NCJ Number
58715
Date Published
1979
Length
104 pages
Annotation
STAFF FINDINGS AND EVALUATIONS RESULTING FROM A COMPREHENSIVE REVIEW OF THE ADMINISTRATION OF THE CHILD PROTECTIVE SERVICES LAW OF PENNSYLVANIA, AS PREPARED BY THE JOINT STATE GOVERNMENT COMMISSION, ARE PRESENTED.
Abstract
ANALYSIS OF ACT NO. 124 OF 1975, THE CHILD PROTECTIVE SERVICES LAW, REVEALS SEVERAL MAJOR PROBLEMS. FIRST, THE LAW DOES NOT APPLY TO A LARGE MAJORITY OF THE CHILDREN WHO RECEIVE PROTECTIVE SERVICES FROM COUNTY CHILDREN AND YOUTH SOCIAL SERVICES AGENCIES THROUGHOUT THE COMMONWEALTH. THESE CHILDREN HAVE NOT BEEN INJURED TO A SUFFICIENT DEGREE TO BE SUBSTANTIATED AS ABUSED UNDER THE LAW. SECOND, THE CHILD ABUSE PROGRAM IS TREATED AS A SEPARATE ENTITY UNDER THE STATUTE WHEN IT IS, IN FACT, AN INTEGRAL PART OF COUNTY SERVICES; OVERLAPPING AND CONFLICTING REGULATORY PROBLEMS HAVE RESULTED. THIRD, NEITHER THE STATUTE NOR THE REGULATIONS PROVIDE CLEAR PROCEDURES FOR REPORTING AND INVESTIGATING INSTITUTIONAL ABUSE AND ARE SILENT CONCERNING THE PROVISION OF SERVICES. FINALLY, OF ALL REPORTS OF SUSPECTED CHILD ABUSE RECEIVED IN PENNSYLVANIA IN 1977, ONLY ONE-THIRD WERE SUBSTANTIATED AS ABUSE UNDER THE STATUTE. IN ADDITION TO THESE PROBLEMS, CAUSED DIRECTLY BY SHORTCOMINGS OF THE LAW, OTHER AREAS OF CONCERN RELATED TO ADMINISTRATION ARE APPARENT. FOR EXAMPLE, IN 1977, FOR LESS THAN HALF OF THE REPORTS OF SUSPECTED ABUSE, INVESTIGATIONS WERE COMPLETED AND STATUS DETERMINED WITHIN THE 30-DAY PERIOD SPECIFIED BY LAW. ABOUT ONE OF EVERY FOUR ABUSED CHILDREN IN SAMPLE SUBSTANTIATED CASES WAS NOT SEEN BY THE COUNTY AGENCY WITHIN A WEEK AFTER THE REPORT WAS RECEIVED. IN ADDITION, NOT EVERY TYPE OF PROTECTIVE SERVICE MANDATED BY THE STATUTE IS AVAILABLE IN EVERY COUNTY. PROGRAM STAFFING IS SCANT IN THE STATE DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC WELFARE OFFICES IN THE CENTRAL AND REGIONAL OFFICES, AND SPECIALIZATION IS LACKING. ON THE COUNTY LEVEL, CASELOADS ARE HEAVY AND EMPLOYEE TURNOVER RATES ARE HIGH. TABULAR DATA, APPENDIXES, AND FOOTNOTES ARE INCLUDED. (LWM)