School social workers identification training and reporting of suspected child abuse and neglect

摘要

This study examined the relationship between child abuse and neglect identification training and the reporting of suspected cases of abuse and neglect by school social workers/visiting teachers and attendance workers in a twenty-two county area in middle Georgia. The State of Georgiau27s Department of Family and Children Services identifies the area as Region V. A 25-item questionnaire was distributed to the respondents to determine whether a positive relationship existed between training in child maltreatment identification and the number of reports made by respondents to Child Protective Services. The study examined three consecutive yearly time periods. Using the Pearson ‘r’ correlation, it was determined that a significant positive correlation existed for two of the three years under study (1985-86 and 1986-87 school years). Results from the 1987-88 school year did not reflect a significant relationship; however, an analysis of all three school years combined reflected significant results. Recommendations by the researcher for systematized training for school social workers/visiting teachers are made.