Teachers in British Columbia: examining the experience of reporting suspected parental child abuse

This qualitative study describes the experience of detecting and reporting suspected parental child abuse to child protection by six females who teach public school in northern British Columbia within School District 57. The research generated insight into what enables teachers to detect child abuse, why and when they report, as well as the emotional barriers and concerns they encounter during and after making a report. The research was informed by structural social work and the analysis of the interviews was undertaken using applied thematic analysis. The main implications for social work practice include: embracing strategies for effective relationship building with teachers and within schools communication with teachers, to the greatest extent possible, the outcome of reports made and working with the universities and school districts to conduct formal training on indicators of child abuse as well as when and how to report. --Leaf ii.