3.5 Hours / 3.5 CEs

On Demand | Self-Paced Professional Training

This on-demand professional training program on California Child Abuse and Neglect Assessment and Reporting is presented by Szu-Yu Chen, PhD.

This program provides an overview of California laws pertaining to child abuse and neglect as they relate to clinical mental health practice. Mental health professionals learn the Child Abuse and Neglect Reporting Act, signs and types of abuse and neglect, and reporting responsibilities and procedures regarding child maltreatment. 

The audience for this program includes graduate students enrolled in mental health-related programs and associate or fully licensed marriage and family therapists, professional clinical counselors, social workers, psychologists, and school psychologists who work with minors and their families in schools, community agencies, and inpatient and outpatient settings. 

The 3.5 hour course is structured to meet the California psychologist pre-licensure coursework requirement for training in Child Abuse Assessment and Reporting for LMFTs, LCSWs, LPCCs, and/or LEPs and Psychologists as required by the California Board of Psychology and the California Board of Behavioral Sciences. 

Learning Objectives

Upon completion of this training, participants will be able to:

  • 1 Describe California’s Child Abuse and Neglect Reporting Act (CANRA) and California Penal Codes pertaining to child abuse reporting
  • 2 Describe types of child abuse and neglect
  • 3 Describe signs and symptoms of child abuse and neglect
  • 4 Describe the role of the mandated reporter and procedures for making a mandated child abuse report

  • Intended Audience

    This training is designed for mental health professionals and graduate students seeking foundational knowledge in California child abuse and neglect laws, with a focus on those working with children, adolescents, and families in clinical, school-based, or community contexts. It is ideal for individuals specializing in clinical mental health, school-based mental health, or family therapy who want a strong legal and ethical foundation to inform their practice and ensure compliance with state regulations.


    Examples of Relevant Professionals:
    • Mental Health Professionals
    • Graduate students in counseling, psychology, or social work programs
    • Marriage and Family Therapists (MFTs)
    • Professional Clinical Counselors (PCCs)
    • Social Workers (LCSWs)
    • Psychologists
    • School Psychologists

  • Experience Level

    This training is appropriate for licensed and pre-licensed mental health professionals at all experience levels who work with minors and their families in various settings.

    • Beginner: Participants new to mandated reporting or unfamiliar with California’s Child Abuse and Neglect Reporting Act (CANRA) and related laws, seeking foundational knowledge of abuse/neglect types, signs, and reporting procedures.

    • Intermediate: Participants with some experience in mandated reporting or prior exposure to child abuse assessment, seeking to deepen their understanding of legal responsibilities, cultural considerations, and case application in clinical practice.

    • Advanced: Participants with extensive experience in mandated reporting and child abuse assessment, seeking to refine their skills through complex case discussions, advanced application of legal standards, and integration of best practices in diverse clinical settings.

  • Practice Setting

    Typical practice settings include clinical, school-based, and community environments serving children, adolescents, and families across California. Professionals work within outpatient and inpatient behavioral health programs, integrated school mental health services, and multidisciplinary agencies where mandated reporting and cross-system collaboration are essential.


    Examples of Practice Settings:
    • Community mental health clinics and county behavioral health programs
    • School-based counseling centers and district student support services
    • Hospital emergency departments, pediatric units, and inpatient psychiatry
    • Outpatient behavioral health clinics
    • Private practice serving minors and families (including telehealth)
    • Residential treatment programs and group homes
    • University training clinics and supervision sites

Presented By

Szu-Yu Chen, PhD Associate professor of the Counseling Department at Palo Alto University

Dr. Szu-Yu "Darlene" Chen (she/her) is an associate professor of the Counseling Department at Palo Alto University. As a bilingual (English/Mandarin) licensed clinical mental health counselor and registered play therapist, she has over 10 years of clinical experience working with children and families in various settings, including schools, community agencies, private practice, and inpatient and outpatient programs. In addition to clinical experience, her scholarly work and teaching interests centered on play therapy, play-based teacher/parent intervention, diversity and social justice in counseling and supervision, and immigrants’ mental health issues.

View More Programs from this Presenter
Szu-Yu Chen, PhD

Training Outline

Key topics covered in this training include:

  • Examine statistics of child maltreatment in California

  • Introduce California’s Child Abuse and Neglect Reporting Act (CANRA) and specific California Penal Codes on child abuse reporting

  • Discuss the role and responsibilities of the mandated reporter

  • Abuse
    Identify types of abuse: physical, sexual, and emotional abuse
    Identify and assess signs and symptoms of abuse
    Cultural considerations
    Impact of abuse on child’s development
    2 case study discussion and role play

  • Neglect
    Identify types of neglect: physical, emotional, medical, and educational neglect
    Identify and assess signs and symptoms of neglect
    Cultural considerations
    Impact of neglect on child’s development
    2 case study discussion and role play

  • Procedures for making a mandated child abuse report
    When to make a report
    How to make a report
    What is needed information to make a report
    What to expect after making a report
    2 case study and role play

CE Sponsorship Information

Palo Alto University, Continuing & Professional Studies (CONCEPT) is approved by, recognized by, or maintains sponsorship provider status with the following boards and agencies. We maintain responsibility for all content in our CE/CPD programs. For more information, visit here. 

  1. American Psychological Association (APA): Approved sponsor of continuing education for psychologists.

  2. Association of Social Work Boards (ASWB): Approved continuing education provider (ACE program, Provider #1480), 11/22/2023–11/22/2026.

  3. Canadian Psychological Association (CPA): Approved to sponsor continuing education for psychologists.

  4. National Board for Certified Counselors (NBCC): Approved Continuing Education Provider (ACEP No. 7190).



Palo Alto University, Continuing and Professional Studies (CONCEPT) is approved by the American Psychological Association to sponsor continuing education for psychologists. Palo Alto University, Continuing and Professional Studies (CONCEPT) maintains responsibility for this program and its content. Palo Alto University, Continuing and Professional Studies (CONCEPT), is approved by the Canadian Psychological Association to offer continuing education for psychologists. Palo Alto University, Continuing and Professional Studies (CONCEPT), SW CPE is recognized by the New York State Education Department’s State Board for Social Work as an approved provider of continuing education for licensed social workers #SW-0356 and the New York State Education Department’s State Board for Mental Health Practitioners as an approved provider of continuing education for licensed mental health counselors. #MHC-0073. Palo Alto University, Continuing and Professional Studies (CONCEPT) has been approved by NBCC as an Approved Continuing Education Provider, ACEP No. 6811. Programs that do not qualify for NBCC credit are clearly identified. CONCEPT Professional Training, #1480, is approved to offer social work continuing education by the Association of Social Work Boards (ASWB) Approved Continuing Education (ACE) program. Organizations, not individual courses, are approved as ACE providers. State and provincial regulatory boards have the final authority to determine whether an individual course may be accepted for continuing education credit. CONCEPT Professional Training maintains responsibility for this course. ACE provider approval period: 11/22/23-11/22/26. Social workers completing this course receive (clinical or social work ethics) continuing education credits.