DENVER – Following months of research and analysis, the office of the Child Protection Ombudsman's 50-State Mandatory Reporting Law Database is now live and available for public use. A news release says the resource provides users with an in-depth, interactive look at how mandatory reporting laws in 50 states operate and vary.
This resource will be key as Colorado’s Mandatory Reporting Task Force enters its final stretch to assess whether the state’s mandatory reporting laws are effective at preventing child abuse and neglect in Colorado, according to the release from the Colorado Child Protection Ombudsman.
The task force will use this database to inform its recommendations to reform Colorado’s mandatory reporting law.
Numerous deficiencies have been identified in the state’s child abuse reporting law. The task force was placed within the Ombudsman’s office as it serves as the state’s neutral and informed entity to address complicated and long-standing issues impacting the child protection system. The CPO prioritized the creation of this database because of its unique charge to provide this information in an impartial and user-friendly way.
The task force is charged with issuing recommendations to address the child abuse reporting system’s disproportionate impact to under-resourced communities, communities of color, and people with disabilities through training and clarifying vague directives in the law.
While this database was primarily developed to aid the task force in developing recommendations, it will also help the task force develop strategies to prevent child abuse and neglect before it happens.
This database will help members of the task force – and stakeholders around the country asking similar questions – understand how mandatory reporting laws dictate how professionals engage with children and families. Such work will help identify when circumstances present an immediate neglect or abuse concern, and when alternative services or support may be appropriate and help to prevent further concern.
The database compiles information regarding how each state statute answers seven questions regarding mandatory reporting. Those questions include:
- How long do mandatory reporters have to make a report?
- Are mandatory reporters required to report concerns of abuse or neglect they encounter during their personal time?
- Can institutions such as schools and hospitals develop internal policies regarding how mandatory reports are made?
- Does a mandatory reporter fulfill their responsibility by alerting a supervisor, instead of child welfare services?
- Do states address medical neglect in their mandatory reporting laws?
- Are mandatory reporters required to receive training regarding implicit bias or diversity, equity and inclusion?
- Are mandatory reporters required to receive training regarding when to report or implicit bias?
By clicking each state, users can read quotes from each state’s law and the full citation of each relevant statute. Users may also access summaries of the CPO’s analysis of each set of laws. This analysis contains summaries of the laws and trends identified by CPO. Finally, users can download a spreadsheet with all the resource’s data to explore on their own if desired.
About the Office of the Colorado Child Protection Ombudsman The Office of the Colorado Child Protection Ombudsman (CPO) is an independent government agency that ensures the state’s child protection systems consistently, fairly and equitably deliver services to every child, youth and family. Established in 2010, the CPO offers free, confidential and neutral services to ensure the highest attainable standards of care and works with people, government agencies and other stakeholders to resolve issues and disputes. More information can be found at: https://coloradocpo.org
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