Making the Tough Call

When I help mental health professionals evaluate concerns related to their own ethical practice, I often get asked: “What should I do if I’m not the one with an ethical problem, but my colleague is?” This episode will explore that question and provide practical advice on what considerations the professional should make for their responsive action.

Anonymous reports to CPS create numerous problems for families and the CPS system. This podcast explores the reasons for eliminating anonymous reporting as an option.

Clients of lawyers have an expectation that what they share with their lawyer will be held confidential to the highest standards. When a social worker works with that lawyer in support of that client's legal representation, is the social worker still a mandated reporter of suspected child abuse and neglect? This podcast explores this question and provides legal and ethical analysis to inform p...

Boundary concerns for supervisors are particularly challenging because of the power dynamics; supervisors have considerable power over their supervisees.  When there are boundaries concerns the professional needs to carefully consider the implications, and make a decision that appropriately prioritizes certain roles. This episode helps supervisors best consider their response to boundary concerns.

There are limits to client confidentiality. One of those limits relates to situations where a therapist is concerned that their client might be a danger to themself or others. This podcast explores the "duty to protect/warn" and its limitations.

Contrary to popular belief, most states DO NOT have a law that defines the age that a child can be left home alone. Check out this podcast episode to find out about how to evaluate your concerns related to unsupervised kids.

In this compelling video, Dr. Kathryn Krase, a distinguished expert in law, social work, and mandated reporting, presents her testimony to the NYS Assembly hearing on Mandated Reporting. Dr. Krase sheds light on the flaws in the current mandated reporting system, emphasizing how it negatively impacts marginalized communities. She advocates for a radical shift in child welfare policies and challeng...

Dual or multiple relationships are situations where a professional has a more than one role with someone they provide services with. This video introduces dual relationships and the ethical concerns associated with them.

This video helps the professional understand considerations to make when talking to their clients about their role as a mandated reporter.

This episode explains the new New York State requirements for updated mandated reporter training. Learn who needs the training, what's new, and how you can access the training!

When someone tries to access a therapist’s records in order to use them in a court case, it might be appropriate for the therapist to assert “privilege” in order to continue protecting their client’s confidentiality. This episode explores Therapist-Client privilege and provides mental and behavioral health professionals resources to help them protect client confidential information.

You might be wondering: how many states have mandated reporter laws? EVERY STATE HAS MANDATED REPORTER LAWS.  However, mandated reporting laws vary slightly from state to state. In general, professionals who are likely to come in contact with children and their families are “mandated reporters” of suspected child maltreatment, at least when they develop those suspicions through their professional...

Many mandated reporters are worried they will get in trouble if they don’t make a report to child protective services (CPS) when they have a concern about a child. As a result, they make a report to CPS to avert the risk of “failing to report”. Many of these reports, however, are unnecessary, and ultimately problematic and destabilizing to the families they report. This podcast explores the realit...

Every profession has a code of ethics of some sort, but why? This podcast outlines the reasons why it is important for professions to have ethics. In the wise words of Spiderman's Uncle Ben: "With Great Power, Comes Great Responsibility". That's why professions have ethics.

Sometimes professional codes of ethics don't have all the answers, and professionals are left to evaluate considerations on their own. In those moments, considering the 4 basic ethical principles of beneficence, non-maleficence, autonomy and justice can help. This podcast introduces these principles and applies them to two common situations found in the practice of mental and behavioral health...

Professionals look to their professional codes of ethics to help guide them in tough situations. It's important for professionals to understand the importance of the language used in the standards, in order to appropriately evaluate their choices. This podcast episode discusses the difference between permissive, suggestive and restrictive language in ethical standards.

Mandated reporters struggle with understanding when they are required to make reports to child protective services. This explores explores when mandated reporters are required to make reports to CPS, and when they might not.

This episode explores whether mandated reporters are required to make reports of suspected child abuse that occurred many years ago.

Concerns about the impact of parental substance use disorders on children are understandable. However, the obligation of mandated reporters to bring their concerns to the attention of child protective services (CPS) is not always so clear cut. This episode explores assumptions professionals make about parental substance use, and encourages mandated reporters to think about their concerns different...

This podcast explores the question whether professionals should be required to make reports to child protective services. Maybe the answer isn't as easy to discern as you might think.

This podcast episode explores the laws around the obligation of mandated reporters and their employers to complete training on their obligations to report suspected child maltreatment.

This episode explains what "unsubstantiated" reports to CPS mean, and how mandated reporters can prevent making unnecessary reports of suspected child maltreatment.

In this podcast episode, we explore corporal punishment, and when the behavior is considered child abuse. We look at law in the US, and internationally. We use research to understand the present context, and to forecast changes to policy in the future. This episode is helpful for professional reporters of child maltreatment who struggle with when corporal punishment in abuse.

Have you ever wondered if a child should be left alone? This podcast introduces some of the concepts to consider.

This episode of Making the Tough Call explores the impact that the legal and ethical obligations held by "mandated reporters" has on personal and professional autonomy.  When the law requires certain professionals to make reports to child protective services (CPS) the autonomy of parents and professionals is limited. Learn more about mandated reporting, parental autonomy and professional auto...