A key contributor to racial disparities in child welfare is the disproportionate reporting of African American families to CPS for non-safety-related concerns. Many mandated reporters—teachers, medical professionals, social workers, and others—unintentionally allow implicit bias to influence their decisions, resulting in unnecessary system involvement for African American families.

To combat this, Village Arms provides specialized training to mandated reporters that:

• Educate reporters on their legal obligations

• Raises awareness of racial bias in reporting and how it impacts families.

• Provide guidance on how to think critically about reporting decisions

• Connects mandated reporters with community-based solutions that support families and maintain child safety without system intervention.

• Cultivates relationships between reporters and trusted community organizations, ensuring that concerns are addressed in ways that prioritize family stability over surveillance.