Child Welfare Information Gateway
Skip to main content
  • U.S. Department of Health & Human Services
  • Administration for Children & Families
  • Children's Bureau
Child Welfare Information Gateway
REPORT ABUSE OR
NEGLECT
FIND HELP WITH A
PERSONAL SITUATION   

Home Topics Publications Library State Resources More Tools & Resources News & Events
REPORT ABUSE OR
NEGLECT
FIND HELP WITH A
PERSONAL SITUATION   
  • About Us
  • Contact
  • Chat
  • Free Subscriptions
  • Resources in Spanish
  • About Us
  • Contact
  • Chat
  • Resources in Spanish
  • Shopping Cart
  • Home
  • Topics
    • Family-Centered Practice
      • Philosophy and Key Elements of Family-Centered Practice
      • Family-Centered Practice Across the Service Continuum
      • Engaging Families
      • Family-Centered Casework Practice
      • Family Group Decision-Making
      • Engaging Communities to Support Families
      • Creating a Family-Centered Agency Culture
    • Child Abuse & Neglect
      • Definitions of Child Abuse & Neglect
      • Identification of Child Abuse & Neglect
      • Risk Factors That Contribute to Child Abuse and Neglect
      • People Who Engage in Child Abuse or Neglect
      • Impact of Child Abuse & Neglect
      • Child Abuse & Neglect Fatalities
    • Preventing Child Abuse & Neglect
      • National Child Abuse Prevention Month
      • Overview: Preventing Child Abuse & Neglect
      • Promoting Child & Family Well-Being
      • Public Awareness & Creating Supportive Communities
      • Child Abuse and Neglect Prevention Programs
      • Developing & Sustaining Prevention Programs
      • Evidence-Based Practice for Child Abuse Prevention
      • Evaluating Prevention Programs
    • Responding to Child Abuse & Neglect
      • Introduction to Responding to Child Abuse & Neglect
      • Reporting Child Abuse and Neglect
      • Assessment in Child Protection
      • Differential Response in Child Protective Services
      • Child Protection Casework Practice
      • Responding to Child Maltreatment Near Fatalities and Fatalities
      • Trauma-Informed Practice in Child Welfare
      • Collaborative Responses to Child Abuse & Neglect
    • Supporting & Preserving Families
      • Supporting Families With Mental Health and Substance Use Disorders
      • Introduction to Family Support and Preservation
      • In-Home Services Involved With Child Protection
      • Family Support Services
      • Resources for Managers of Family Support and Preservation Services
      • Family Preservation Services
    • Out-of-Home Care
      • National Foster Care Month
      • Overview: Out-of-Home Care
      • Foster Care
      • Group and Residential Care
      • Kinship Care
      • Casework Practice in Out-of-Home Care
      • Transition to Adulthood and Independent Living
      • Placement Decisions
      • Resources for Foster Families
    • Achieving & Maintaining Permanency
      • Overview: Achieving & Maintaining Permanency
      • Reunifying Families
      • Recruiting and Retaining Resource Families
      • Permanency With Relatives and Kin
      • Guardianship
      • Permanency for Specific Youth Populations
      • Legal and Court Issues in Permanency
      • Interjurisdictional Placements
      • Working With Children, Youth, and Families in Permanency Planning
      • Working With Children, Youth, and Families After Permanency
      • Resources for Administrators and Managers About Permanency
      • Resources for Families About Permanency
    • Adoption
      • National Adoption Month
      • All-In Foster Adoption Challenge
      • Children's Bureau Adoption Call to Action
      • Adoption and Guardianship Assistance by State
      • Introduction to Adoption
      • Ethical Issues in Adoption
      • For Adopted People
      • For Adoption Program Managers & Administrators
      • For Expectant Parents Considering Adoption and Birth Parents
      • How to Adopt
      • Laws Related to Adoption
      • Parenting After Adoption
      • Preplacement Adoption Casework Practice
      • Postplacement Adoption Casework Practice
      • Search & Reunion in Adoption
    • Management & Supervision
      • Administering & Managing Child Welfare Agencies & Programs
      • Child Welfare Practice Improvement
      • Disaster Preparedness & Response
      • Ethical Practice & Client Rights
      • Evaluating Program and Practice Effectiveness
      • Funding
      • Information Systems & Data
      • Supervising Child Welfare Services
      • System Reform
      • Training
      • Workforce
    • Systemwide
      • Assessment
      • Behavioral Health & Wellness
      • Courts
      • Cultural Responsiveness
      • Diverse Populations and Communities
      • Domestic Violence
      • Human Trafficking
      • Laws & Policies
      • Service Array
      • Statistics
      • Well-Being
      • Youth
  • Publications
    • Publications Series
    • Browse by Topic
    • Browse by Title
    • índice de Títulos en Español (Spanish Title Index)
  • Library
    • Library Services
    • Library Search Help
  • State Resources
    • State Statutes
    • National Foster Care & Adoption Directory
    • State Guides & Manuals Search
    • State-Related Organizations Lists
    • Adoption and Guardianship Assistance by State
  • More Tools & Resources
    • Related Organizations
    • Learning Center
    • Resources From the Children's Bureau
      • Children's Bureau Discretionary Grants
      • The Story of the Children's Bureau
      • Children's Bureau Video Series
    • Child Welfare Information Gateway Podcast Series
    • Multimedia
      • Videos
      • Webinars
    • Family Engagement Inventory
  • News & Events
    • Free Subscriptions
    • Adoption Triad
    • Children's Bureau Express (CBX)
    • The Grantee Connection
    • New on Information Gateway
    • New From the Children's Bureau
    • Event Calendar
  • Home
  • Topics
  • Preventing Child Abuse & Neglect
  • Developing & Sustaining Prevention Programs
  • Collaborations and Partnerships in Prevention Services
  • Role of Related Professionals in Preventing Child Abuse and Neglect

Role of Related Professionals in Preventing Child Abuse and Neglect

It is often assumed that professionals in the child welfare workforce are the sole individuals responsible for reporting child abuse and neglect. However, everyone plays a role in knowing the signs and symptoms of abuse as well as how to report concerns that a child may be experiencing abuse and neglect. When considering whether to report a suspected instance of child abuse and neglect, factors such as preconceived bias, unintentional racism, and institutional values should be considered in order to be responsive with a racial and ethnic equitable lens.

This page features resources that health-care providers, educators, law enforcement, and clergy can use to become more aware of how to spot instances of abuse and neglect and what to do when a concern is present.

Child Abuse and Neglect Prevention
Intermountain Healthcare
Describes the different types of child abuse and neglect and how to recognize their risks and signs. It also includes the benefits of focusing on prevention and provides additional supportive resources.

How Can Communities Help Prevent Child Abuse
The Child Advocacy Center of Lapeer County
Discusses the role that individuals and communities play in keeping children safe by recognizing and responding to situations that could lead to instances of child abuse and neglect.

  Pediatricians and other health-care providers

Prevention of Child Abuse and Neglect
American Academy of Pediatrics
Presents programs and resources to help pediatricians and their communities prevent child maltreatment. These resources cover screening for maltreatment, anticipatory guidance, approaches to integrating prevention efforts in the community, guidelines for supervision, and more.

Public Health Leadership Initiative
National Center for Injury Prevention and Control, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
Describes a 3-year project to identify best practice models of State public health leadership in preventing child maltreatment and promoting safe, stable, and nurturing relationships for children.

Public Health Nurses’ Professional Practices to Prevent, Recognize, and Respond to Suspected Child Maltreatment in Home Visiting: An Interpretive Descriptive Study
Jack, Gonzalez, Marcellus, Tonmyr, Varcoe, Van Borek, Sheehan, et. al. (2021)
Global Qualitative Nursing Research 
Details an analysis performed to get insight from public health nurses and their experiences in preventing and addressing suspected child maltreatment in their role as home visitors. 

Role of the Pediatric Health Care Provider in Identifying and Preventing Child Abuse During COVID-19 and Beyond
Consultant, 61(9) (2021)
Multidisciplinary Medical Information Network
Outlines practical guidance that pediatric health care providers can implement in their everyday practice to better identify child safety concerns as part of their unique role in supporting healthy and safe families. 

What Is Child Welfare? A Guide for Behavioral and Mental Health Professionals

Series Title
Factsheets
Author(s)
Child Welfare Information Gateway
Availability
View
Download (PDF - 287KB)
Order (Free)
Year Published
2019
Provides a brief overview of child welfare, describes how behavioral and mental health professionals and child welfare workers can support each other, and offers additional information resources. Working together, behavioral and mental health practitioners and child welfare workers can make sure that children, youth, and families receive appropriate services that promote healthy functioning and well-being.

What Is Child Welfare? A Guide for Health-Care Professionals

Series Title
Factsheets
Author(s)
Child Welfare Information Gateway
Availability
View
Download (PDF - 323KB)
Order (Free)
Year Published
2018
Provides health-care professionals—including pediatricians, family practice providers, hospital nurses, school nurses, and urgent care clinicians—with an overview of the field of child welfare and suggests ways that health-care professionals and child welfare workers can work together to promote better outcomes for children and families involved with child welfare, including children in foster care. Links to resources are also included.

  Educators

The School Counselor and Child Abuse and Neglect Prevention
American School Counselor Association (2021)
Discusses the role that school counselors have as mandated reporters of suspected child abuse and neglect and their other responsibilities to support child and family safety and well-being. 

Preventing Abuse and Neglect
Ohio Department of Education
Provides educators and student personnel who are mandated reporters with useful information and resources to continue fulfilling their mandatory reporting requirements while also facilitating online learning environments.

What Is Child Welfare? A Guide for Educators

Series Title
Factsheets
Author(s)
Child Welfare Information Gateway
Availability
View
Download (PDF - 328KB)
Order (Free)
Year Published
2018
Provides an overview of child welfare and describes how educators and child welfare workers can collaborate to prevent child abuse and neglect and ensure children involved in child welfare receive the services and supports they need to succeed in school.

What Teachers and Child Care Providers Can Do to Prevent Child Sexual Abuse
Stop It Now!
Offers an overview of child sexual abuse as well as resources to learn about age-appropriate sexual development and warning signs. The website provides suggestions for steps teachers can take to prevent abuse and encourage parents and children to report when it happens.

  Law enforcement

Cross-Reporting Among Agencies That Respond to Child Abuse and Neglect

Series Title
State Statutes
Author(s)
Child Welfare Information Gateway
Availability
View
Download (PDF - 745KB)
Year Published
2021
Discusses State laws that authorize cross-reporting and information sharing among the agencies that must respond to reports of suspected child abuse or neglect. Typically, reports are shared among social services agencies, law enforcement departments, and prosecutors' offices. Other requirements also are addressed, including notifying military authorities when a report involves a member of a military family and notifying the appropriate Tribal authority when a report involves a child who is a member or is eligible for membership of a Native American Tribe.

Family Surveillance: Police and the Reporting of Child Abuse and Neglect
Edwards (2019) 
The Russell Sage Foundation Journal of the Social Sciences, 5(1)
Examines police reports of child abuse and neglect and explores whether police exposure impacts racial inequities in child welfare outcomes.

The Role of Law Enforcement in Child Welfare Checks
Booth Law
Explains how the law enforcement community has permission to conduct policy welfare checks on families where there is reasonable grounds to believe a member of the household is in imminent danger. 

What is Child Welfare? A Guide for Law Enforcement

Series Title
Factsheets
Author(s)
Child Welfare Information Gateway
Availability
View
Download (PDF - 279KB)
Order (Free)
Year Published
2018
Helps law enforcement agents understand the work of child welfare professionals and how a mutually beneficial relationship is in the best interest of children, families, and communities. Discusses the importance of information-sharing and cross-training and Includes a list of helpful resources.

  Clergy

Abuse Prevention
North American Division Youth & Young Adult Ministries
Provides resources for youth-serving church organizations, including publications, videos, a six-module course, and a link to enditnow, a campaign that recognizes the effect abuse has on everyone within the church and community.

Abuse Prevention Resources
United States Conference on Catholic Bishops
Provides a list of resources that dioceses and parishes can use to improve community awareness and education on efforts to prevent abuse my clergy.

Clergy as Mandatory Reporters of Child Abuse and Neglect

Series Title
State Statutes
Author(s)
Child Welfare Information Gateway
Availability
View
Download (PDF - 630KB)
Year Published
2019
Discusses laws that require members of the clergy to report cases of suspected child abuse and neglect. The issue of whether a member of the clergy can claim privileged communications as a reason for not reporting also is discussed. Full-text excerpts of laws for all States and U.S. territories are included.

Helpful Tips for Clergy on How to Prevent, Respond and Recognize Child Sexual Abuse
Our Kids 
Offers guidance on how clergy can recognize and respond to suspected child sexual abuse including how to promote safe sanctuaries.

How Your Ministry Can Help Prevent Child Abuse Through a Safety System
Morris (2018)
The Ethics & Religious Liberty Commission of the Southern Baptist Convention
Explains the idea of a "safety system" that can help contribute to a safer environment for children and youth. It emphasizes the importance of training staff and provides relevant links.

Spotlight On

The Risk and Prevention of Maltreatment of Children with Disabilities
Child Welfare Information Gateway
(2018)

Response to Child Abuse and Neglect

Kaplan Early Learning Company

How Can Communities Help Prevent Child Abuse

The Child Advocacy Center of Lapeer County

Related Content

Interagency and Cross-System Collaboration

State Laws on Child Abuse and Neglect

Collaborative Responses to Child Abuse & Neglect

Mandatory Reporters of Child Abuse and Neglect

Children's Bureau - An office of the Administration for Children and Families

Child Welfare Information Gateway is a service of the

  • Children’s Bureau
  • Administration for Children and Families
  • U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.
↑ Back to top
  • HOME
  • TOPICS
    • Family-Centered Practice
    • Child Abuse & Neglect
    • Preventing Child Abuse & Neglect
    • Responding to Child Abuse & Neglect
    • Supporting & Preserving Families
    • Out-of-Home Care
    • Achieving & Maintaining Permanency
    • Adoption
    • Management & Supervision
    • Systemwide
  • National Initiatives
    • National Adoption Month
    • National Child Abuse Prevention Month
    • National Foster Care Month
  • Publications
    • Publications Series
    • Browse by Title
    • Browse by Topic
    • Índice de Títulos en Español
  • Library
    • Search the Library
  • State Resources
    • State Statutes
    • National Foster Care & Adoption Directory
    • State Guides & Manuals
    • State Related Organizations Lists
    • Adoption Assistance by State
  • More Tools & Resources
    • Related Organizations
    • Learning Center
    • Children's Bureau Resources
    • Information Gateway Podcast
    • Multimedia
    • Family Engagement Inventory
  • NEWS AND EVENTS
    • New on Information Gateway
    • New From the Children's Bureau
    • Event Calendar
  • ABOUT US
    • How to Report Child Abuse or Neglect
    • Find Help With a Personal Situation
    • Frequently Asked Questions
    • Glossary
    • Search A to Z
  • Contact Us
    • 1-800-394-3366
    • info@childwelfare.gov
    • Subscribe to Free Updates
    • Chat With Us
  • Follow us on Facebook
  • Follow us on Twitter
  • Follow us on YouTube
  • POLICIES & HELPFUL LINKS
    • Disclaimer and Policies
    • Privacy Policy
    • Accessibility
    • FOIA requests
    • No FEAR Act data
    • Office of the Inspector General
    • Performance reports
    • Vulnerability Disclosure Policy
    • USA.gov
    • Download Acrobat Reader
  • ↑ Back to top