Bipartisan efforts to strengthen the Child Abuse Prevention and Treatment Act (CAPTA) and other related bills were introduced in 2021 as representatives from both parties seek to end the epidemic of child abuse and neglect in the U.S. Here are the bills introduced in 2021 to protect children: H.R. 485: Stronger Child Abuse Prevention and Treatment Act Introduced by Rep. Scott, Robert C. "Bobby" [D-VA-3] Passed House (03/16/2021) H.R. 485 reauthorizes through FY2027 and revises the Child Abuse Prevention and Treatment Act and the Child Abuse Prevention and Treatment and Adoption Reform Act of 1978 to expand services for preventing and treating child abuse. The bill requires the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to establish uniform national standards for tracking and reporting child fatalities and near fatalities resulting from maltreatment, and develop an electronic interstate data exchange system that allows states to share information from their child abuse and neglect registries with other states. The bill also addresses child abuse and neglect related to families impacted by substance use disorders, racial bias in the child protective services system, and child sexual abuse. The bill also ...

Child abuse and neglect is a pervasive public health problem that continues to affect millions of children across the country. In 2021, H.R 485: The Stronger Child Abuse Prevention and Treatment Act was introduced to prevent this crisis from worsening. H.R 485: The Stronger Child Abuse Prevention and Treatment Act Following significant declines in the rate of child abuse and neglect across the 1990s and 2000s, the rate of child maltreatment has ticked up in recent years as the opioid and COVID-19 epidemics have devastated families and communities across the country. The number of children receiving an investigation or response from child protective services agencies and the number of children who have died as a result of child abuse and neglect has risen steadily over the past decade. The Stronger Child Abuse Prevention and Treatment Act is a bipartisan proposal that will help states address the recent rise in child abuse and neglect by providing strategic funding to build networks of prevention services designed to strengthen families and to improve the quality of child protective services. Who Introduced H.R. 485? H.R. 485 was introduced in ...

Throughout the United States, certain individuals are required to report suspected abuse of children and adults depending on their profession. The consequences of failing to report can vary depending on where you work, making it important to thoroughly understand mandated reporting requirements in your area.  If you're a professional in Arkansas, make sure you have a thorough understanding of the state’s mandated reporting laws and how they impact your profession. When Was Mandated Reporting of Abuse First Required in Arkansas? The requirement for states to designate certain individuals as mandated reporters of child abuse dates back to the passage of the Federal Child Abuse Prevention and Treatment Act (CAPTA) in 1974. CAPTA requires states to select certain individuals as mandated reporters of suspected incidences of child abuse or neglect.  In Arkansas, the professions that are required to report child abuse are outlined in A.C.A. § 12-18-402, dating back to 2009 with several updates in years since. Similarly, the push to require certain individuals to report elder abuse has long been a subject of national importance. By 1981, 83% of states indicated that they supported ...

Mandated Reporters play an important role in protecting our population’s most vulnerable members from abuse and neglect. However, which individuals are called upon to fulfill this important duty varies greatly from state to state and depending on the population you’re working with. Some professionals, however, are generally expected to be mandated reporters for all types of abuse. These 7 professions are mandated reporters across multiple states and types of abuse. 7 Professions Who Are Mandated Reporters of Multiple Kinds of Abuse Doctors As those who serve us when we are sick and injured, doctors have a unique opportunity to recognize abuse in many different populations. Almost every state requires doctors to report suspected child abuse and neglect, and doctors are also common reporters of elder abuse. While fewer states have laws surrounding mandated domestic violence reporting compared to requirements for other types of abuse, many do require doctors to report wounds from firearms or grave injuries to local authorities. These requirements can help provide needed aid to victims of intimate partner violence. Nurses Like doctors, nurses are uniquely able to spot and report abuse across multiple age ...

Mandated reporters are people required by law to report suspected or known instances of abuse. In most states, mandated reporters are designated by their profession. But in some states, all adults are considered mandated reporters. Because mandated reporter laws vary by state, understanding who a mandated reporter is can feel confusing. Here is a simple guide to mandated reporters and what types of abuse they are legally required to report. What is a Mandated Reporter? Mandated reporters have an individual duty to report known or suspected abuse or neglect relating to children, elders, or dependent adults. While the term mandated reporter is most often associated with persons who have a responsibility to report suspected child abuse, it can also refer to someone who reports abuse of adults, elderly persons, dependent adults, and adults with disabilities as well. Types of Abuse and Who is Required to Report Child Abuse The Federal Child Abuse Prevention and Treatment Act (CAPTA) requires each State to have provisions or procedures for requiring certain individuals to report known or suspected instances of child abuse and neglect. Approximately 47 States, the District of Columbia, ...

The Child Abuse Prevention and Treatment Act (CAPTA) was first enacted 40 years ago to improve child protective systems. CAPTA provides Federal funding (grants) and guidance to States in support of prevention, assessment, investigation, prosecution, and treatment activities. Since its inception, CAPTA has been amended several times, most recently by the Victims of Child Abuse Act Reauthorization Act of 2018. The History of the Child Abuse Prevention and Treatment Act (CAPTA) The key Federal legislation addressing child abuse and neglect is the Child Abuse Prevention and Treatment Act (CAPTA), originally enacted on January 31, 1974 (P.L. 93-247). This act has been amended several times and was last reauthorized on December 20, 2010, by the CAPTA Reauthorization Act of 2010 (P.L. 111-320). It was amended in 2015, 2016, and 2018, and most recently, certain provisions of the act were amended on January 7, 2019, by the Victims of Child Abuse Act Reauthorization Act of 2018 (P.L. 115-424). CAPTA provides Federal funding and guidance to States in support of prevention, assessment, investigation, prosecution, and treatment activities and also provides grants to public agencies and nonprofit ...

In the United States, mandated reporting laws and funding can vary from state to state. Some states receive funding in the millions and have extremely stringent requirements for who needs to report, while other states receive far less funding or have few legislative requirements for reporters. Does this variation in mandated reporting requirements leave the most vulnerable of our population at risk? States Receive Varying Amounts of Federal Funds to Aid in Abuse Prevention Federal grants account for about one-third of total state government funding, and more than half of state government funding for health care and public assistance. Federal grants for preventing and treating abuse generally fall under the “formula categorical grant” category, meaning they are allocated among recipients according to factors specified within the enabling legislation.  Federal legislation such as the Child Abuse Prevention and Treatment Act (CAPTA) and Elder Justice Act (EJA) authorizes grants for state and local governments for reporting, investigation, training, monitoring of casework, provision of social services, and other activities related to the abuse of children and the elderly. CAPTA funds are allocated proportionately among states based on the ...

Mandated reporters shoulder a somber responsibility to protect the most vulnerable of our citizens. For mandated reporters in the United States, keeping track of existing legal requirements, upcoming legislation, and training requirements is a difficult task. The National Association of Mandated Reporters is on a mission to make this easier by providing mandated reporters with a centralized hub for information, education, and a supportive community.  What is the National Association of Mandated Reporters? The National Association of Mandated Reporters, or NAMR, is a non-profit organization developed with the mission of supporting mandated reporters in the United States so they can more effectively perform their duties as persons with a legal responsibility to report suspected or known abuse. The purpose of the NAMR website—namr.org—is to be a centralized hub for all mandated reporters to collect, curate, and share information pertaining to abuse reporting and prevention. The National Association of Mandated Reporters organization has set forth the following goals: Unifying All Mandated Reporters Mandated reporters are typically classified and trained based on the types of abuse they are required to report, including: Child abuse Elder abuse Intimate partner abuse (also ...