Reporting Abuse

ChildLine 1-800-932-0313 or CYF 412-473-2000

The Pennsylvania ChildLine and Abuse Registry is known as “ChildLine.”  ChildLine accepts and assigns reports of child and student abuse to county children and youth agencies for investigation. ChildLine may also provide information and referral services for families and children.

Changes to legislative requirements for reporting child abuse in Pennsylvania effective May 2007

Child Abuse (from Child Protective Services Law 23 PA CS§6303; 55 PA Code §3490.4)

The term "child abuse" shall mean any of the following:

• Any recent act or failure to act by a perpetrator* which causes non-accidental serious physical injury to a child under 18 years of age.
• An act or failure to act by a perpetrator which causes non-accidental serious mental injury to or sexual abuse or sexual exploitation of a child less than 18 years of age.
• Any recent act, failure to act or series of such acts or failures to act by a perpetrator which creates an imminent risk of serious physical injury to or sexual abuse or sexual exploitation of a child under 18 years of age.
• Serious physical neglect by a perpetrator constituting prolonged or repeated lack of supervision or the failure to provide essentials of life, including adequate medical care, which endangers a child's life or development or impairs the child's functioning.

Mandated Reporters

A person who, in the course of their employment, occupation or practice of a profession, comes into contact with children shall report or cause a report to be made in accordance with section 6313 when the person has reasonable cause to suspect, on the basis of their medical, professional or other training and experience, that a child under the care, supervision, guidance or training of that person or of an agency, institution, organization or other entity with which that person is affiliated ( Act 179 as of May 2007) is a victim of child abuse, including child abuse by an individual who is not a perpetrator, shall report or cause a report to be made in accordance with section 6313.

• Except with respect to confidential communications made to a member of the clergy which are protected under 42 PA.C.S. § 5943 (relating to confidential communications to clergymen), and except with respect to confidential communications made to an attorney which are protected by 42 PA.C.S. § 5916 (relating to confidential to attorney) or 5928 (relating to confidential to attorney), ( Act 179 as of May 2007) the privileged communication any professional person required to report and the patient or client of that person shall not apply to situations involving child abuse and shall not constitute grounds for failure to report as required by this chapter.

Persons required to report include but are not limited to:

• A licensed physician, medical examiner, coroner, funeral director, dentist, optometrist, osteopath, chiropractor, psychologist, podiatrist, intern, registered nurse or licensed practical nurse.
• Hospital personnel engaged in the admission, examination, care or treatment of persons.
• A Christian Science practitioner, member of the clergy, school administrator, school teacher, school nurse, school librarian, social services worker, day care center worker or another child care or foster care worker, mental health professional, peace officer or law enforcement official.

 Act 179 as of May 2007
A person or official required by the Child Protective Services Law (CPSL) to report a case of suspected child abuse or to make a referral to the authorities who willfully fails to do so commits a misdemeanor of the third degree for the first violation, and a misdemeanor of the second degree for a second or subsequent violation.

The CPSL presumes that a person who reports a case of suspected child abuse has acted in good faith. Any person who makes a report in good faith is immune from criminal and civil liability

A school employee (or a person other than a school employee who suspects that a school employee has committed student abuse) reports suspected student abuse to the school administrator. The administrator must report the allegations to law enforcement officials and the appropriate district attorney if student abuse is suspected. If the administrator is the subject of the report, the school employee will report allegations to law enforcement officials and the appropriate district attorney. When it is determined that allegations meet the definition of student abuse, the Allegheny County Department of Human Services Office of Children, Youth and Families will assure safety of the alleged child victim(s), monitor the school’s safety plan and complete the ChildLine Report(s).

 Act 146 as of May 2007
Health care providers who are involved in the delivery or care of an infant who is born and identified as being affected by illegal substance abuse or as having withdrawal symptoms resulting from prenatal drug exposure shall immediately cause a report to be made to the appropriate county agency.  The county agency shall provide or arrange for appropriate services for the infant.

Call Screening

Allegheny County Department of Human Services Office of Children, Youth and Families (CYF) provides telephone access to receive reports of alleged child abuse and neglect 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

The Call Screener will:

• Gather information and document all reports that come to the attention of the agency;
• Inquire about all children living in the household and all related children, regardless of residence; and 
• Make recommendations to the Call Screening Supervisor about whether and when to assign cases to Casework Staff.

The Call Screening Supervisor will:

• Review all incoming reports and any prior CYF record(s);
• Rate initial level of risk;
• Assign a response time, unit and Caseworker as necessary; or
• Screen out the report.

CYF Intake Assignments

• The Call Screening Supervisor may:
• Assign a Child Protective Service (CPS) Caseworker to conduct a CPS Investigation when there is a ChildLine number or allegation that appears to meet the Child Protective Service Law (CPSL) definition of child or student abuse;
• Determine whether and when to make assignments for General Protective Service (GPS) Assessment to GPS Caseworkers or other specialized units within the agency;
• Assign a Field Screening to assess the safety of the children for families with a child age under the age of seven when the case is not assigned for a CPS Investigation or GPS Assessment. (These cases may be screened out after a Field Screening); or
• Direct the provision of Information and Referral Services (I&RS).

Screening out calls

All referrals, reports and requests for service will result in an assessment from CYF unless the Call Screener, in consultation with the Call Screening Supervisor, clearly establishes that:

• CYF does not have legal jurisdiction in the matter;
• There are no reasons for CYF to conduct a field assessment;
• There are no service needs appropriate for CYF to address; or
• Another agency or provider can meet the family’s needs and Call Screeners have provided resource information to the caller.