Free Training on Child Abuse and Expanded Mandatory Reporting Requirements

The Interfaith Children’s Movement  will offer  free workshops  to focus on the  expanded mandatory child abuse reporting requirements and their impact on faith communities.  The amended law will take effect on July 1, 2012. All faith leaders, faith community administration staff and officers, and directors and volunteers of children’s programs are invited and strongly encouraged to attend one of the workshops being held on June 7 (College Park); June 19 (Atlanta); and June 21 (Macon).

In the wake of the child abuse allegations at Penn State, Georgia’s lawmakers and Governor Deal have broadened the state’s pool of mandated reporters—those individuals legally required to report suspected child abuse—to include all employees and volunteers whose duties include attending to children.  The revised law also removes, in part, the “confessional” protection between clergy and perpetrators—thus, mandating clergy to report child abuse.   The penalties for not reporting suspected child abuse range from fines to jail time.