Mandated reporting is changing. Across the country, child welfare leaders are rethinking how professionals are trained to recognize child abuse and neglect, support families, and make informed decisions in complex situations. The recent Casey Family Programs Strategy Brief on mandated reporter education and training offers a thoughtful, research-based roadmap for strengthening this work.
At Mandated Reporter Academy, we appreciate the clarity and rigor of Casey’s recommendations. They reflect the same principles that have guided the Penn State research team in developing and evaluating iLookOut, a nationally-recognized, evidence-based online training program. As states look for training that is balanced, practical, and rooted in real-world experience, iLookOut already incorporates many of the key elements Casey recommends.
Below, we outline the points of alignment—and how Mandated Reporter Academy is positioned to support the field as training standards continue to evolve.
What Casey Emphasizes—and How iLookOut Already Delivers
1. Engaging, Online, Scenario-Based, Research-Validated Training
Casey underscores the need for modern, interactive, online learning grounded in realistic situations.
iLookOut has embodied this model from the start.
The training uses a video-based storyline, interactive decision points, and embedded knowledge checks. Multiple peer-reviewed studies conducted by the Penn State research team—including randomized controlled trials and large-scale real-world evaluations—demonstrate significant improvements in knowledge and attitudes about mandated reporting.
2. Tools and Guidance to Support Thoughtful Decision-Making
Casey highlights the importance of moving beyond “report everything” toward training that helps professionals interpret context, weigh the various concerns at issue, and appropriately interpret and apply the concept of reasonable suspicion.
iLookOut directly supports this approach.
The program includes a structured “Do You Need to Report?” decision flowchart that centers on reasonable suspicion, presents nuanced scenarios that flesh out how to interpret and apply reasonable suspicion, and clarifies which decisions and actions fall within a reporter’s role—and which do not. The training focuses on reflective, informed reporting, not knee-jerk reactions.
3. Addressing Bias, Disparities, and Over-Surveillance
Casey calls attention to the disproportionate impact of unnecessary reports on families of color and families experiencing poverty.
iLookOut takes a data-driven approach to these concerns.
For the Head Start version of iLookOut, the Penn State research team built validated measures into the evaluation process that assess attitudes related to race, poverty, risk, and suspicion. This helps identify where bias may influence decision-making and how training can shift beliefs toward more equitable reporting practices.
4. Training Tailored to Specific Professional Groups
The Casey brief notes that a single, generic training cannot meet the diverse needs of all professions.
While iLookOut was originally developed for child care centers, schools, and youth-serving nonprofits, preliminary research is showing it is equally effective with other mandated reporter groups.
Organizations that serve health care professionals, law enforcement, religious communities, and other mandated reporters can also partner with the Mandated Reporter Academy team to create customized versions tailored to their workforce.
5. Commitment to Ongoing Learning and Updated Tools
Casey encourages states to think beyond one-time trainings.
The Penn State research team has developed micro-learning “pings” that advance and refresh mandated reporter training.
These short, engaging modules—designed to reinforce and extend learning—are currently being researched in statewide implementations in Maine and Pennsylvania. They will be available as part of the Mandated Reporter Academy platform in the near future.
Looking Ahead: iLookOut as a Platform for Continuous Improvement
The Casey Strategy Brief provides valuable direction for where the field is heading. Mandated Reporter Academy and the Penn State research team are committed to continued evolution in ways that further align with these national priorities. Looking forward, enhancements may include:
- More explicit guidance distinguishing poverty-related challenges from reportable neglect.
- Expanded examples of supportive actions mandated reporters can take when concerns do not meet reporting thresholds.
- Additional resources that help connect families with community supports.
- Strengthened content related to racial equity, family voice, and the potential impact of unnecessary reporting.
These refinements will continue building on the strong foundation already established through peer-reviewed research and large-scale implementation.
Conclusion
Mandated Reporter Academy shares Casey Family Programs’ commitment to improving training so that professionals can act with clarity, confidence, and compassion. iLookOut’s evidence base, interactive design, and focus on informed decision-making position it as a leading model—one that is continuously growing and adapting as the field advances.
By combining rigorous research, practical tools, and a commitment to equity, iLookOut will continue helping mandated reporters protect children while supporting families with dignity and respect.