Ethics Category

Decision-Making and Relationship Competence When Reporting Suspected Physical Abuse and Child Neglect

An Objective Structured Clinical Evaluation

1.5 CE Hour
801 members have taken this course

Updated 19 days ago. Consider reviewing the exam questions below before taking the exam.

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About the Course

Mandatory reporting of suspected child abuse and neglect can lead to challenges for mental health professionals in regard to navigating between professional ethical and legal obligations while maintaining therapeutic relationships with clients. This course is based on a study that was conducted to determine the decision-making factors involved when dealing with a suspicion of child abuse and neglect, how the participants justified the decision to report or not report to child protection services, and the relationship-repair strategies used with simulated clients during an objective structured clinical evaluation (OSCE). This course will review this study, including an overview and background of the topic, the study's methodology and results, and the conclusions and recommendations of this research.

This course is based on the reading online article, Decision-Making and Relationship Competence When Reporting Suspected Physical Abuse and Child Neglect created by Lea Tufford, Ph.D. et al in 2021.

Publication Details

Publication Date: Clinical Social Work Journal Feb 2021

Course Material Authors

Course Material Authors authored the material only, and were not involved in creating this CE course. They are identified here for your own evaluation of the relevancy of the material this course is based on.

Lea Tufford, Ph.D.

Lea Tufford, Ph.D. is an Associate Professor in the School of Social Work at Laurentian University. Lea’s primary areas of research are the mandatory reporting of child abuse and neglect, the use of simulation in social work education, holistic competence, and mindfulness meditation. Lea’s research and teaching are informed by 20 years of clinical practice with individuals, couples, and families. She is a Couple and Family Therapist with the Ontario Association for Marriage and Family Therapy, a member of the Ontario Association of Mental Health Professionals, and a Clinical Fellow of the American Association for Marriage and Family Therapy.

Barbara Lee, Ph.D.

Barbara Lee, Ph.D. is an Assistant Professor in the School of Social Work at the University of British Columbia. Barbara’s primary areas of research and practice is with children and families involved in the child welfare system in Canada. Barbara uses simulation-based learning to examine social work students’ readiness for field education and prepare students for direct practice with children, youth, and families.

Target Audience

Counselors, marriage and family therapists, psychologists and social workers. This course is appropriate for all levels of knowledge.

Learning Objectives

After taking this activity, you should be able to:

  1. 1 Discuss the topic of suspected abuse and neglect as well as the mandatory reporting guidelines, factors to consider, and mandates for mental health professionals.
  2. 2 Identify and describe the challenges faced by mental health practitioners in regard to maintaining a therapeutic relationship with clients when facing a suspected situation of abuse and/or neglect.
  3. 3 Describe the methodology for and use of an Objective Structured Clinical Examination (OSCE).
  4. 4 Identify at least 2 proactive strategies to avoid potential therapeutic alliance ruptures.
  5. 5 Identify at least 2 strategies to repair and maintain the therapeutic relationship between the clinician and clients.
  6. 6 Discuss the implications and recommendations of this study/article for clinical practice.

Disclosure to Learners

CE Learning Systems adheres to the ACCME's Standards for Integrity and Independence in Accredited Continuing Medical Education. Any individuals in a position to control the content of a CE activity – including faculty, planners, reviewers, or others ― are required to disclose all relevant financial relationships with ineligible entities (formerly known as commercial interests).

The following relevant financial relationships have been disclosed by this activity's planners, faculty, and the reviewer:

Planners and Reviewers

The planners of this activity have reported that they have no relevant financial relationships.

Material Authors

Any relevant financial disclosures for course material authors can be found in the article.

Commercial support

There is no commercial support for this distance-learning course.

Use our CE Approvals tool to look up your state requirements and how can help you meet them, or log in to your member account to show approvals relevant to your licensure.

Joint Accreditation (JA)

1.5 Psychologist CE credit hour
1.5 Social Worker CE credit hour Ethics
Eligible until Feb 6th, 2028
In support of improving patient care, CE Learning Systems, LLC, is jointly accredited by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME), the Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education (ACPE), and the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC), to provide continuing education for the healthcare team.
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American Psychological Association (APA)

1.5 CE credit hour Ethics
Eligible until Feb 6th, 2028
Continuing Education (CE) credits for psychologists are provided through the co-sponsorship of the American Psychological Association (APA) Office of Continuing Education in Psychology (CEP). The APA CEP Office maintains responsibility for the content of the programs.
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Association of Social Work Boards (ASWB ACE)

1.5 CE credit hour Ethics
Eligible until Feb 6th, 2028
As a Jointly Accredited Organization, CE Learning Systems LLC is approved to offer social work continuing education by the Association of Social Work Boards (ASWB) Approved Continuing Education (ACE) program. Organizations, not individual courses, are approved under this program. Regulatory boards are the final authority on courses accepted for continuing education credit. Social workers completing this course receive 1.5 ethics continuing education credit(s).
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National Board for Certified Counselors (NBCC)

1.5 CE credit hour
Eligible until Apr 30th, 2026
CE Learning Systems has been approved by NBCC as an Approved Continuing Education Provider, ACEP No. 5951. Programs that do not qualify for NBCC credit are clearly identified. CE Learning Systems is solely responsible for all aspects of the programs. 1.5 NBCC hour(s) awarded.
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NAADAC, the Association for Addiction Professionals (NAADAC)

1.5 CE credit hour
Eligible until Sep 29th, 2026
This course has been approved by CE Learning Systems, service provider of Impact CE, as a NAADAC Approved Education Provider, for educational credits. NAADAC Provider #192243, CE Learning Systems is responsible for all aspects of their programming.
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NAADAC Approved Education Provider

Florida Board of Clinical Social Work, Marriage and Family Therapy and Mental Health Counseling (FL CSW, MFT, MHC)

1.5 CE credit hour — Ethics and Boundaries
Eligible until Mar 27th, 2027
Impact CE, a service of CE Learning Systems, is approved by the Florida Board of Clinical Social Work, Marriage and Family Therapy and Mental Health Counseling (Provider # 50-315).
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Florida Certification Board (FCB)

1.5 CE credit hour
Eligible until Dec 30th, 2027
Impact CE, a service of CE learning Systems, is approved by the Florida Certification Board (FCB) to offer continuing education programs (Provider # 5069A).
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Florida Board of Psychology

1.5 CE credit hour — Ethics
Eligible until Dec 31st, 2030
Impact CE, a service of CE Learning Systems, is approved by the Florida Board of Psychology (Provider # 50-315).
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Missouri Credentialing Board (MCB)

1.5 CE credit hour — Ethics
Eligible until Dec 30th, 2026
AddictionCounselorCE is an approved provider of the Missouri Substance Abuse Professional Credentialing Board (Provider #101). AddictionCounselorCE maintains responsibility for this course and its contents.
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New York State Office of Addiction Services and Supports (OASAS)

1.5 CE credit hour — Ethics

CASAC

Renewal: Yes

CPS, CPP

Section: Section 1
Renewal: Yes
Initial: Yes
Eligible until Feb 27th, 2028
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New York Education Department Board of Social Work

1.5 contact hour
Eligible until Mar 30th, 2027
CE Learning Systems, LLC, (d/b/a impactce.com) 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. Provider #0060.
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New York Education Department Board of Mental Health Counseling

1.5 CE credit hour
Eligible until Jul 29th, 2026
CE Learning Systems, LLC (d/b/a impactce.com) 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-0072.
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New York Education Department Board of Psychologists

1.5 CE credit hour
Eligible until Dec 29th, 2026
CE Learning Systems, LLC, (d/b/a impactce.com) is recognized by the New York State Education Department's State Board for Psychology as an approved provider of continuing education for psychologists, # PSY-0016.
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New York Education Department Board of Marriage and Family Therapy

1.5 CE credit hour
Eligible until May 30th, 2027
CE Learning Systems, LLC (d/b/a impactce.com) 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-0045.
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Virginia Certification Board (VCB)

1.5 CE credit hour — Ethics
Eligible until Jul 31st, 2026
Virginia Certification Board educational provider # 106
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Course Material

References begin on page 14

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Course Details

1.5 CE Hours
Reading Online
Course 103672

Profession Group

  • Addictions
  • Addictions

Availability

This course is available until Feb 5th, 2035.

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