A mandated reporter is someone who, because of their profession, is required by law to report suspected child abuse or neglect to the appropriate authorities. Almost every state defines mandated reporters based on their profession, which most often than not includes:
Social workers
Teachers and other school personnel
Doctors, nurses, and other healthcare workers
Counselors and all other mental health professionals
Child care and daycare providers
Medical examiners or coroners
Law enforcement officers
Each of these is a professional with frequent contact or involvement with children.
Other states have broader requirements, adding professions such as commercial film developers, computer techs, substance abuse counselors, probation and parole officers, and people who work for summer camps and similar organizations.
Domestic violence workers and animal control and humane officers are also required to report in a few states. More than half the states make the clergy mandatory reporters, along with faculty and staff at institutions of higher learning institutions.
Mandated Reporter Training
Every state offers some form of mandatory reporter training, although not every state requires it of their reporters. In some states, certain employers are required to provide mandatory reporting training.
Usually, but not always, ...