Exploring Professional Responses to Child Neglect
Enroll in the Online Self-Study course and complete it at your own pace.
2 CE hours available for behavioral health clinicians upon completion.
When a child’s safety may be at risk, your decision can change a life—or devastate a family. Clinicians are often placed in the impossible position of making that call, with limited information, ambiguous guidelines, and high emotional stakes.
Every behavioral health professional will face moments when concern turns to uncertainty—when the line between inadequate parenting and reportable neglect feels dangerously unclear. This course helps you navigate those moments with clarity and confidence, so you can take action that protects children without compromising ethics, trust, or justice.
Register for the 2 CE Online Self-Study for
$40
Respond effectively to child neglect
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Get the Mandated Reporter Training Certificate (MRTC) for $197 (Save $63)
Earn 13 CEs and access all 5 training modules
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Kathryn Krase, Ph.D., J.D., M.S.W., is an attorney, social worker, and national expert on mandated reporting. Through her consulting work and academic leadership, she has helped thousands of professionals across the country make informed decisions when evaluating suspected child maltreatment. Her practical experience and scholarly insight make her uniquely qualified to lead you through this challenging terrain.
Dr. Krase’s teaching approach is grounded in real-world scenarios, ethical reflection, and legal analysis. You’ll be guided through difficult gray areas with a structured decision-making framework that balances professional responsibility, justice, and client-centered care.
This course explores the different forms of child neglect—physical, medical, educational, inadequate supervision, and corporal punishment—alongside the ethical and legal considerations that accompany reporting decisions. It examines intent, impact, and risk; systemic inequities and implicit bias; and how to act responsibly within the boundaries of law and ethics.
Instructor
Kathryn Krase, PhD, J.D., M.S.W.,
Principal Consultant with Krase Consultant and founder of Making the Tough Call, is an expert on the professional reporting of suspected child maltreatment. She has authored multiple books and articles on the subject. She has years of experience consulting with government and community-based organizations to develop policy & practice standards.
“Making the Tough Call” is a project of Krase Consulting. Kathryn S. Krase is the sole proprietor of both initiatives. Both Making the Tough Call and Krase Consulting are registered entities in New York State.
Key Takeaways:
- Clarify what constitutes neglect: Understand the federal and professional definitions and how they apply to your role.
- Navigate ethical and legal gray areas: Learn when the law requires a report—and when your professional judgment may offer alternatives.
- Use a decision-making framework: Apply a structured approach that supports thoughtful, defensible decisions under pressure.
Why this course?
- Timely and essential content: With neglect making up the majority of CPS reports—but rarely substantiated—this course addresses a major gap in professional training.
- Instructor expertise and clarity: Dr. Krase’s unique legal and social work perspective brings depth and practicality not found in most mandated reporter trainings.
- Mission-aligned learning: Offered by the Telehealth Certification Institute, this course reflects our commitment to excellence, integrity, and equipping clinicians with the tools they truly need.
Learning Objectives:
- Define child neglect.
- Explain differences between different types of child neglect.
- Explain considerations for determining when making a report to child protective services is required by law.
This course empowers you to respond to potential child neglect with insight and integrity, even when the stakes are high and the answers aren't easy. It’s more than fulfilling an ethics requirement—it’s a tool for responsible, values-driven practice.
Add this course to your cart today and bring greater confidence and clarity to one of the most difficult aspects of your role.
This is a non-interactive, self-study course. Instruction consists of 2 hours of video instruction and a post-test.
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Availability:
From the time of registration, you have six months to access the coursework.
Who Should Attend:
This course is intended for clinicians who provide behavioral health services.
Teaching Methods:
This is a non-interactive, self-study course. Teaching methods for this course include recorded lectures, videos, a post-test, and a course evaluation.
How to attend:
Directions for completing a course can be found by clicking here.
This program was recorded on August 19, 2022.
Testimonials
Iveyana Kiara Smith
Jessy Hainbach
Bryant Wilson
Ben Keyser
Mei Chan
Meghan Co, LCSW-C, LICSW