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. 

• Pediatricians and other health-care providers
• Educators
• Law enforcement
• Clergy

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. 

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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 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.

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Law enforcement

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. 

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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.

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.

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