Factors Influencing School Social Workers’ Child Abuse and Neglect Reporting Behaviors

School social workers (SSWers) play a central role in child abuse and neglect (CAN) reporting, yet few empirical studies have examined factors that influence SSWers' reporting practices. Using data from a national survey of 455 SSWers, this study examined how training, bias awareness, and beliefs about child protective services (CPS) influence SSWers' CAN reporting behavior. The role of individual-level and school-level demographic factors was also considered. Findings indicated that SSWers who were White (OR = 1.61, <i>p</i> = .034), OR = 0.77, <i>p</i> = .004), worked in a school serving higher proportions of low-income students (OR = 1.2, <i>p</i> = .002), and had higher levels of satisfaction with CPS (OR = 1.26, <i>p</i> = .013) and mandated reporting (OR = 0.74, <i>p</i> = .003) had significantly higher CAN reporting frequency. No statistically significant association was found between participants' self-report that their prior mandated reporter (MR) trainings included some form of anti-bias content and participants' awareness of their own biases. Results suggest individual-level factors impact reporting decisions; implications for research and training are addressed.

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Publication Details

Journal
Child Maltreatment
Published
2026-03-02
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1177/10775595261430083
Primary Topic
Child Abuse and Trauma
Type
article
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article

Factors Influencing School Social Workers’ Child Abuse and Neglect Reporting Behaviors

Erin Sugrue, Minhae Cho, Ashley-Marie H. Daftary
Child Maltreatment
Child Abuse and Trauma
article

Factors Influencing School Social Workers’ Child Abuse and Neglect Reporting Behaviors

Erin Sugrue, Minhae Cho, Ashley-Marie H. Daftary
article en

Abstract

School social workers (SSWers) play a central role in child abuse and neglect (CAN) reporting, yet few empirical studies have examined factors that influence SSWers' reporting practices. Using data from a national survey of 455 SSWers, this study examined how training, bias awareness, and beliefs about child protective services (CPS) influence SSWers' CAN reporting behavior. The role of individual-level and school-level demographic factors was also considered. Findings indicated that SSWers who were White (OR = 1.61, <i>p</i> = .034), OR = 0.77, <i>p</i> = .004), worked in a school serving higher proportions of low-income students (OR = 1.2, <i>p</i> = .002), and had higher levels of satisfaction with CPS (OR = 1.26, <i>p</i> = .013) and mandated reporting (OR = 0.74, <i>p</i> = .003) had significantly higher CAN reporting frequency. No statistically significant association was found between participants' self-report that their prior mandated reporter (MR) trainings included some form of anti-bias content and participants' awareness of their own biases. Results suggest individual-level factors impact reporting decisions; implications for research and training are addressed.

Child Maltreatment
Augsburg University (US), University of Nevada, Reno (US), University of Augsburg (DE), University of Memphis (US)
Openalex Percentile: Top 42%
Child Abuse and Trauma
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Factors Influencing School Social Workers’ Child Abuse and Neglect Reporting Behaviors — Erin Sugrue, Minhae Cho, et al. · Child Maltreatment (2026) | TGRS Research Map | TGRS