Child Abuse and Neglect: Ethical and Responsible Reporting Guidelines
Protecting children from all forms of harm is a critical moral obligation shared by all members of society, but more so for people in positions of authority. For this purpose, state and federal laws require certain professionals, such as teachers, healthcare workers, lawyers, and other practitioners, to report any signs or suspicions of child abuse and neglect.
However, mandated reporters face various ethical and legal challenges arising from issues of confidentiality and informed consent, as well as penalties for false reports and non-compliance. Hence, to mitigate potential risks, staying informed of the current guidelines in reporting child maltreatment is of vital importance.
In a CLE Webcast, experienced professionals in child protection, Deborah A. Ausburn and Tom Rawlings of Taylor English Duma LLP, will provide the audience with an overview of the latest developments and issues in reporting suspected child abuse and neglect in the U.S. Speakers will also discuss practical and ethical guidelines on proper reporting protocols and offer best practices to ensure compliance with relevant laws.
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Deborah A. Ausburn, Partner with Taylor English Duma LLP, Tom Rawlings, Attorney with Taylor English Duma LLP
Deborah A. Ausburn, Partner Taylor English Duma LLP Deborah Ausburn is a member of Taylor English’s Litigation and Dispute Resolution Department, where she focuses on advising and defending youth-serving organizations. Ms. Ausburn has spent more than 30 years as a social worker, foster parent, criminal prosecutor, and civil trial attorney. Her background has given her unique insights into defending child care centers, camps, schools, and mentoring organizations. She has volunteered with and defended youth-serving organizations throughout the United States in matters as diverse as personal injury cases, intrusive government regulations, libel and slander issues, and claims of sexual abuse. She has conducted numerous investigations of claims of historic child abuse and sexual assault or harassment claims. She also advises youth-serving organizations about child protection policies, staff screening, conduct standards, cyberbullying, and best practices for protecting the children in their care. Tom Rawlings, Attorney Taylor English Duma LLP Tom Rawlings brings 30 years of legal experience in juvenile justice, child protection, and capacity-building. He has spent more than 20 years representing and serving institutional clients with a focus on vulnerable populations, including children and families, juveniles, and individuals living with poverty, food insecurity, and medical disabilities. Prior to joining Taylor English, Mr. Rawlings served as the director of the Georgia Division of Family and Children Services. He was previously the director of the Office of the Child Advocate and was the first full-time juvenile court judge in the Middle Judicial Circuit. In addition to his work in the US, Mr. Rawlings has also served as the Guatemala country director for International Justice Mission, where he built and led a team of Guatemalan professionals who worked with government prosecutors and courts to protect and treat child sexual abuse victims, prosecute offenders, and train child abuse professionals. He has trained child welfare, justice, and human rights professionals across the US as well as in Armenia, Romania, and Thailand.
