Making the Tough Call: Legal and Ethical Issues Related to the Decision to Report Suspected Child Maltreatment

Description

When the well-being of a child is at stake, hesitation can carry enormous consequences—and so can a misstep. Behavioral health professionals often find themselves walking a legal and ethical tightrope when faced with suspected child maltreatment.

Understanding when and how to report is not just about compliance—it’s about protecting children while safeguarding therapeutic relationships and upholding professional integrity. This course is designed to give you confidence and clarity in some of the most complex moments of your clinical practice.

Kathryn Krase, Ph.D., J.D., M.S.W., brings unmatched expertise to this topic. As the founder of Making the Tough Call and Principal Consultant at Krase Consulting, Dr. Krase has authored multiple books and articles on mandated reporting. Her real-world experience in consulting with government and community-based organizations provides participants with not only theoretical knowledge but also practical, actionable insight.

Dr. Krase takes a structured, yet compassionate approach to helping professionals navigate the legal, ethical, and emotional dimensions of reporting suspected child abuse or neglect. Through clear explanations, real-world case vignettes, and a decision-making framework, she equips clinicians with tools they can use in their daily work.

This course delves into the legal history and evolution of mandated reporting, current reporting laws across states, and the definitions and indicators of abuse, neglect, and maltreatment. You'll explore the complexities of cultural and systemic biases in reporting, learn to evaluate your responsibilities under the law, and gain clarity on how to approach difficult client conversations and documentation when a report is—or is not—required.

Key Takeaways:

• Know when the law requires action: Gain clarity on how to determine when your legal duty to report has been triggered.

• Navigate ethical gray areas: Explore how to balance client care, therapeutic rapport, and mandated responsibilities.

• Implement a reporting framework: Apply a structured method to guide reporting decisions in clinical settings confidently.

Why this course?

• Unparalleled expertise: Dr Krase is one of the foremost authorities on mandated reporting and has developed a proven framework trusted by agencies nationwide.

• Real-world application: Learn through practical scenarios and tools you can immediately use in your practice.

• Mission-driven education: Offered by the Telehealth Certification Institute, whose mission is to equip clinicians like you with exceptional training to deliver the highest quality care.

Learning Objectives:

• Determine when making a report to child protective services is required by law.

• Identify the ethical/ moral and legal conundrums faced when deciding to report.

• Apply a framework to guide the process for deciding whether to make a report.

This is more than a legal primer—it’s a course that helps you rise to the moment when it matters most. Strengthen your confidence, sharpen your judgment, and prepare yourself to make the tough call when a child’s safety may depend on it.

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Format and Access

This is a non-interactive, self-study course. Instruction consists of 3 hours of video instruction and a post-test.

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: 

Course access and completion instructions.

Instructor and Disclosures

Instructor

About Kathryn Krase, Ph.D., J.D., M.S.W

Kathryn Krase, Ph.D., 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.

Disclosure Statement: 

The instructor for this course receive compensation for their services. There are no reported conflicts of interest to disclose.

CE Hours

Credit Hours:

This course consists of 3 ethics continuing education hours of credit.

Counselors:

Telehealth Certification Institute, LLC has been approved by NBCC as an Approved Continuing Education Provider, ACEP No, 6693.  Programs that do not qualify for NBCC credit are clearly identified.  Telehealth Certification Institute, LLC is solely responsible for all aspects of the programs. 

Telehealth Certification Institute, LLC is recognized by the New York State Education Department's State Board for Mental Health Practitioners as an approved provider of continuing education for Licensed Mental Health Counselors. #MHC-0048.

Marriage and Family Therapists: 

Many MFT licensing boards accept our courses or one of the approvals which we have from professional associations.  You can check with your board to determine if your licensing board would accept this course.

Telehealth Certification Institute, LLC is recognized by the New York State Education Department's State Board for Mental Health Practitioners as an approved provider of continuing education for licensed marriage and family therapists #MFT-0135, effective May 8, 2025.

Social Workers:

Telehealth Certification Institute LLC, #1609, is approved as an ACE provider to offer social work continuing education by the Association of Social Work Boards (ASWB) Approved Continuing Education (ACE) program. Regulatory boards are the final authority on courses accepted for continuing education credit. ACE provider approval period: 05/02/2024 – 05/02/2027. Social workers completing this course receive 3 ethics continuing education credits.

Telehealth Certification Institute, LLC is recognized by the New York State Education Department's State Board for Social Work as an approved provider of continuing education for Licensed Social Workers #SW-0435.

Addiction Professionals:

This course has been approved by Telehealth Certification Institute LLC, as a NAADAC Approved Education Provider, for educational credits, effective 4/3/2023. NAADAC Provider #193104, Telehealth Certification Institute LLC is responsible for all aspects of the programming.

Psychologists:

Telehealth Certification Institute LLC is approved by the American Psychological Association to sponsor continuing education for psychologists. Telehealth Certification Institute LLC maintains responsibility for this program and its content.

Telehealth Certification Institute, LLC is recognized by the New York State Education Department’s State Board for Psychology as an approved provider of continuing education for Licensed Psychologists #PSY-0128.

Art Therapists: 

Telehealth Certification Institute, LLC is recognized by the New York State Education Department's State Board for Mental Health Practitioners as an approved provider of continuing education for Licensed Creative Arts Therapists #CAT-0093.

Other Professionals:

This course qualifies for 180 minutes of instructional content as required by many national, state and local licensing boards and professional organizations.  Retain your certificate of completion and contact your board or organization for specific filing requirements.

This is a non-interactive, self-study course.

Accommodations and Policies

Close Captioning is available for live webinars and recorded video presentations.

You can click on the following links to view our policies:

• Accommodations for Individuals with Disabilities.
• Cancellation Policy
• Grievance Policy
• Support Options
• Disclosure Statement