Los Angeles County Mandated Supporting Initiative

The decision to report suspected child abuse and neglect is profoundly consequential.

Many professionals who serve children—including physicians, educators, therapists, law enforcement, and others—are required (“mandated”) to report suspected child abuse and neglect to the Child Protection Hotline. As such, Mandated Reporters play an extremely important role in the lives of children and their families.

Mandated Reporters make 82% of all reports of suspected child abuse and neglect to the LA County Child Protection Hotline. The vast majority of these allegations are not substantiated.

Despite the stated intentions, the current model of mandated reporting—in policy and practice—is a deeply misguided and flawed response to our societal responsibility to ensure that children are free from harm.

The current model of mandated reporting…

• Is not designed to prevent child abuse and neglect by strengthening protective factors and connecting families in need to supportive resources.
  
  
  
  
• Increases safety risks by disrupting a family’s trust in the organizations that they should be able to turn to in times of need.
  
  
  
  
• Overburdens the Child Protection Hotline with reports that do not require interventions by the Department of Children and Family Services (DCFS), which limits the resources available to children who are unsafe and truly need to be protected.
  
  
  
  
• Is the starting point for the devastating overrepresentation of children and families of color—particularly Black children and families—in the child welfare system.
  
  
  
  
• Often leads Mandated Reporters to falsely believe that the only way to support a family that is in need is to make a report to the Child Protection Hotline.
  
  
  
  
• Does not provide Mandated Reporters with the training, support, and resources that they need to make sound reporting decisions that are in the best interests of children and their families.

The need for reform is clear and the time is now!

We envision a Los Angeles County where all children are free from harm and all families have the resources and opportunities they need to thrive.

The Los Angeles County Mandated Supporting Initiative (MSI) aims to transform LA County’s system of mandated reporting to a model that:

• Prevents children from experiencing harm caused by maltreatment and the harm of unnecessary involvement with the child welfare system.
  
  
  
  
• Promotes holistic family well-being.
  
  
  
  
• Provides high-quality services to families in need to prevent child abuse and neglect.
  
  
  
  
• Eliminates mandated reporting as a driver of racial disproportionality and disparity within the child welfare system.

The MSI is a reform effort that targets transformation in four critical areas:

• Improving Mandated Reporter training and support.
  
  
  
  
• Building pathways to community-based preventive services and supports.
  
  
  
  
• Engaging in legislative advocacy and organizational policy reform.
  
  
  
  
• Changing flawed narratives about what it takes to keep children safe and help families thrive.