years after confirmed CSA reports to CPS; (2) identify child, family, offender, and report characteristics and their association as risk factors with the recurrence rates; and (3) assess the correlation of key CPS services with CSA recurrence rates.…”

Child Maltreatment: Mandated Reporting

“…Many states specify circumstances that allow a disclosure of child maltreatment in the confessional not to be reported while mandating reporting of clergy suspicions of maltreatment developed in other circumstances (e.g., in youth work) (Child Welfare Information Gateway 2019a; Palusci et al 2016; Radel and Labbe 2015). Maine's statute, for example, states that "Any clergy member who knows or has reasonable cause to suspect that a child has been or is likely to be abused or neglected as a result of information gained through clerical professional work, except for information received during confidential communications, shall immediately report or cause a report to be made to the State Department of Health and Human Services" (Child Welfare Information Gateway 2019a, p. 10; Palusci et al 2016). On the other hand, five US states and Guam do not allow clergy to avoid reporting because of clientpenitent privilege.…”

“…An examination of universal mandated reporting raises the question of possible unintended consequences. Palusci et al (2016) expressed concern that universal mandated reporting might overburden child welfare systems faced with increased reports of children who are not ultimately subjects of confirmed reports. It is plausible that universal mandated reporting might increase the dilution in professionals' sense of responsibility for reporting child maltreatment that Goulet (2014) describes.…”

Where We’ve Been and May Go, Standing on the Shoulders of Giants

“…Like the field, my early work looked at medical and forensic issues in physical and sexual abuse, but I now use epidemiology and administrative data to study diagnosis, reporting, recurrence, fatality, and prevention (American Professional Society on the Abuse of Children, 2010; Bearup & Palusci, 1999; Greiner et al, 2013; Kennedy et al, 2020; Palusci et al, 2019; Palusci et al, 2001; Palusci & Ilardi, 2020; Palusci & Ondersma, 2012; Palusci & Reeves, 2003; Palusci et al, 2016; Roygardner et al, 2020). We will also need to pay attention to new technology and other emerging areas (Siegel & Palusci, 2019).…”