Mandated Reporter Training

The Massachusetts Legislature has designated doctors, nurses, child care providers, teachers, guidance counselors and certain other professionals as mandated reporters.

By the nature of their work, mandated reporters are often the first people to see signs of or be told about abuse, including exploitation, and neglect. The State receives over 75,000 reports of abuse and neglect a year.

It is a crime for mandated reporters to fail to file a 51A Report if, in their professional capacity, they have reasonable cause to believe a child is being abused or neglected. The name of a mandated reporter is kept confidential unless ordered by a court.

Professionally licensed mandated reporters are required to complete a training on how to recognize and report suspected child abuse and neglect. We offer this free online training program, which is available in 21 languages. The training includes information about obligations under the Massachusetts Human Trafficking Law.

The training website can be found here.