School social workers and mandated reporting: exploratory results from a national survey

Authors

• Erin P. Sugrue, Augsburg University
• Ashley Marie H. Daftary, University of Nevada, Reno
• Minhae Cho, College of Arts & Sciences

Abstract

This study presents results from a national survey of 455 school social workers (SSWers) that examines training, reporting practices, and factors influencing decisions to report to child protective services (CPS). The majority (88.3%) of participants received formal mandated reporter training but only 66.3% found the training useful. Younger SSWers reported more frequently to CPS, and SSWers in schools with higher percentages of white students reported less frequently. Over 40% of participants made reports on children they did not perceive to be in imminent danger. The challenges of SSWers’ relationships to mandated reporting is discussed.

Publication Title

Journal of Public Child Welfare

Recommended Citation

Sugrue, E., Daftary, A., & Cho, M. (2026). School social workers and mandated reporting: exploratory results from a national survey. Journal of Public Child Welfare https://doi.org/10.1080/15548732.2026.2726255