Course Summary

Expiration Date: 08/30/2027

This educational activity provides comprehensive training for healthcare professionals on their role as mandated reporters in New York State. It covers recognizing indicators of child abuse and maltreatment, understanding legal obligations to report to the State Central Register (SCR), the impact of trauma and Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs), strategies to reduce bias in decision-making, and alternatives to reporting through community resources. The purpose is to equip participants with the knowledge to make informed, unbiased decisions that promote child safety while supporting families, ultimately improving clinical practice by reducing unnecessary reports and enhancing access to preventive services.

Course Format

Homestudy

Course Syllabus

  • Module 1: Introduction
  • Module 2: Understanding Trauma and Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs)
  • Module 3: Understanding and Reducing Implicit and Explicit Bias
  • Module 4: General Framework
  • Module 5: Defining Maltreatment and Abuse
  • Module 6: Indicators of Child Maltreatment and Abuse
  • Module 7: Learning Exercises
  • Exercise 1: Assessing Possible Neglect — Balancing Objectivity and Bias Awareness
    • Scenario:
    • Exercise 1 — Bias Reduction and Reflective Practice:
    • Goal:
  • Exercise 2: Interpreting Indicators in a Child With Autism — Unexplained Bruises & Skill Regression
  • Scenario
  • Exercise 2 — Indicators Assessment & I/DD-Informed Analysis
    • Part A — Identify Indicators (Independent Review)
    • Part B — Weigh I/DD-Specific Considerations
    • Part C — Virtual/Telehealth Observation (if relevant)
    • Part D — Reasonable Cause Determination (Decision Path)
    • Part E — Step-by-Step Documentation Template (Use Objective Language)
    • Part F — Self-Directed Reflection (Tie Back to Course Content)
  • Exercise 3: Reporting Decisions When a Child Discloses Family Violence (No Visible Injuries)
    • Part A — Identify Specific Concerns (facts only)
    • Part B — Gather Hypothetical Additional Information (imagined follow-ups)
    • Part C — Analyze: Separate Facts from Assumptions
    • Part D — Bias Check (quick self-audit)
    • Part E — Develop Multiple Hypotheses
    • Part F — Decision Pathway (choose one and justify)
    • Part G — Documentation Template (step-by-step)
    • Part H — Reflective Write-Up (8–10 sentences)
  • Exercise 4: Educational Neglect Case Analysis
  • Exercise 5: Trauma-Informed Application and ACEs in a Family Experiencing Domestic Violence and Poverty
    • Applying Trauma and ACEs Frameworks
    • Part A — Identify Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs)
    • Part B — Identify Protective Factors
    • Part C — Trauma-Informed Practice Application
    • Part D — Personal Reflection
    • Part E — Integration and Application
  • Module 8: Making the Call to the SCR and What Happens Next
  • Summary

Authors

Kathryn Brogan, MD

Kathryn Brogan, MD is a physician and board-certified general and child and adolescent psychiatrist. Dr. Brogan graduated from medical school at University of Louisville School of Medicine in 2016. She then completed Psychiatry Residency at Northwestern University and Child and Adolescent Psychiatry Fellowship at University of Utah, graduating in 2021. Dr. Brogan’s special interests and areas of expertise include first break psychosis, bipolar disorder, psychopharmacology, and systems of care. In addition to clinical and academic work, Dr. Brogan is passionate about advocacy, teaching, and physician-led team based care.

Susan Depasquale, MA, MSN, PMHNP-BC

Susan DePasquale is a board certified Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner. Her current practice is with families, youth and adults who have mental illnesses in both inpatient and outpatient settings, including telepsychiatry for Montana, Washington and Wisconsin communities. She completed her Masters of Art in Political Science at the University of Victoria, British Columbia, Masters of Science in Nursing at Seattle Pacific University in Seattle, Washington with a focus in neurogastroenterology and the Post-Masters of Science in Nursing at the Montana State University in Bozeman, Montana with a focus in psychiatry. She has worked with small and rural healthcare teams in British Columbia and the Northwest Territories, Canada, and in teaching and research hospitals such as Providence Health and Virginia Mason Medical Center Digestive and Liver Disease Departments in Seattle. Since 2012, she has been actively involved in online continuing education program development for nurses and health teams.

Allison Russo, DNP, PMHNP-BC

Allison Russo has been working in the field of psychiatry since 2009. She has enjoyed experience working in outpatient, forensics, residential and acute care settings. She has had the honor of treating Sailors across the United States and the world, serving in the Navy Reserve, since 2013. She enjoys working with clients across the lifespan. She completed her Bachelor of Science in Nursing in 2009 and Master of Nursing in 2013 at Montana State University. She obtained her Doctor of Nursing Practice from the University of North Dakota in 2016. She is passionate about collaborating with families to provide support and solve complex problems. She is excited about the use of technology, and happy to use it, to improve access to mental health care.  In her off time, she can generally be found working on a remodeling project, traveling, or at the local Crossfit gym. She loves spending time with her husband, her 5 year dog, and her son.