When a social worker has reasons to believe a child has been abused, the social worker should:​

A) disclose the information to the child's teachers and friends.​
B) ​report the suspicions to child protective services.
C) ​give the child's family a chance to improve their parenting practices.
D) ​explore the circumstances in the child's home to determine if they are generally positive.

When a social worker has reasons to believe a child has been abused, it is their duty to report it to child protective services. This is to ensure the child's safety and well-being is prioritized and appropriate interventions can be made. It is not appropriate to disclose this information to teachers and friends as it can compromise the child's confidentiality and may not be helpful in addressing the situation. While giving the family a chance to improve parenting practices may be important, it should not delay or impede the reporting of suspected abuse. Exploring the circumstances in the child's home is important but should not delay the reporting process.