In September 2022, Safe & Sound released an issue brief proposing recommendations to reform the current mandated reporting system in order to build strong communities that help keep children safe and families together. Over the last year, Safe & Sound has been playing an important leadership role in the statewide effort to shift from reporting families into systems, to safely supporting families in the communities where they can thrive.
The need for change in the mandated reporting system is evidenced in the large volume of reports to child protection hotlines each year that ultimately end up being screened out, unsubstantiated, or included as allegations of general neglect only. The negative impact of overreporting is most significant for Black/African American, American Indian/Alaska Native, and Latino/a children and families who are disproportionately represented in these reports, and in the child welfare system overall.
On March 13, 2023, the California Child Welfare Council (CWC) unanimously approved a set of Community Pathway Recommendations with the following goals:
Reform the state’s mandated reporting system so children and families are safely supported in their communities.
Build strong and connected community supports that understand, connect to, and enhance the natural strengths of every family, often referred to as a community pathway.
Objectives
See how data shows the over-reporting of abuse and neglect and its disproportionate impact in BIPOC communities
Have a better understanding of how prevention versus intervention can positively impact children, families, communities and society
Understand the purposes of mandated reform efforts to create a paradigm shift from mandated reporting to community supporting
Learn what the state of California is doing through the Mandated Reporting to Community Supporting Task Force as well as some highlights from reform efforts across the nation
Content: 3 modules
Course Length: 90 minutes
Level: Advanced