After notification of a child born affected by substance use or withdrawal symptoms resulting from prenatal drug exposure or a fetal alcohol spectrum disorder: ● A multidisciplinary team meeting must be held prior to the child's discharge from the health care facility. ● The meeting will inform an assessment of the needs of the child and the child’s parents and immediate caregivers to determine the most appropriate lead agency for developing, implementing, and monitoring a Plan of Safe Care. ● The child's parents and immediate caregivers must be engaged to identify the need for access to treatment for any substance use disorder or other physical or behavioral health condition that may impact the safety, early childhood development, and well-being of the child. ● Depending upon the needs of the child and parent(s)/ caregiver(s), ongoing involvement of the county agency may not be required. Multidisciplinary team For the purpose of informing the Plan of Safe Care, may include public health agencies, maternal and child health agencies, home visitation programs, substance use
disorder prevention and treatment providers, mental health providers, public and private children and youth agencies, early intervention and developmental services, courts, local education agencies, managed care organizations and private insurers, and hospitals and medical providers. Act 88 of 2018 Act 88 of 2018 allows the court to appoint a family member temporary guardianship in 90-day increments up to one year when the child’s parent enters a rehabilitation facility for drug or alcohol treatment (Pennsylvania Department of Human Services Annual Child Abuse Report, 2021). Act 47 of 2019 Act 47 of 2019 allows for a correctional facility employee to serve as a witness when incarcerated parents of an adoptee are completing an adoption consent form (Pennsylvania Department of Human Services Annual Child Abuse Report, 2021). Act 88 of 2019 Act 88 of 2019 amends Title 23 (Domestic Relations) to clarify and increase penalties for failure to report child abuse (Pennsylvania Department of Human Services Annual Child Abuse Report, 2021). Child abuse Pennsylvania implemented a new Child Welfare Information Solution (CWIS) on December 27, 2014. Definitions outlined reflect the amended statute that took effect December 31, 2014. Pennsylvania CPS defines 10 separate categories of child abuse as intentionally, knowingly, or recklessly committing any of the following (HHS, 2021): 1. Causing bodily injury to a child through any recent act (abuse within the last two years) or failure to act (doing nothing to prevent the abuse). 2. Fabricating, feigning, or intentionally exaggerating or inducing a medical symptom or disease that results in a potentially harmful medical evaluation or treatment to the child through any recent act. 3. Causing or substantially contributing to serious mental injury to a child through any act or failure to act or a series of such acts or failures to act. Example: Berating a child verbally in public places in front of others. 4. Causing sexual abuse or exploitation of a child through any act or failure to act. Example: Allowing a predator to sexually abuse a child. 5. Creating a reasonable likelihood of bodily injury to a child through any recent act or failure to act. Example: A parent leaves their small child in the car with the windows up on a hot day while in the grocery store for an hour. 6. Creating a likelihood of sexual abuse or exploitation of a child through any recent act or failure to act. Example: Leaving a child alone in the presence of a registered sexual predator. 7. Causing serious physical neglect of a child. Example: Not providing food or water to a child. 8. Engaging in any of the following specific recent “per se” acts: ○ Kicking, biting, throwing, burning, stabbing or cutting a child in a manner that endangers the child. ○ Unreasonably restraining or confining a child based on consideration of the method, location, or the duration of the restraint or confinement. Example: Keeping a child locked in a closet or isolated room as punishment for misbehaving. ○ Forcefully shaking a child under one year of age.
DEFINITIONS RELATED TO THE CHILD PROTECTIVE SERVICES LAW
General rule—The following words and phrases, when used in the PA CPSL, shall have the meanings given to them in this section unless the context clearly indicates otherwise: Adult An individual 18 years of age or older. Basis to report 1. A mandated reporter enumerated in subsection (a) shall make a report of suspected child abuse in accordance with section 6313 (relating to reporting procedure), if the mandated reporter has reasonable cause to suspect that a child is a victim of child abuse under any of the following circumstances: i. The mandated reporter comes into contact with the child in the course of employment, occupation and practice of a profession or through a regularly scheduled program, activity or service. ii. The mandated reporter is directly responsible for the care, supervision, guidance or training of the child, or is affiliated with an agency, institution, organization, school, regularly established church or religious organization or other entity that is directly responsible for the care, supervision, guidance or training of the child. iii. A person makes a specific disclosure to the mandated reporter that an identifiable child is the victim of child abuse. iv. An individual 14 years of age or older makes a specific disclosure to the mandated reporter that the individual has committed child abuse. Bodily injury Impairment of physical condition or substantial pain. ● Impairment: If, due to the injury, the child’s ability to function is reduced temporarily or permanently in any way. ● Substantial pain: If the child experiences what a reasonable person believes to be substantial pain. Child A child is defined as an individual under the age of 18 (Pennsylvania General Assembly, n.d.a).
EliteLearning.com/Funeral
Book Code: FPA0625
Page 6
Powered by FlippingBook