Schools play a critically important role in the lives of students and their families, and mandated reporters in education are the second largest mandated reporter category in Los Angeles County. Whole child/family approaches in education enhance educational equity, and mandated reporting reform is one example of a whole family approach.
Stakeholders locally, statewide and across the nation have recognized that the current model of mandated reporting is deeply flawed, and are paving a better path forward. In 2023, California took a critical step in these reform efforts with implementation of Assembly Bill (AB) 2085, which narrowed the legal definition of general neglect and codified the important distinction between neglect and poverty-related challenges. Understanding these changes is crucial for educators in our role as mandated reporters.
The Los Angeles County Office of Education is working with key partners to transform the mandated reporting process in education across Los Angeles County to better support historically underserved children, youth and families.
New and improved training and decision support tools have been developed in collaboration with Los Angeles County to help mandated reporters make better decisions when it comes to determining whether a situation constitutes a ‘reasonable suspicion’ of reportable general neglect.
Summary of California AB 2085 for Mandated Reporters in Education
KEY PROVISIONS:
The law narrows the definition of general neglect to situations involving a parent’s negligent failure to provide adequate food, clothing, medical care or supervision, where a child is at substantial risk of suffering serious physical harm or illness. This revision focuses on situations posing significant threats to a child's well-being.
AB 2085 specifies that a parent's economic disadvantage does not constitute general neglect. This change is crucial for mandated reporters in education to understand, as it distinguishes between neglect and challenges stemming from economic hardship.
Reporting Responsibilities: Mandated reporters are required to report known or reasonably suspected cases of child abuse or neglect. Under AB 2085, we must be mindful of the revised definition of general neglect when identifying and responding to potential concerns.
Mandated reporters need additional training and guidance to fully understand and implement the changes brought about by AB 2085. This includes raising awareness of the change in the law and providing decision support tools and processes to support its implementation.
The exclusion of economic disadvantage from the definition of neglect requires us to differentiate between neglect and poverty. We should be equipped to provide support or refer families to appropriate resources without misinterpreting economic challenges as general neglect.
TRAINING & SUPPORT
Los Angeles County’s AB 2085 Mandated Reporter Training Supplement operationalizes the new law for Mandated Reporters. It also introduces a reformed approach to mandated reporting that continues to prioritize child safety, while promoting critical thinking, unbiased decision-making and preventing general neglect through provision of supportive resources to families in need. Specifically, the training supplement provides participants with:
- Guidance on how to implement and comply with AB 2085.
- Insights, strategies and tools to help Mandated Reporters make accurate, consistent and equitable decisions about reporting suspected general neglect.
- Strategies and resources to support families in need when a report to the Child Protection Hotline is not required.
- Strategies for supporting families even when a report to the Child Protection Hotline is required
Join Us for LACOE office hours - Mandated Reporting Reform Mondays:
10 a.m. first Monday of the month beginning in November 2024
Access Code: LAMMR
For more information, contact Alicia Garoupa, Chief of Wellbeing and Support Services at garoupa_alicia@lacoe.edu.
