_____________________________ Child Abuse Identification and Reporting: The Pennsylvania Requirement
(including increased engagement in risky behaviors) as adults [47]. Abuse and neglect during childhood are clear ACEs, but other examples include witnessing family or community violence; experiencing a family member attempting or complet- ing suicide; parental divorce; parental or guardian substance abuse; and parental incarceration [47]. Adults who experienced ACEs are at increased risk for chronic illness, impaired health, violence, arrest, and substance use disorder [28; 52].
• A person makes a specific disclosure to the mandated reporter that an identifiable child is the victim of child abuse either within or outside of the reporter’s professional role. • An individual 14 years of age or older makes a specific disclosure to the mandated reporter (either within or outside of the reporter’s professional role) that the individual has committed child abuse. The mandated reporter is not required to interrogate the victim or identify the person responsible for the child abuse in order to make a report of suspected child abuse. By law, individuals who come into contact with children on a frequent and consistent basis due to their work are legally required to report any suspected child abuse [39]. Mandated reporters in the state of Pennsylvania include, but are not limited to, [39]: • Physicians (including osteopaths) • Medical examiners • Coroners • Funeral directors • Dentists
REPORTING SUSPECTED CHILD ABUSE
Pennsylvania has a delineated process in place to facilitate the reporting of suspected child abuse. In addition, in 2014, Gov- ernor Corbett signed four new bills intended to streamline and clarify the child abuse reporting process in Pennsylvania. These bills were spurred by the Sandusky child sexual abuse case. PERMISSIVE REPORTERS There are two general categories of child abuse reporters: man- dated reporters and permissive reporters. Permissive reporters are individuals who report an incident of suspected child abuse. These persons are not required to act or intervene in cases of suspected abuse. Put plainly, permissive reporters can report abuse while mandated reporters must report. However, it is important to note that any person is encouraged to report suspected child abuse or cause a report of suspected child abuse to be made to the department, county agency, or law enforcement, if that person has reasonable cause to suspect that a child is a victim of child abuse. Reasonable cause to suspect is a determination made based on training/experience and all known circumstances. Some indicators may be more apparent than others depending on the type of abuse and/or depending on the child’s health, developmental level, and well-being. For example, some indicators may be visible on the child’s body while other indicators may be present in the child’s behaviors. MANDATED REPORTERS In Pennsylvania, a mandated reporter is required to make a report of suspected child abuse when he or she has reasonable cause to suspect that a child is a victim of child abuse if [48]: • 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. • 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, regardless of the setting of the disclosure of abuse (within or outside of the reporter’s professional role).
• Optometrists • Chiropractors • Podiatrists • Interns • Registered nurses • Licensed practical nurses • Hospital personnel engaged in the admission, examination, care, or treatment of persons • Christian Science practitioners
• Members of the clergy • School administrators
• School teachers • School nurses • Social services workers • Day-care center workers or any other child-care or foster-care workers • Mental health professionals • Peace officers or law enforcement officials
Senate Bill 21 and House Bill 436 were two of the bills signed into law and enacted in 2014. These bills elucidate that man- dated reporters are “to include anyone who comes in contact with a child, or is directly responsible for the care, supervision, guidance, or training of a child” [51]. Under this expanded definition, additional individuals who are also classified as mandatory reporters include [39]:
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Book Code: DPA1525
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