society

Are Secret Service Members Mandated Reporters

What is mandated reporting? Who are mandated reporters?

I am a Licensed Professional Counselor- Supervisor in the state of Texas. I am legally obligated to report instances of suspected abuse. Different states have different rules, but basically society agrees across the board, we protect kids and elderly people. Doctors, nurses, teachers are all mandated reporters. Why isn’t the law simply, all US Citizens are mandated reporters?

Due to the nature of my work, I encounter darkness daily. That is not an exaggeration. It’s not hyperbole. That is the nature of my work in community mental health. Before I hold a conversation with a new person, I am legally obligated to explain and define limits to confidentiality. I have to say something like, “everything you say remains private with me/agency, with three exceptions. First, anything you say that sounds like a child or elder in your care is being abused will result in a call to CPS or APS.”

I don’t have to be certain of abuse. I don’t have to do an investigation. I don’t have to determine the degree of harm, sort any potential mitigating circumstances, like it was a one time thing versus ongoing, etc, etc. If I suspect, I will report. That’s it. Should it come about that abuse discovered and I…