Direct contact with children is defined in § 6303 (relating to definitions) as the care, supervision, guidance, or control of children or routine interaction with children (Pennsylvania General Assembly, n.d.a). A person responsible for a child’s welfare is defined as an individual who provides permanent or temporary care, supervision, mental health diagnosis or treatment, training, or control of a child in lieu of parental care, supervision, and control (Pennsylvania General Assembly, n.d.a). The term includes any such person who has direct or regular contact with a child through any program, activity, or service sponsored by a school, for-profit organization, or religious or other not-for-profit organization (Pennsylvania General Assembly, n.d.a). In 2014, Pennsylvania amended and strengthened its child welfare laws by expanding the definition of mandated reporters, streamlining the reporting process, increasing penalties for mandated reporters who fail to report abuse or neglect, and providing protections from employment discrimination for filing a report in good faith (Pennsylvania List of mandated reporters Here is the entire list of mandated reporters as outlined by section 6311 of the Child Protective Services Law, as well as Act 15 of 2015 (Pennsylvania Child Welfare Information Solution, n.d.): ● A person licensed or certified to practice in any health- related field under the jurisdiction of the Department of State. ● A medical examiner, coroner, or funeral director. ● An employee of a healthcare facility or provider licensed by the Department of Health who is engaged in the admission, examination, care, or treatment of individuals. ● A school employee. ● An employee of a childcare service who has direct contact with children in the course of employment. ● A clergyman, priest, rabbi, minister, Christian Science practitioner, religious healer, or spiritual leader of any regularly established church or other religious organization. ● An individual, paid or unpaid, who, on the basis of the individual's role as an integral part of a regularly scheduled program, activity, or service, accepts responsibility for a child. ● An employee of a social services agency who has direct contact with children in the course of employment. ● A peace officer or law enforcement official. ● An emergency medical services provider certified by the Department of Health. ● An employee of a public library who has direct contact with children in the course of their employment. ● An individual supervised or managed by a person listed above who has direct contact with children in the course of employment. ● An independent contractor. ● An attorney affiliated with an agency, institution, organization, or other entity, including a school or regularly established religious organization, who is responsible for the care, supervision, guidance, or control of children. ● An individual who is supervised or managed by a person listed above and who has direct contact with children in the course of their employment. ● A foster parent.
General Assembly, 2014). Effective December 31, 2014, the new definition of a mandated reporter includes anyone who comes into contact or interacts with a child or is directly responsible for the care, supervision, guidance, or training of a child (Pennsylvania General Assembly, 2014). Healthcare consideration: The nurse should help educate the general public that anyone can report suspected child abuse and neglect. Although mandated reporters are required by law to report abuse and neglect, permissive reporters are encouraged to report the abuse as well (Pennsylvania Department of Human Services, n.d.a; n.d.b). Act 15 of 2015 amended Title 23 of the Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes by including volunteers at children’s programs and employees (not just administrators, teachers, and nurses) of elementary, secondary, and postsecondary schools (Pennsylvania General Assembly, 2015). ● An individual, paid or unpaid, who, on the basis of the individual’s roles an integral part of a regularly schedule program, activity, or service, is responsible for children’s welfare or has direct contact with children. ● An adult family member who is responsible for a child’s welfare and provides services to a child in a family living home, community home for individuals with an intellectual disability, or host home for children who are subject to supervision or licensure by the department under Article IX or X of the act of June 13, 1967 (P.L. 31, No. 21), known as the Public Welfare Code . It is generally accepted that mandated reporters who have good education about child maltreatment and training related to their role are more effective reporters. They are thought to be influenced by knowledge of their duty, their ability to recognize abuse, and positive attitudes toward the duty (Baker et al., 2021). Reporters require accurate knowledge of the nature of their legal duty and how to comply with it, and it is important to understand what must be reported, the process of reporting, and why the duty exists (Baker et al, 2021). In addition, reporters need education about the nature of each type of maltreatment (including definitions, indicators, consequences, and how to differentiate between types of maltreatment and the extent of harm). Knowledge of physical and behavioral indicators of different forms of maltreatment is especially important because indicators of each kind of maltreatment are not easily identifiable and can mimic other conditions and child adversities (Baker et al, 2021). Further, reporters need education and training to foster attitudes conducive to appropriate reporting, as attitudes influence behavior (Baker et al, 2021). Self-Assessment Quiz Question #8 A person who is directly responsible for the care, supervision, guidance, or training of a child is a mandated reporter. According to this definition, a teacher is a mandated report. What other categories are included? a. Youth coaches. b. Volunteer with works in schools. c. Clergy. d. All the above.
Staff members of public or private agencies, institutions, and facilities Individuals who are staff members of a medical or other public or private institution, school, facility, or agency who,
in the course of their employment, occupation, or practice of their profession, encounter children shall immediately
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