Pennsylvania Child Abuse Recognition and Reporting Training for Mandated Reporters – 3 Hours

About this course

Child abuse is a serious public health concern. It involves serious mental injury, sexual abuse or exploitation, serious physical neglect, and bodily injury, in the state of Pennsylvania to a child under the age of 18 by a parent, custodian, or caregiver that results in potential harm, harm, or a threat of harm. This independent study provides an overview of Pennsylvania child welfare laws, indicators for child abuse, and reporting requirements of suspected child abuse mandated for mandated reporters in Pennsylvania in order that they can recognize child abuse and feel more confident in the reporting process.

Learning objectives

• The basis for reporting suspected child abuse is having “reasonable cause to suspect” a child is a victim of child abuse.
• Nothing in the PA CPSL requires a person who has reasonable cause to suspect a child is a victim of child abuse to identify the type of abuse they are reporting when making a report of suspected child abuse.
• The PA CPSL recognizes three key components of child abuse:
• Child
• Act or failure to act; Recent act; Recent act or failure to act; or A series of acts or failures to act
• Intentionally, knowingly, or recklessly
• A mandated reporter enumerated under section 6311(a) of the PA CPSL (relating to persons required to report suspected child abuse) must immediately make a report suspected child abuse to ChildLine, Pennsylvania’s 24/7 Child Abuse Hotline and Registry, by calling 1-800-932-0313 or electronically through the Child Welfare Portal, if they have reasonable cause to suspect a child is a victim of child abuse under any of the following circumstances:
• 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,
• A person makes a specific disclosure to the mandated reporter that an identifiable child is the victim of child abuse.
• An individual 14 years of age or older makes a specific disclosure to the mandated reporter that the individual has committed child abuse.
• Nothing in section 6311 of the PA CPSL (relating to persons required to report suspected child abuse) requires a child to come before the mandated reporter in order for the mandated reporter to make a report of suspected child abuse.

Course outline

49 sections · finish in any order across devices

1. 1

   Introduction

   This course provides an overview of applicable child welfare laws in the state of Pennsylvania, signs of abuse, and reporting requirements for the mandated reporter to report suspected child abuse.

   4 min

2. 2

   Child Protective Services (CPS)

   Child Protective Services (CPS) are services and activities provided by DHS and each county agency for child abuse cases. Cases identified as “CPS” require an investigation because the alleged act or failure to act meets the PA CPSL’s definition of child abuse. The PA CPSL’s definition of child abus

   4 min

3. 3

   General Protective Services (GPS)

   General Protective Services (GPS) are services and activities provided by each county agency for cases requiring protective services as defined by DHS in regulations. The primary purpose of GPS is to protect the rights and welfare of children so that they have an opportunity for healthy growth and d

   4 min

4. 4

   (Act 54 of 2018)

   A health care provider shall immediately give notice or cause notice to be given to DHS if the provider is involved in the delivery or care of a child under one year of age and the health care provider has determined, based on standards of professional practice, the child was born affected by:

   4 min

5. 5

   Plan of Safe Care

   After notification of a child born affected by substance use or withdrawal symptoms resulting from prenatal drug exposure or a fetal alcohol spectrum disorder:

   4 min

6. 6

   Multidisciplinary Team

   For the purpose of forming the Plan of Safe Care may include:

   4 min

7. 7

   An individual under 18 years of age

   Act or failure to act; Recent act; Recent act or failure to act; or A series of acts or failures to act

   4 min

8. 8

   Perpetrator

   An individual who has committed child abuse as defined under section 6303(b.1) of the PA CPSL (relating to definitions).

   4 min

9. 9

   Child Abuse (23 Pa.C.S. § 6303)

   The term "child abuse" shall mean intentionally, knowingly, or recklessly doing any of the following:

   4 min

10. 10

    Bodily Injury

    Impairment of physical condition or substantial pain.

    4 min

11. 11

    Serious Mental Injury

    A psychological condition, as diagnosed by a physician or licensed psychologist, including the refusal of appropriate treatment, that:

    4 min

12. 12

    Serious Physical Neglect

    Any of the following when committed by a perpetrator that endangers a child's life or health, threatens a child's well-being, causes bodily injury, or impairs a child's health, development, or functioning:

    4 min

13. 13

    Sexual Abuse or Exploitation

    Includes any of the following:

    4 min

14. 14

    Severe Forms of Trafficking in Persons (Act 115 of 2016)

    Examples:

    4 min

15. 15

    Severe forms of trafficking in persons (Act 115 of 2016)

    Victim Identification/Warning Signs -- including, but not limited to:

    4 min

16. 16

    Exclusions From Child Abuse

    Nothing in the PA CPSL requires a person who has reasonable cause to suspect a child is a victim of child abuse to consider the exclusions from child abuse before making a report of suspected child abuse. The exclusions from child abuse are considered/determined by DHS or the investigating agency af

    4 min

17. 17

    (a) Environmental Factors (23 Pa.C.S. § 6304)

    No child shall be deemed to be physically or mentally abused based on injuries that result solely from environmental factors, such as inadequate housing, furnishings, income, clothing, and medical care, that are beyond the control of the parent or person responsible for the child's welfare with whom

    4 min

18. 18

    (b) Practice of Religious Beliefs (23 Pa.C.S. § 6304)

    If, upon investigation, the county agency determines that a child has not been provided needed medical or surgical care because of sincerely held religious beliefs of the child's parents or relative within the third degree of consanguinity and with whom the child resides, which beliefs are consisten

    4 min

19. 19

    (d) Rights of Parents (23 Pa.C.S. § 6304)

    Nothing in the PA CPSL shall be construed to restrict the generally recognized existing rights of parents to use reasonable force on or against their children for the purposes of supervision, control, and discipline of their children. Such reasonable force shall not constitute child abuse.

    4 min

20. 20

    (f) Child-on-Child Contact (23 Pa.C.S. § 6304)

    Section 6304.0 - Title 23 - DOMESTIC RELATIONS (state.pa.us)

    4 min

21. 21

    Reporting Suspected Child Abuse

    There are two categories of reporters in Pennsylvania:

    4 min

22. 22

    Mandated Reporters

    The following adults shall make a report of suspected child abuse, subject to subsection (b) (relating to basis to report), if the person has reasonable cause to suspect that a child is a victim of child abuse.

    4 min

23. 23

    Basis to Report

    A mandated reporter enumerated in subsection (a) (relating to mandated reporters) 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

    4 min

24. 24

    Staff Members of Institutions, Etc.

    The PA CPSL does not require more than one report from any such institution, school, facility, or agency.

    4 min

25. 25

    Reasonable Cause to Suspect

    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. “Reasonable cau

    4 min

26. 26

    Privileged Communications (23 Pa.C.S. § 6311.1)

    The privileged communications between a mandated reporter and a patient or client of the mandated reporter shall not apply to a situation involving child abuse or relieve the mandated reporter of the duty to make a report of suspected child abuse. In addition, confidential communications made to a m

    4 min

27. 27

    In accordance with 23 Pa.C.S. § 6313, a mandated reporter

    Shall immediately make an oral/verbal report of suspected child abuse to DHS via the Statewide toll-free telephone number under section 6332 (relating to establishment of Statewide toll-free telephone number) (1-800-932-0313) or a written report using electronic technologies under section 6305 (rela

    4 min

28. 28

    Contents of Report

    A written report of suspected child abuse, which may be submitted electronically, shall include the following information, if known:

    4 min

29. 29

    Confirmation of Reports

    A confirmation by DHS of the receipt of a report of suspected child abuse submitted electronically shall relieve the person making the report of making an additional oral/verbal or written report of suspected child abuse, subject to section 6313 (relating to reporting procedure).

    4 min

30. 30

    Notice to Mandated Reporter

    If a report was made by a mandated reporter, DHS shall notify the mandated reporter who made the report of suspected child abuse within three business days of DHS's receipt of the results of the investigation regarding whether the child abuse report is founded, indicated, or unfounded, and any servi

    4 min

31. 31

    Applicability of Mental Health Procedures Act (23 Pa. C.S.§6313)

    Notwithstanding any other provision of law, a mandated reporter who makes a report of suspected child abuse or who makes a report of a crime against a child to law enforcement officials shall not be in violation of the act of July 9, 1976 (P.L.817, No.143), known as the Mental Health Procedures Act,

    4 min

32. 32

    Confidentiality of Reports (23 Pa.C.S. § 6339)

    Except as otherwise provided in subchapter C of the PA CPSL (relating to powers and duties of department) or by the Pennsylvania Rules of Juvenile Court Procedure, reports made pursuant to the PA CPSL, including, but not limited to, report summaries of child abuse and reports made pursuant to sectio

    4 min

33. 33

    Protecting Identity

    Except for reports under section 6340(a)(9) and (10) of the PA CPSL and in response to a law enforcement official investigating allegations of false reports under 18 Pa.C.S. § 4906.1 (relating to false reports of child abuse), the release of data by DHS, county, institution, school, facility, or age

    4 min

34. 34

    General Rule

    A person, hospital, institution, school, facility, agency, or agency employee acting in good faith shall have immunity from civil and criminal liability that might otherwise result from any of the following:

    4 min

35. 35

    Basis for Relief

    A person may commence an action for appropriate relief if all of the following apply:

    4 min

36. 36

    Applicability

    This section does not apply to an individual making a report of suspected child abuse who is found to be a perpetrator because of the report or to any individual who fails to make a report of suspected child abuse as required under section 6311 (relating to persons required to report suspected child

    4 min

37. 37

    Failure to Report or Refer

    A person or official required by the PA CPSL to report a case of suspected child abuse or to make a referral to the appropriate authorities commits an offense if the person or official willfully fails to do so. An offense under this section is a felony of the third degree if:

    4 min

38. 38

    Continuing Course of Action

    If a person's willful failure to report an individual suspected of child abuse continues while the person knows or has reasonable cause to suspect a child is being subjected to child abuse by the same individual, or while the person knows or has reasonable cause to suspect that the same individual c

    4 min

39. 39

    Multiple Offenses

    A person who, at the time of sentencing for an offense under this section, has been convicted of a prior offense under this section commits a felony of the third degree…except that, if the child abuse constitutes a felony of the first degree or higher, the penalty for the second or subsequent offens

    4 min

40. 40

    Key Takeaways

    The following is a summary of key points from the content outlined on the previous pages:

    4 min

41. 41

    Learning Exercise 1

    Michelle is an 11-year-old who is developmentally delayed. She is in an after-school reading program at the local library. She is always pleasant, but over the past two weeks, she has been crying easily. She recently also has been exhibiting a new behavior; grabbing the genitalia of other children i

    4 min

42. 42

    Learning Exercise 2

    Josie is 6 years old and plays on the city’s soccer team Her soccer coach, Ms. Kim, has always known Josie to be a good player with a good relationship with her teammates. Recently, however, Josie has been aggressive when on the field. For instance, yesterday Josie hit Julie, another girl on the tea

    4 min

43. 43

    Learning Exercise 2 Discussion

    Ms. Kim has reasonable cause to suspect abuse due to her knowledge of the child’s behavior in the past compared to what has recently been noticed. As a mandated reporter, Ms. Kim does not have to investigate or prove that Josie is a victim of child abuse prior to making the report of suspected child

    4 min

44. 44

    Learning Exercise 3

    Shawn is 8 years old and just arrived back home after a weeklong vacation with his mother and stepfather. Upon picking Shawn up from his mother’s house, his biological father John notices Shawn limping on his left leg and refusing to participate in any activity. When asking him if his leg hurt, Shaw

    4 min

45. 45

    Learning Exercise 4

    Kayla is a popular Junior in high school. She has a lot of friends, is on the varsity volleyball team, always has new clothes, and always ‘treats’ her friends at Starbucks after school. One day on the bus after a volleyball match, the contracted bus driver overhears Kayla talking with a friend. Kayl

    4 min

46. 46

    Learning Exercise 5

    Jimmy frequents the school nurse. Last week, he busted his lip when he tripped over his untied shoelaces in at school. The week before that, he twisted his ankle while playing dodgeball. Today, he arrived at the school nurse’s office to complain of teeth pain. During the nurse’s triage assessment, J

    4 min

47. 47

    Learning Exercise 6

    Officer O’Neal is a police officer who is visiting his daughter’s elementary school classroom to discuss his career. Officer O’Neal is in his work uniform and brought his police cruiser for the children to see, as he discusses his job as a police officer. During the discussion, officer O’Neal turns

    4 min

48. 48

    Learning Exercise 7

    Thirteen-year-old Lillian was brought to the emergency room by her mother, Joanna. Lillian is complaining of severe abdominal pain and rates the pain 10/10. She said the pain has been happening for the last 2 weeks and is located in her lower abdominal area. The triage nurse asks Lillian’s when her

    4 min

49. 49

    Learning Exercise 8

    Marybeth is a Sunday school teacher at her local church. Josh is 13 years old and attends Sunday school regularly and is preparing to participate in the church’s holiday play. During wardrobe changes, Marybeth notices welt on Josh’s back. Marybeth discreetly asks Josh if he is ok, and Josh responds

    4 min

This course satisfies

Requirement summaries come from our state requirement records. Always confirm details with your board before you renew.

References and resources

• 2014 act 31. (n.d.). The official website for the Pennsylvania General Assembly. https://www.legis.state.pa.us/cfdocs/legis/li/uconsCheck.cfm?yr=2014&sessInd=0&act=31
• 2016 act 115. (n.d.). The official website for the Pennsylvania General Assembly. https://www.legis.state.pa.us/cfdocs/legis/li/uconsCheck.cfm?yr=2016&sessInd=0&act=115
• 2016 act 115. (n.d.). The official website for the Pennsylvania General Assembly. https://www.legis.state.pa.us/cfdocs/legis/li/uconsCheck.cfm?yr=2016&sessInd=0&act=115
• 2018 act 54. (n.d.). The official website for the Pennsylvania General Assembly. https://www.legis.state.pa.us/cfdocs/legis/li/uconsCheck.cfm?yr=2018&sessInd=0&act=54
• 2019 act 115. (n.d.). The official website for the Pennsylvania General Assembly. https://www.legis.state.pa.us/cfdocs/legis/li/uconsCheck.cfm?yr=2019&sessInd=0&act=115
• 2019 act 88. (n.d.). The official website for the Pennsylvania General Assembly. https://www.legis.state.pa.us/cfdocs/legis/li/uconsCheck.cfm?yr=2019&sessInd=0&act=88
• 49 Pa. Code § 47.55. Immunity from liability. (n.d.). Pennsylvania Code & Bulletin. https://www.pacodeandbulletin.gov/Display/pacode?file=/secure/pacode/data/049/chapter47/s47.55.html
• 55 Pa. Code § 3490.4. Definitions. (n.d.). Pennsylvania Code & Bulletin. https://www.pacodeandbulletin.gov/Display/pacode?file=/secure/pacode/data/055/chapter3490/s3490.4.html
• 55 Pa. Code § 3490.55. Investigation of reports of suspected child abuse. (n.d.). Pennsylvania Code & Bulletin. https://www.pacodeandbulletin.gov/Display/pacode?file=/secure/pacode/data/055/chapter3490/s3490.55.html
• Chapter 63. - Title 23 - Domestic relations. (n.d.). PA General Assembly. https://www.legis.state.pa.us/WU01/LI/LI/CT/HTM/23/00.063..HTM
• Plans of safe care. (n.d.). Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. https://www.pa.gov/en/agencies/dhs/resources/keep-kids-safe/about-keep-kids-safe/plans-safe-care.html
• Section 6304.0 - Title 23 - Domestic relations. (n.d.). PA General Assembly. https://www.legis.state.pa.us/WU01/LI/LI/CT/HTM/23/00.063.004.000..HTM?64
• Section 6313.0 - Title 23 - Domestic relations. (n.d.). PA General Assembly. https://www.legis.state.pa.us/WU01/LI/LI/CT/HTM/23/00.063.013.000..HTM
• Section 6319.0 - Title 23 - Domestic relations. (n.d.). PA General Assembly. https://www.legis.state.pa.us/WU01/LI/LI/CT/HTM/23/00.063.019.000..HTM?86
• Section 6368.0 - Title 23 - Domestic relations. (n.d.). PA General Assembly. https://www.legis.state.pa.us/WU01/LI/LI/CT/HTM/23/00.063.068.000..HTM?50
• Title 23 - Domestic relations. (n.d.). PA General Assembly. https://www.legis.state.pa.us/WU01/LI/LI/CT/HTM/23/23.HTM

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