What Does It Mean to be a Mandated Reporter?
A mandated reporter is someone who, because of their role, is legally required to report any suspicious activity regarding abuse and or neglect. In New Mexico, all citizens are considered mandated reporters.
Typically, a mandated reporter is someone that works closely with children or the elderly. Some examples include:
- Social workers
- Teachers
- Health care workers
- Child care providers
- Medical professionals
- Certain states hold that all citizens are mandated reporters. New Mexico is a mandated reporter state.
If you fall under any of these roles, you may be a mandated reporter and have an obligation. One thing that you’re not obligated to and should not do under circumstance is investigate the situation on your own. But what does that mean? It means if you have any reasons to believe that a child and or an elderly person is being abused or neglected, you should report it to the authorities. Reporting in most states is done anonymously. To make the report, you need to know at a minimum:
- The type of abuse you suspect
- What has been done to assist the child
- Your contact information if there needs to be a follow-up.
You should, of course, report any information that you have to support and help the case. You can report abuse to Statewide Central Intake (SCI) at 1-855-333-SAFE [7233] or #SAFE from a cell phone, or to any law enforcement or tribal law enforcement.
If you are a social worker, teacher, or hospital employee, you may have more responsibilities for gathering information, reporting the abuse, and notifying the family.
The Social Worker Degree Guide says, “However, mandated reporters may collect information in support of their report, such as photographs or X-rays of any injuries. It is typically not required to inform the child’s family that you have made a report; however, those who work for a hospital or educational facility may be required to make such a notification depending on their jurisdiction.”
If you see something that seems out of the norm, you should still consider reporting what you’ve seen to a trusted authority. If you are unsure if you should report, speak to a mentor or a friend to get support.