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What is Child Abuse?
In Pennsylvania an abused child is one who is under 18 years of age and a victim of serious nonaccidental physical or mental injury, sexual abuse or exploitation, serious physical neglect, or at imminent risk of physical or sexual abuse caused by the parent, a person responsible for the child's welfare, any individual residing in the same home as the child, or a parent's paramour.
Who is required to report suspected child abuse?
Any person who, in the course of their employment, occupation, or practice of their profession, comes into contact with children and have reason to believe that a child coming before them in their professional or official capacity is an abused child is required to report suspected child abuse.
Mandated reporters include but are not limited to the following:
- School staff
- Hospital/Medical Staff
- Law Enforcement Personnel
- Day Care Workers
- Counselors, Psychologists, Psychiatrists
- Social Service Workers
- Mental Health Professionals
- Christian Science Practitioners
- Clergy (with consent of the child)
- Medical Examiners, Coroners, Funeral Directors
The privileged communication between any professional person required to report and his/her patient/client shall not apply to situations involving child abuse and shall not constitute grounds for failure to report as required by the CPS Law. Exceptions are made for clergymen.
How to report child abuse
You may call the Children & Youth agency of the county where the abuse took place. In Fayette County call 724-430-1283 between 8:30am and 4:30pm. Emergency calls are taken after hours by calling 724-430-1287.
As a mandated reporter you must call the 24-hour, toll-free Child Abuse Hotline (ChildLine) at 1-800-932-0313 and report your suspicions with as much of the following information as is available:
- Your name, business name, and phone number
- Names, addresses, phone number of the child and parents or other person responsible for the care of the child
- Age and sex of the subjects of the report
- Where the incident occurred
- Nature and extent of the abuse including prior abuse history of the child and siblings
- Name, address, phone number of the alleged abuser (perpetrator) and evidence of prior abuse by that person
- Family composition
- Actions taken by the reporting source
- Any additional information
If you are a physician treating a child whom you suspect has been abused, you are entitled to information regarding prior substantiated cases of abuse involving the child to assist you in determining if the need for protective custody exists.
You only need to have reason to believe that a child coming before you is an abused child to be required to report it. You do not need to know or have proof that abuse took place.
What To Do If You Suspect Child Abuse
Suggestions for handling disclosure
- Find a private place to talk to the child.
- Do not act surprised or shocked regardless of what information is disclosed. Do not panic. Respond in a relaxed and calm way.
- Express your belief that the child is telling you the truth.
- Use the child's vocabulary.
- Let the child know that he/she is not alone, other children have the same problem.
- Reassure the child that it is good to tell.
- Reassure the child that it is okay for him/her to be upset. Let the child know that the abuse was not his/her fault and that he/she is not bad.
- Determine the child's immediate need for safety.
- Let the child know that you will do your best to protect and support him/her. Don't make promises that you can't keep.
- Let the child know what you will do and be honest about what the child can expect to happen.
- Report to the proper authorities.
National Child Abuse Prevention
Month of April
The blue ribbon serves as a constant reminder to fight for protection for our children. We must protect our most precious gift of all...our children. Please wear a blue ribbon.
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