Last year, we spearheaded legislation to improve training for Minnesota’s mandated reporters — the teachers, doctors, social workers and others legally required to report suspected child abuse or neglect.
The updated training launched in August, and it’s already making a difference. More than 7,000 people have completed it. Unlike the old version, the new training spends significantly more time helping participants recognize signs of maltreatment, and it was developed with input from subject matter experts.
Early results are encouraging. In assessments of more than 300 participants, learners reported feeling significantly more confident in their ability to:
- Tell the difference between an everyday childhood injury and possible physical abuse (+17 percentage points)
- Recognize warning signs that a child may be experiencing maltreatment (+10 percentage points)
- Understand the difference between neglect and poverty (+16 percentage points)
This is what progress looks like: one smart policy change that strengthens the entire system. When mandated reporters are better trained, children are safer.
Together, we are making a difference.