NCJ Number
58612
Date Published
1978
Length
62 pages
Annotation
TABULAR STATISTICAL DATA REGARDING CHILD ABUSE IN THE STATE OF PENNSYLVANIA DURING 1978 ARE PRESENTED; RECOMMENDED AMENDMENTS TO ACT NO. 124 TO STRENGTHEN THE STATUTE ARE HIGHLIGHTED.
Abstract
IN 1978, 4,586 CHILDREN WERE FOUND TO BE ABUSED, A 1.9 PERCENT INCREASE OVER 1977. AT LEAST 38 CHILDREN DIED FROM ABUSE, WHICH REPRESENTED AN 81 PERCENT INCREASE OVER 1977. DURING 1978, 964 CHILDREN WERE TAKEN INTO PROTECTIVE CUSTODY AS A RESULT OF COMPLETED INVESTIGATIONS; 89 PERCENT REQUIRED PLACEMENT OUTSIDE OF THEIR HOMES. THE INCREASED NUMBER OF ABUSED CHILDREN DEMONSTRATES THE NEED FOR MORE EFFECTIVE AND INNOVATIVE REHABILITATIVE SERVICES AND A GREATER COMMITMENT TO THE TOTAL PROGRAM AT BOTH STATE AND COUNTY LEVELS. IT IS SUGGESTED THAT ACT 124 BE AMENDED TO EXPAND THE DEFINITION OF AN ABUSED CHILD TO INCLUDE ALL CHILDREN NEEDING PROTECTIVE SERVICES, AND TO ALLOW THAT SELECTED REPORTED INFORMATION BE RELEASED TO THE CHILD PROTECTIVE SERVICE. IN ADDITION, THE STATUTE SHOULD BE AMENDED TO INCLUDE PROTECTION FOR MANDATED REPORTERS FROM WORK-RELATED DISCIPLINARY ACTIONS IF THEY SUSPECT ABUSE AND MAKE A REPORT AGAINST THE DECISION OF A SUPERIOR. IT IS ALSO RECOMMENDED THAT GOALS AND OBJECTIVES BE SPECIFIED, THAT INCREASED FORMAL TRAINING FOR STATE AND COUNTY STAFF IN THE AREAS OF LAW, POLICY, AND TREATMENT BE IMPLEMENTED, AND THAT RESEARCH EFFORTS BE DIRECTED TOWARDS PROVIDING MORE INDEPTH ANALYSIS OF DATA FOR USE IN PROGRAM PLANNING. THE DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC WELFARE SUPERVISED THE CHILDLINE PROGRAM, INTERSTATE PLACEMENTS, INTERCOUNTY ADOPTIONS, AND YOUTH FORESTRY CAMPS. COUNTY AND CHILD PROTECTIVE SERVICE ACTIVITIES INCLUDED INSTRUCTION IN EDUCATION IN PARENTHOOD, SELF-HELP GROUPS, MULTIDISCIPLINARY TEAM WORK, EMERGENCY SERVICES, AND PROTECTIVE AND PREVENTIVE SOCIAL COUNSELING. TABULAR STATISTICAL DATA, A SELECTED BIBLIOGRAPHY, MAPS, AND APPENDIXES ARE INCLUDED. (LWM)