Mandatory Child Abuse Reporter Training
Foster parents are mandatory reporters of child abuse. As mandatory reporters, foster parents are required to take Mandatory Child Abuse Reporter Training. At least two hours of Mandatory Child Abuse Reporter Training must be taken within one year of initial licensing and every five years thereafter.
Guide for Mandatory Reporters (updated July 1, 2010)
Effective July 1, 2010 a new category "Allows Access to Obscene Material" has been added to the child abuse law. This type of abuse is defined as a caretaker knowingly allowing a child access to obscene material, exhibiting obscene material to a child, or disseminating obscene material to a child, as defined in Iowa Code Section 728.1.
To view the full DHS Guide for Mandatory Reporters, click here.
Foster Parent Approved Mandatory Reporter Trainings:
Option 1: IFAPA Mandatory Reporter Class (October 16, 2010)
Cost: Free
This is the state approved Mandatory Child Abuse Reporter Training, required for foster parents to complete within the first year of licensure, and then every five years there after. The Foster Allegation Information Resource (FAIR) program will also be discussed. This IFAPA program provides information and support to foster parents who have had an allegation of abuse made against them. This class will be held on Saturday, Oct. 16 (8:30-11:45am) via video conferencing at the following three LSI locations (Des Moines, Dubuque, & Waverly). To sign up for this class, call IFAPA at 800-277-8145 ext. 1 or complete our online registration form. Please note as of Sept. 3rd - the Des Moines & Dubuque class locations are full, please call IFAPA to be added to our waiting list. IFAPA also typically offers a Mandatory Child Abuse Reporter class during our annual Spring Conference every March.
Option 2: Support Groups Trainings
Cost: Free
Support groups may also offer the approved Mandatory Child Abuse Reporter Training class. Visit the Support Group Training page to see if a class is being offered by a local support group.
Option 3: Online Course (NOT connected with IFAPA)
Cost: $18.95 per person
The Iowa Department of Public Health has approved one online Mandatory Reporter Training class for foster parents. IFAPA promotes this online class as an additional resource for foster parents; however, the online course is not connected to IFAPA. To learn more about this online class, visit the Other Trainings page. (NOTE: IFAPA will NOT be able to help resolve any issues with this online course since it is not connected to or operated by IFAPA. Please be sure to contact the organization responsible for this online course, if you have any questions or issues.)
Frequently Asked Questions:
If I cannot take the online Mandatory Child Abuse Reporter Training, where else can I find this class?
There is no centralized list of when or where this course is being offered around the state. Sometimes local community colleges, hospitals, DHS or Area Education Agencies offer this course. Just make sure the course being offered is an “approved curriculum” by the Iowa Department of Public Health. (see last question for more on).
If a class is titled Mandatory Child Abuse and Adult Dependent Abuse Reporter Training, does that count toward my training requirement?
Not necessarily. Foster parent licensure requires that you have 2 hours of CHILD related content, and some classes that offer a mix of child/adult dependent only offer 1 hour of child related content (and 1 hour of adult dependent content), and therefore, would NOT qualify to meet your foster parent training requirements. If the title says “Mandatory CHILD ABUSE Reporter Training,” and is at least 2 hours long, it will meet the requirements for your licensure. (note – the course must be an approved curriculum by the Iowa Department of Public Health. See last question for more details).
Can I take this course online to meet my licensure requirements?
Yes, you can take this course online and meet your licensure requirements, however, it must be an approved curriculum by the Iowa Department of Public Health, and offering 2 hours of credit specific to CHILD abuse reporting. (See last question for more info).
How do I know if a class is “an approved curriculum” by the Iowa Department of Public Health?
The provider of the training should know this, when you register for the training. You can also check for the list of approved curriculum on the website of the Iowa Department of Public Health. Please log onto their website at www.idph.state.ia.us. Once there, click on “A-Z services” and then click on “Abuse Education Review Panel.” As you scroll down on this page, there is a link for “Approved Curricula” and this link specifies whether a course is Mandatory Child Abuse Reporter Training, or Mandatory Child/Dependent Adult Abuse Training, or Mandatory Adult Dependent Abuse Training. And remember, the only training you can take toward licensure requirements is a training that is 2 hours of Child Abuse content.
