You are counseling a 12-year-old who reports being physically abused at school. Under which circumstance would you NOT be meeting mandated reporting requirements?

Prepare for the LPCC Law and Ethics Test 2. Use flashcards and multiple-choice questions with explanations. Enhance your understanding of ethics and legal standards for effective counseling practice.

The essential idea is that when a counselor suspects child abuse, the mandated reporting duty requires making an initial report to the appropriate authorities immediately by phone, then following up with a written report on the same day. This immediate contact is the control point that protects the child and triggers the investigation process.

In the scenario described, the counselor only calls the school police after the session and then sends a written report later the same day. Delaying the initial report until after the session means the mandated reporting requirement isn’t met, even though a written report is filed that day. The urgent step is the telephone report made right away.

The other steps—reporting by phone immediately and then providing the written documentation, or documenting in notes and monitoring while still pursuing a formal report, or consulting with a supervisor—do not substitute for the required immediate telephone contact. The key is that the initial report to the proper authorities happens without delay.