● Has been referred under section 6323 of the Juvenile Act (relating to informal adjustment), and who commits an act that is defined as ungovernable. GPS functions to offer services to children and their families when a report does not rise to the level of suspected child abuse but alleges a need for intervention to prevent serious harm to the child (Pennsylvania Department of Human Services Annual Child Abuse Report, 2021). These types of services are provided for case reports of nonserious injury or neglect such as insufficient shelter, school truancy, and abandonment, which may threaten a child’s health and well- being (PA Families Inc., 2014). GPS can also be provided to families when the health and welfare of the child is at risk because the family’s religious beliefs lead them to deny medical care to their child (PA Families Inc., 2014). GPS also includes services to families that do not meet the criteria for legal adjudication, that is, the act of making a and streamlined the mandatory reporting processes. In 2018, four legislative updates were passed that further expanded the definition of child abuse, allowed for temporary guardianship while a parent is in rehabilitation treatment, and redefined who is included in the sexual offender registry. The most recent changes to the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania child abuse laws took place in 2019 and spoke to the “when” related to mandatory reporting. Specifically, one’s obligation to report requires that a teacher or other mandated reporter need only have “ reasonable cause to suspect a child is being subjected to abuse .” It does not have to be confirmed, but merely suspected. Some examples include: Child abuse education and training The CPSL requires licensed professionals identified as mandated reporters to receive training on recognizing and reporting child abuse (Keep Kids Safe, n.d.a). Professionals applying for a license or certificate with their professional licensing board on or after January 1, 2015, are required to complete at least three hours of approved child abuse recognition and reporting training (Keep Kids Safe, n.d.a). This training must be approved by the Department of Human Services. Professionals applying for renewal of Mandated reporters The CPSL expanded the list of mandated reporters of suspected child abuse. An individual identified as a mandated reporter commits an offense if they fail to report suspected child abuse or neglect immediately (Keep Kids Safe, n.d.a). (The list of these mandatory reporters will be discussed later in this course.) To be able to discharge their duty, mandated reporters deserve and require optimal education and training. Different types of cases of Whistleblower protection The CPSL provides persons required to report suspected child abuse protection from employment discrimination. Governor Corbett signed this act into law April 15, 2014
judicial ruling such as a judgment or decree (Pennsylvania Department of Human Services Annual Child Abuse Report, 2021). At times, assessments may conclude that although court involvement may not be necessary, the family, child, or both may benefit from additional support services from GPS (Pennsylvania Department of Human Services Annual Child Abuse Report, 2021). Self-Assessment Quiz Question #2 What agency is responsible for receiving and investigating alleged reports of abuse? a. Child Protective Services Agency.
b. Protective Services Agency. c. Domestic Violence Agency. d. General Protections Agency.
RECENT CHANGES TO THE PENNSYLVANIA CHILD PROTECTIVE SERVICES LAW Twenty-five pieces of legislation were signed into law in Pennsylvania in 2013 and 2019 that changed how the state responds to child abuse and neglect. These changes amended the definitions of child abuse and perpetrator, defined grounds for involuntary termination of parental rights, significantly expanded the list of mandated reporters, ● When a mandated reporter encounters a child in the course of their job or service to children and witnesses or hears something that could be child abuse. ● When a person makes a specific disclosure to a mandated reporter that an identifiable child is the victim of abuse.
● When an individual 14 years of age or older makes a specific disclosure to a mandated reporter that an identifiable child is the victim of abuse. To coincide with the 2019 lowering of the bar for mandated reporting, the penalties increased dramatically. Now the failure to report a “suspected act of child abuse” has been elevated from a first-degree misdemeanor to a third-degree felony or higher if the actual offense constitutes a felony of the first or second degree and if the same individual continues to have direct contact with children through their employment. The following sections do not include all legislative bills but rather highlight some of the recent changes in legislation impacting mandated reporters and the process of recognizing and reporting suspected child abuse. their license or certificate on or after January 1, 2015, are required to complete at least two hours of continuing education per licensure cycle (Keep Kids Safe, n.d.a). This training must be approved by the appropriate licensing board in consultation with the HHS. The state- approved provider is required to report these hours to the Pennsylvania Department of State electronically (Keep Kids Safe, n.d.a). This law took effect December 31, 2014. maltreatment can confront a mandated reporter and pose a variety of cognitive, affective, and operational dilemmas and challenges. Importantly, the system of mandatory reporting has coexisting aims: First, to ensure reports are made when they should be, to the greatest possible extent (and hence to avoid failure to report), and second, to ensure reports are not made when they should not be (avoiding clearly unnecessary reporting; Baker et al., 2021).
(Keep Kids Safe, n.d.a). This law took effect December 31, 2014.
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Book Code: MPA0825
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