Mandated
Reporting
Toolkit
Note: This toolkit does not replace legal obligations.
HOPE585 partners with families, educators, advocates, and national organizations to better understand the real-world impacts of child welfare involvement and to support alternatives that prioritize dignity, care, and community-based solutions. Through policy analysis, coalition-building, and resource development, HOPE585 works to promote systems that support children and families in ways that are responsive, equitable, and community-centered.
Purpose of This Toolkit
This toolkit brings together curated resources from HOPE585 and national partners to support educators, mandated reporters, families, and community members in navigating mandated reporting with care, ethical clarity, and a focus on support rather than punishment. The resources included are intended to help individuals better understand their responsibilities, and the mandated reporting laws and ethical considerations, while also considering the real-life impacts of reporting decisions, and explore alternatives that prioritize prevention, trust, and family well-being whenever possible.
How to Use This Toolkit
This toolkit is designed to be used flexibly. Readers may engage with the full set of resources or select individual materials based on their role, questions, or context. Resources include videos, guidance documents, and educational tools intended to support reflection, learning, and more informed decision-making.
Institute to Transform Child Protection
In this thought-provoking video, the Institute to Transform Child Protection dives into the world of mandated reporting, offering a unique look from the perspectives of parents, advocates, and child protection professionals.
The Mandatory Reporting is Not Neutral Project and Interrupting Criminalization’s Beyond Do No Harm Network
This Balancing Risk Assessment Tool offers guidance for practitioners and community-based organizations seeking to reduce harm while navigating mandated reporting responsibilities. It is designed to support thoughtful risk assessment and promote practices that prioritize family stability and well-being within child welfare and legal systems.
JMAC for Families
Video and educational resources designed to help families understand mandated reporting and supporting, their rights, and what to expect when concerns are raised.
Partner: AFT (American Federation of Teachers)
Resources to support educators in understanding mandated reporting responsibilities, ethical considerations, and supportive approaches to addressing concerns about student well-being.
Kathryn Krase - "Making the Hard Call: Ethics of Reporting"
Resources focused on ethical decision-making, professional judgment, and balancing legal requirements with harm reduction and family-centered practice.
HOPE585 - Family Support and Resource Navigation
If you are a mandated reporter working with youth or parents who are navigating poverty-related challenges that could be mistaken for neglect, HOPE585 can help. Email us at info@hope585.org to connect with a member of our team. We provide immediate support and resource navigation for families at risk of a CPS investigation.
Mandated reporting exists within complex systems that do not always align with the lived realities of families. This toolkit does not replace legal obligations. Instead, it offers resources to support thoughtful, ethical, and informed decision-making, with the goal of reducing unnecessary harm and strengthening pathways to support.
