All staff need to understand their role as mandated reporters. They are often the first to notice possible signs of child abuse and neglect.
Tips and Strategies for Training Staff
Train staff on:
- Implementing your program’s policies and procedures for reporting suspected child abuse and neglect
- Doing a daily health check and documenting observations
- Using health care plans to help them care for children with complex health needs
- Completing a health and safety checklist to make sure that indoor and outdoor environments are safe
- Keeping children safe using active supervision
Resources for Professional Development
- Child Abuse and Neglect
- Head Start FAQs on iLookOut for Child Abuse
- Risk and Protective Factors
- Watch Me!
- Preventing and Responding to Domestic Violence
- Addressing Substance Use and Recovery
- Head Start Program and Child Welfare Partnerships
Collaborating with Families
Protective factors can reduce the risk or effects of child abuse and neglect. Help build protective factors by collaborating with families.
Tips and Strategies for Collaborating with Families
- Help staff focus on positive ways to engage families by emphasizing their strengths and what they do well. Outcomes for children improve by helping families build protective factors.
- Partner with families to address issues such as unstable housing, food insecurity, family violence, or substance use. Help them find resources, learn new ways to manage stress, and develop social connections. This helps families become more resilient.
- Share information about positive parenting tips and developmental milestones.
- Review Protective Factors Approaches in Child Welfare to learn more about protective factors.
Resources for Collaborating with Families
- Family Economic Mobility Toolkit
- Positive Parenting Tips
- Learn the Signs. Act Early.
- Using Health Literacy to Improve My Family’s Health
