Balancing the Roles of Family Supporter and Mandated Reporter Webinar 03/31/25

April has been recognized nationally as Child Abuse Prevention Month and it is the perfect time to reflect on the role that all of us have in supporting families in Maine to be safe, stable, happy, and healthy. Learning about the strategies we can all implement as individuals and communities to strengthen families as a means to reduce child abuse and neglect is one example of the many things that we all can do to reach this goal.

The Office of Child and Family Services, in partnership with the Maine Children’s Trust, is kicking off Child Abuse Prevention Month in 2025 with a webinar on “Balancing the Roles of Family Supporter and Mandated Reporter.” This webinar follows a series of recorded webinars held over the past several years where strategies have been shared including what individuals and policymakers can do to strengthen and support families as a means to prevent child abuse and neglect and other adverse conditions.

In this upcoming webinar, presenter Claire Louge from Prevent Child Abuse Arizona will examine how we all can protect children from adversity by examining our own assumptions and connecting families to what they need, when they need it, shifting their lens from focusing solely on their role as mandated reporters, to one in which they consider themselves family and community supporters. The strategies and techniques that will be shared are rooted in an approach that recognizes when families have access to the supports needed to deal with life’s stressors, children thrive.

This webinar will be held on MONDAY MARCH 31, 2025 from 12 p.m. to 1 p.m..

Participants will: -Understand the role of OCFS and the community in protecting children and explore why community-based support is essential for strengthening families. -Learn how reducing family stress through access to resources can prevent maltreatment and gain practical strategies for connecting families to support. -Examine their own assumptions about families, understand how these assumptions influence decisions to support or report, and develop skills to make informed choices.

In order to participate or receive the webinar recording and resources, please register here by March 26, 2025 at 5 p.m. PLEASE MARK YOUR CALENDARS as a meeting invitation and link to the webinar will be sent to you the day prior to the scheduled webinar. Thank you for partnering with us to help strengthen families and keep all children in Maine safe.