How to Take Free Mandated Reporter Training: NYS

The NYS Office of Children and Family Services announced on February 24, 2009 that they were offering free online training for mandated reporters of maltreatment/neglect and abuse in NYS.

Difficulty:

Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need

• Internet connection
• 2 hours of your time
• Notebook and Pen

1. 

   Go to www.nysmandatedreporter.org and click on the text "courses offered". Under the headline "Self-Directed Online Training", click on the text "click here to register".

2. 

   Fill in your information and click send. You should immediately see another tab open up, which gives you a link to click on, as well as your password. Copy and past the password, and click on the link which takes you to the two hour interactive video. An email with the same information should also arrive in your email box within about five minutes.

3. 

   Watch the video, taking notes on anything of interest to you. If you decide to hit pause and finish the video later, you have up to 30 days to finish the video before your information is lost.

4. 

   The video explains what abuse and neglect is, who is a mandated reporter, consequences of failing to report neglect and abuse, and goes on to explain what to watch for, how to file a report, and many other critical issues in determining what to report, who to report, and what shouldn't be reported.

5. 

   After you watch the video, there is a short true/false quiz, and when you complete the quiz, you will receive a certificate of completion within 48 hours, and you can even apply for credit hours!

Tips & Warnings

• Getting involved in an abusive situation could save a child's life

• The NYS Central Register protects the confidentiality of people who file a complaint.

• People who file complaints with good faith are protected from civil and criminal actions, as well as being protected from retaliation by the NYS Department of Labor.

• There can be civil and criminal penalties for failure of a mandated reporter to report neglect or abuse.

Resources

• Mandated Reporter Resource Center
• NYS OCFS
• The NY Childcare Examiner