Child advocates and prosecutors in Middlesex County have revamped an online training program designed to help people who work with children to recognize and report suspected abuse, neglect, and exploitation, according to boston.com.
The Middlesex Children’s Advocacy Center collaborated with the Middlesex District Attorney’s Office to redesign the training program, which was first launched by prosecutors in 2010.
With the passage of the Massachusetts Human Trafficking Law, mandated reporters now have additional reporting obligations. The updated training includes information about commercial child sexual exploitation and the new reportable conditions. The legislature has designated doctors, nurses, child care providers, teachers, guidance counselors, social workers, police officers and others as mandated reporters.
All mandated reporters licensed by the state of Massachusetts are required by law to receive training on recognizing and reporting suspected child abuse and neglect.
