Making the Tough Call: Exploring the Ethics of Mandated Reporting through the Lens of Racial & Social Justice
Enroll in the Online Self-Study course and complete it at your own pace.
2 CE hours available for behavioral health clinicians upon completion.
Every day, behavioral health professionals are faced with decisions that could shape a child’s future—but what if making the “right” call risks reinforcing systemic injustice? This course challenges clinicians to consider not just whether to report suspected maltreatment, but how to do so ethically in a system rife with racial and social inequities.
In a world where ethics and legality often collide, this training equips you with tools to navigate the tension between professional duty and moral responsibility. If you’ve ever hesitated before picking up the phone to call CPS, this course offers clarity, insight, and a new lens to guide your next steps.
Register for the 2 CE Online Self-Study for
$40
Explore justice-centered ethics in mandated reporting
Payment Options are listed at checkout
Get the Mandated Reporter Training Certificate (MRTC) for $197 (Save $63)
Earn 13 CEs and access all 5 training modules
Payment Options are listed at checkout
Dr Kathryn Krase, PhD, J.D., M.S.W., is a nationally recognized authority on mandated reporting and child welfare policy. A lawyer, social worker, and educator, Dr Krase brings decades of experience in research, training, and consulting for government and community organizations. Her scholarship and advocacy focus on reforming the systems that disproportionately harm families of color—and she’s uniquely positioned to lead clinicians through the complex landscape of ethical reporting.
In this self-paced course, Dr Krase takes a research-driven yet highly personal approach, empowering clinicians to understand how both personal identity and systemic structures influence decisions around mandated reporting. With warmth and clarity, she explores tough questions without prescribing easy answers, offering instead a framework that supports both justice and professional accountability.
Participants will examine the evolution of mandated reporting laws, the ethical principles behind them, and how these laws have led to racially disproportionate outcomes. The course unpacks racial bias in report substantiation, the intersection of poverty and visibility bias, the legacy of child welfare systems, and macro- to micro-level factors that shape reporting decisions. Clinicians will also explore their own professional autonomy and develop practical strategies for “just” reporting that balances ethical, legal, and social justice considerations.
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 ethical and legal tensions: Understand the historical roots of mandated reporting and the ethical principles that often conflict with current laws.
- Recognize systemic bias: Learn how racial disproportionality in child welfare reporting impacts your role as a clinician.
- Apply justice-oriented frameworks: Gain tools to make informed, ethical decisions when considering a report to CPS.
Why this course?
- Relevant and courageous content: Few CE courses address the racial and ethical dimensions of mandated reporting head-on—this one does.
- Expert-led and evidence-based: Dr. Krase draws from deep academic and real-world expertise to deliver grounded, actionable insights.
- Mission-aligned with your values: Telehealth Certification Institute equips clinicians to deliver high-quality, justice-informed care—because ethics and effectiveness go hand in hand.
Learning Objectives:
- Explain the competing ethical and legal principles at play in the development of mandated reporting laws over time.
- Explain the contributing factors related to racial disproportionality in the child welfare system.
- Identify ethical/ moral and legal conundrums faced when making the decision to report.
- Apply a framework to guide the process for considering racial and social justice when determining whether they are required to make a report to child protective services.
This course is a vital resource for behavioral health clinicians committed to ethical care, social justice, and systemic change. Let this be the course that transforms not only how you report—but how you lead, advocate, and serve.
Add this course to your cart to begin learning instantly.
This is a non-interactive self-study course. Instruction consists of 2 hours of video instruction and a post-test.
Select each tab for course details
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 February 18, 2022.
Testimonials
Iveyana Kiara Smith
Jessy Hainbach
Bryant Wilson
Ben Keyser
Mei Chan
Meghan Co, LCSW-C, LICSW