The Code: 41.71 - 41.76 Child Abuse Reporting Requirements Flashcards
What is the general rule for child abuse reporting? Who is it made to?
Psychologists who, in the course of their employment, occupation or practice of their profession, come into contact with children shall
- REPORT
- OR CAUSE A REPORT
to be made to the Department of Public Welfare when they have reasonable cause to suspect on the basis of their professional or other training or experience, that a child coming before them in their professional or official capacity is a victim of child abuse
Who receives the report for child abuse reporting?
Department of Public Welfare
What is the rule for staff members or public or private agencies, institutions, and/or facilities when reporting child abuse
They have to inform the person in charge of the site
or
the designated agent of the person in charge of the site.
At that point, the designated agent or person in charge assumes the responsibility of the report and has a legal obligation to do so.
What is the reporting procedure for reporting child abuse?
You report by telephone AND written report.
You MUST do both.
How are oral reports made?
Via phone to ChildLine
How are written reports made? What’s their timeline? Where are they available?
within 48 hours AFTER the oral report is made by telephone.
Written reports shall be made on forms available from the county children and youth social service agency.
According to the Dept of Public Welfare, what information has to be on the written reports? (10 main points)
- Names and address of the child and parents or other persons responsible for the care of the child
- Location of suspected abuse
- Age and Sex/Gender of the subjects of the report
- Nature of the abuse including the history of any prior abuses to the child or their siblings
- Name of the person responsible and any history of prior instances of perpetration.
- Family composition
- Source of the report
- Person making the report and how they can be contacted.
- Actions are taken by the reporting source (like X-Rays, photos, removing the child, keeping the child, notifying the medical examiner or coroner)
- Other information which the Dept of Pub Welfare deems necessary
What can the psychologist do with photographs, x-rays, and medical tests of a child suspected of abuse? Who receives them?
We can take photographs of the child to document the abuse, as well as x-rays and other medical tests.
We have to give them to the county children and youth social service agencies at the time the report is written or soon after.
What is the mandated reporting requirement for the suspected death of a child due to abuse?
We have to report the suspicion to a coroner of the county where the death occurred or of the county where injuries were treated and sustained.
Under what circumstances does a psychologist qualify for immunity from liability when reporting?
if we made a good faith report
if we cooperated with the investigation
if we testify in a proceeding as a result of the report
The Board and court will presume the good faith of a psychologist in any disciplinary or court hearings.
When is confidentiality waived during reporting?
To protect children from abuse, the reporting requirements take precedence over confidentiality and any other ethical principle or professional standard that might otherwise apply to psychologists.
What happens if a psychologist does not comply with reporting procedures?
they result in disciplinary actions (via Board) and criminal penalties (via Commonwealth)
Criminal penalties
A psychologist who is required to report a case of suspected child abuse who willfully fails to do commits a summary offense for the first violation and a misdemeanor of the third degree for a second or subsequent violation.
