Citation

VanBergeijk E, Sarmiento T. Brief Treat. Crisis Interv. 2005; 5(2): 159-185.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2005, Oxford University Press)

DOI

10.1093/brief-treatment/mhi015

PMID

unavailable

Abstract

This qualitative research study is a unique and rich portrayal of public school-mandated reporters and their experiences with reporting child abuse on the U.S.-Mexico border. Twenty-eight school personnel were interviewed using grounded theory methods. Situations that involved parental substance abuse, domestic violence, and neglect were the most difficult for reporters to identify as potential child maltreatment. Emergent themes included (a) the inherent conflict between the mandate to report suspicions of child abuse versus the need for evidence, (b) the threat of potential violence as a result of a report, and (c) the impact of culture on reporting. The two theoretical models were developed to understand mandated reporters' behavior. Implications for future policy, practice, and research are discussed.

Language: en