Ethical Considerations in Mandated Reporting

Conference Theme: Systemic Change

Session Description

Every day, professionals have the potential to encounter situations that may challenge our ethics and require intentional decisions to be made. Learners will gain a general understanding of potential abuse and neglect situations through observations or disclosure. Next, we will learn how to document and report such instances of abuse or neglect. Participants will learn potential ethical and or challenging situations to be proactive professionals. Ethical considerations discussed, for example, will be the impact on the reporter and client’s relationship, duplicate reporting, and conflicting employer policies. Learners will gain specific strategies, including a documented line of decision-making.

Session Objectives

Participants will

1. Understand how to effectively make a report.
2. Be able to talk responsibly about concerns you may have for maltreatment.
3. Understand the potential barriers and ethical considerations in mandated reporting.
4. Use a documented line of decision-making when considering ethical issues.

Presenter

Michelle Harris, CornerHouse

Michelle is a Forensic Interviewer/Trainer for CornerHouse in Minneapolis, Minnesota. Michelle trains professionals throughout the world on abuse and neglect topics, including forensic Interviewing. Michelle also conducts forensic interviews with children and adults. Michelle has also created, assisted in updating, and implemented multiple training curricula.

Prior to this, Michelle worked for Children’s Advocacy Centers in Florida and Wisconsin and has eight years’ experience conducting investigations in Child Protection. She has conducted over 3,000 forensic interviews and hundreds of investigations. Michelle has extensive experience in fact and expert witness testimony. Michelle also has experience in community outreach, working with at-risk youth, mentorship, crisis intervention, and prevention activities.

Michelle has a Master’s Degree in Human Services: Child Protection with emphasis in the Psychological Foundations of Child Advocacy and a Bachelor’s Degree in Criminal Justice: Corrections with minors in Child Advocacy and Sociology. She is certified as a Diplomat Child Forensic Interviewer.