Explore the legal obligations of mandated reporters. Research the roles of the social workers, risk factors associated with child abuse and neglect, required competencies in the field of child maltreatment, mandatory laws reporting of child abuse, and how social workers advocate on behalf of vulnerable children at risk of child abuse and prevention to minimize this social issue.
Please answer the following questions below. Please use headings to focus your signature assignment.
• What are the local and state mandatory child abuse reporting laws in your state?
• Who are mandated reporters in your state?
• Discuss in detail the consequences for mandated reporters’ failure to report.
• Discuss at least one piece of legislation in your community or state
pending to address child welfare issues.
• Explain significance of the value “competence” and the ethical principle applicable to child welfare practice. Using the NASW Code of Ethics and the Child Welfare Standards for practice identify and explain three standards you believe are the most important for social work practice in child welfare. Please cite the standards properly.
• Describe the role of the social worker in advocacy and prevention programs to prevent further child abuse and neglect.
• Locate an agency in your area and describe the preventions they offer clients who may be at-risk of maltreating their children.
Sample solution
Dante Alighieri played a critical role in the literature world through his poem Divine Comedy that was written in the 14th century. The poem contains Inferno, Purgatorio, and Paradiso. The Inferno is a description of the nine circles of torment that are found on the earth. It depicts the realms of the people that have gone against the spiritual values and who, instead, have chosen bestial appetite, violence, or fraud and malice. The nine circles of hell are limbo, lust, gluttony, greed and wrath. Others are heresy, violence, fraud, and treachery. The purpose of this paper is to examine the Dante’s Inferno in the perspective of its portrayal of God’s image and the justification of hell.
In this epic poem, God is portrayed as a super being guilty of multiple weaknesses including being egotistic, unjust, and hypocritical. Dante, in this poem, depicts God as being more human than divine by challenging God’s omnipotence. Additionally, the manner in which Dante describes Hell is in full contradiction to the morals of God as written in the Bible. When god arranges Hell to flatter Himself, He commits egotism, a sin that is common among human beings (Cheney, 2016). The weakness is depicted in Limbo and on the Gate of Hell where, for instance, God sends those who do not worship Him to Hell. This implies that failure to worship Him is a sin.
God is also depicted as lacking justice in His actions thus removing the godly image. The injustice is portrayed by the manner in which the sodomites and opportunists are treated. The opportunists are subjected to banner chasing in their lives after death followed by being stung by insects and maggots. They are known to having done neither good nor bad during their lifetimes and, therefore, justice could have demanded that they be granted a neutral punishment having lived a neutral life. The sodomites are also punished unfairly by God when Brunetto Lattini is condemned to hell despite being a good leader (Babor, T. F., McGovern, T., & Robaina, K. (2017). While he commited sodomy, God chooses to ignore all the other good deeds that Brunetto did.
Finally, God is also portrayed as being hypocritical in His actions, a sin that further diminishes His godliness and makes Him more human. A case in point is when God condemns the sin of egotism and goes ahead to commit it repeatedly. Proverbs 29:23 states that “arrogance will bring your downfall, but if you are humble, you will be respected.” When Slattery condemns Dante’s human state as being weak, doubtful, and limited, he is proving God’s hypocrisy because He is also human (Verdicchio, 2015). The actions of God in Hell as portrayed by Dante are inconsistent with the Biblical literature. Both Dante and God are prone to making mistakes, something common among human beings thus making God more human.
To wrap it up, Dante portrays God is more human since He commits the same sins that humans commit: egotism, hypocrisy, and injustice. Hell is justified as being a destination for victims of the mistakes committed by God. The Hell is presented as being a totally different place as compared to what is written about it in the Bible. As a result, reading through the text gives an image of God who is prone to the very mistakes common to humans thus ripping Him off His lofty status of divine and, instead, making Him a mere human. Whether or not Dante did it intentionally is subject to debate but one thing is clear in the poem: the misconstrued notion of God is revealed to future generations.
References
Babor, T. F., McGovern, T., & Robaina, K. (2017). Dante’s inferno: Seven deadly sins in scientific publishing and how to avoid them. Addiction Science: A Guide for the Perplexed, 267.
Cheney, L. D. G. (2016). Illustrations for Dante’s Inferno: A Comparative Study of Sandro Botticelli, Giovanni Stradano, and Federico Zuccaro. Cultural and Religious Studies, 4(8), 487.
Verdicchio, M. (2015). Irony and Desire in Dante’s” Inferno” 27. Italica, 285-297.
Sample Answer
Sample Answer
The Legal Obligations of Mandated Reporters: Advocating for Child Welfare
Introduction
Child abuse and neglect are serious social issues that require immediate attention and intervention. In order to protect vulnerable children, many states have implemented mandatory child abuse reporting laws. These laws outline the legal obligations of mandated reporters and the consequences they face if they fail to report suspected cases of abuse or neglect. Social workers play a crucial role in child welfare, advocating for vulnerable children and providing prevention programs to minimize these social issues. This essay will explore the legal obligations of mandated reporters, discuss the consequences for failure to report, examine pending legislation in the community, explain the significance of competence and ethical principles in child welfare practice, describe the role of social workers in advocacy and prevention programs, and locate an agency that offers prevention services to at-risk clients.
Local and State Mandatory Child Abuse Reporting Laws
Each state has its own specific laws regarding mandatory child abuse reporting. In [insert state], the laws are as follows:
[Insert details about local and state mandatory child abuse reporting laws in your state.]
Mandated Reporters in [Your State]
Mandated reporters are individuals who are legally required to report suspected cases of child abuse or neglect. In [insert state], mandated reporters include:
[Insert list of mandated reporters in your state.]
Consequences for Failure to Report
Failure to report suspected cases of child abuse or neglect can have serious consequences for mandated reporters. In [insert state], the consequences include:
[Insert details about the consequences for failure to report in your state.]
Pending Legislation Addressing Child Welfare Issues
In [insert community or state], there is currently pending legislation aimed at addressing child welfare issues. One such piece of legislation is [insert name or description of legislation]. This legislation seeks to [insert goals or objectives of the legislation].
Significance of Competence and Ethical Principles
Competence is a crucial value in child welfare practice as it ensures that social workers have the necessary skills, knowledge, and expertise to effectively address the needs of vulnerable children. The National Association of Social Workers (NASW) Code of Ethics and the Child Welfare Standards for practice provide guidance on the ethical principles and standards that should be upheld in child welfare practice. Three important standards for social work practice in child welfare are:
Standard 1.01: Commitment to Clients – This standard emphasizes the importance of social workers’ commitment to promoting the well-being and self-determination of clients, particularly vulnerable children. It requires social workers to prioritize the best interests of the child and advocate for their safety and welfare (NASW Code of Ethics, 2021).
Standard 1.02: Self-Determination – This standard recognizes the importance of respecting and promoting the rights and self-determination of clients, including children. It emphasizes the need for social workers to involve clients in decision-making processes and empower them to actively participate in their own care and protection (NASW Code of Ethics, 2021).
Standard 3: Assessment – This standard highlights the significance of conducting comprehensive assessments to identify risk factors associated with child abuse and neglect. It requires social workers to gather relevant information, collaborate with other professionals, and use evidence-based practices to assess the safety and well-being of children (Child Welfare Standards for Practice, 2017).
Role of Social Workers in Advocacy and Prevention Programs
Social workers play a crucial role in advocating for vulnerable children and implementing prevention programs to minimize child abuse and neglect. They work closely with families, communities, and agencies to:
Raise awareness about the signs of child abuse and neglect.
Provide support and resources to families at risk of maltreating their children.
Collaborate with multidisciplinary teams to develop intervention plans.
Advocate for policy changes and improvements in child welfare services.
Conduct educational programs and trainings on child safety and parenting skills.
Agency Offering Prevention Services in [Your Area]
In [insert your area], [agency name] is a prominent agency that offers prevention services to clients who may be at-risk of maltreating their children. Their prevention services include:
[Insert description of prevention services offered by the agency.]
Conclusion
Child abuse and neglect are critical issues that require the collective efforts of society to address. Mandated reporters have legal obligations to report suspected cases, failure of which can lead to severe consequences. Competence and adherence to ethical principles are essential in child welfare practice, as outlined by the NASW Code of Ethics and Child Welfare Standards for Practice. Social workers play a vital role in advocating for vulnerable children and implementing prevention programs to minimize child abuse and neglect. Agencies like [agency name] provide valuable prevention services to at-risk clients, contributing to the overall well-being and safety of children in our community.
