The process and consequences of reporting child maltreatment: A brief overview for professionals in the mental health field

Although it has been more than three decades since the Child Abuse Prevention Act was passed, mandating professionals to identify suspected cases of child maltreatment to protect children, professionals remain hesitant in their reporting of this severe problem. One of the primary reasons professionals fail to report child maltreatment is unfamiliarity with the reporting process. Indeed, most professionals are inadequately trained to diplomatically make these reports, and some fail to report because they fear negative consequences for themselves, the alleged victim, and victim's family. Failing to report child maltreatment is associated with greater risk of future child maltreatment; therefore, this paper reviews child abuse and neglect reporting procedures, while emphasizing consequences that may occur for all involved parties. Methods of preventing negative consequences in this process are underscored, including recommendations for future research in this area.