Montclair State Child Advocacy Experts Create Web-Based Training for the Reporting of Child Abuse and Neglect

Congratulations to Jason Dickinson, Nicole Lytle, the Robert D. McCormick Center for Child Advocacy and Policy, and the Department of Social Work and Child Advocacy on the creation of a training website developed with funding from the New Jersey Department of Children and Families (DCF).

The site, titled a Web-Based Training for Mandated Reporting of Child Abuse and Neglect, is designed to serve as a training resource for New Jersey teachers, daycare operators, and their staff. For students, it’s a valuable learning tool for those who go on to work in education and child service settings. It’s also a resource for state residents, since all New Jersey residents are mandated reporters of suspected child abuse and neglect.

“This project will have a significant impact on such an important demographic of our state — our children — and the many professionals who serve and support them,” said Dean Robert S. Friedman.

The training features information from area professionals as well as experts from Montclair State including Anthony D’Urso, from the Department of Psychology, and Joseph Del Russo, from the Department of Social Work and Child Advocacy. Other experts include Gladibel Medina of the Dorothy B. Hersh Regional Child Protection Center at St. Peter’s University Hospital; Carolyn DeVito and Susan Bryant-Gaither of Montclair Community Pre-K; and Thomas Farrell of the NJ Child Abuse Hotline.

The site covers topics including mandated reporting, behaviors that constitute abuse and neglect, reporting reasonable suspicion, and what to expect when reporting.

Individuals must register to use the site, take a quiz after each module, and then they can receive a certificate of completion. The training can be completed using a mobile device. Visit the website for more information: reportingchildabusenj.org.