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aware of Pennsylvania law protecting children
In order for us to understand our responsibilities in reporting abuse, it is important to understand Child Protective Services law. Laws protecting children are not new; in the United States they date back to 1912. Each state also has its own laws in place to protect children and require certain individuals to report any suspected cases of child abuse. It is common for the laws to vary from state to state. In this training, we are focusing on Pennsylvania law.
"The law defines what constitutes child abuse in PA, as well as who is legally obligated to report the abuse, and how a report must be made."
- Lucy Johnston-Walsh, JD, MSW
Lucy Johnston-Walsh, JD, MSW is director of Penn State Law Children's Advocacy Clinic.
Show Transcript
Pennsylvania enacted the Child Protective Services Law to ENCOURAGE REPORTING of child abuse; to ESTABLISH an agency to INVESTIGATE reports of abuse, and to PROVIDE PROTECTION for children from further abuse.
The LAW defines what constitutes child abuse in Pennsylvania, as well as who is legally obligated to report abuse, and how a report must be made.
Pennsylvania's definition of child abuse includes: serious PHYSICAL injury, SEXUAL abuse, MENTAL injury, physical NEGLECT, and placing a child AT RISK of injury.
Under Pennsylvania law, mandated reporters are people who come into contact with children on a regular basis during the course of their work, and who have a reasonable cause to suspect that a child is a victim of child abuse. If you are required to report abuse and fail to do so, you can be held liable even if you’re not a mandated reporter under the law. Penn State’s policy now requires ALL University employees who have reasonable suspicion of abuse to make a report, with some very limited exceptions.
Keep in mind, you only need to have a REASONABLE SUSPICION of abuse – you are NOT the person who determines whether the abuse actually occurred. Also, your identity as a person making the report is NOT revealed, and you are immune from liability as long as you make the report in good faith.
HideNext, we will look at the current Child Protective Services Law in Pennsylvania.
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