Reporting Suspected Child Abuse

PA State Certified First Responders, Emergency Medical Technicians and Paramedics are usually the first ones on the scene of a reported injury to a child. Sometimes that injury is related to abuse. As a Pennsylvania First Responder, EMT or Paramedic it is your responsibility to report cases of suspected child abuse. According to PA code, chapter 45, Subchapter F:

§ 45.402. Suspected child abuse—mandated reporting requirements.
(a) General rule. Under 23 Pa.C.S. § 6311 (relating to persons required to report suspected child abuse), licensees 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 professional or other training or experience, that a child coming before them in their professional or official capacity is a victim of child abuse.
(b) Staff members of public or private agencies, institutions and facilities. Licensees who are staff members of a medical or other public or private institution, school, facility or agency, and who, in the course of their employment, occupation or practice of their profession, come into contact with children shall immediately notify the person in charge of the institution, school, facility or agency or the designated agent of the person in charge 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. Upon notification by the licensee, the person in charge or the designated agent shall assume the responsibility and have the legal obligation to report or cause a report to be made in accordance with subsections (a), (c) and (d).

Click here for 2007 update letter form Attorney General Tom Corbett

This reporting should occur by calling in an oral report to Childline at 1-800-932-0313 and filling a written report, to the county children and youth agency in which the suspected Child Abuse occurs, on the form prescribed by the Department of Public Welfare with in 48 hrs. This form can be accessed and downloaded by clicking here.