NCJ Number
224923
Date Published
2007
Length
72 pages
Annotation
Intended for both professionals and the general public, this manual reviews Pennsylvania laws and regulations that address child abuse and neglect.
Abstract
Reports of suspected child abuse and/or child dependency trigger policies and procedures mandated under several Pennsylvania statutes and codes that both overlap with and diverge from each other. This manual clarifies the roles of these various laws and regulations, so that the reader may better understand and implement the process of State intervention in the family. Part I of the manual provides an overview of Federal legislation that affects Pennsylvania child welfare practice. Part II compares and contrasts the two major Pennsylvania laws that govern child abuse, the Juvenile Act and the Child Protective Services Law, with attention to when and how to take action under each of these statutes. Part III presents an overview of the Child Protective Services law. It is written specifically for lay persons, as it details the law’s safeguards and procedures. Part IV contains the text of pertinent State regulations that govern county children and youth agencies. Part V summarizes cases that interpret the Juvenile Act and the Child Protective Services Law. The appendixes include a directory of Pennsylvania county children and youth agencies, the definition of a dependent child, excerpts from the Protection From Abuse Act, a list of publications that address the “reasonable efforts” requirement, and a sample CY47 from for reporting child abuse.