Child Abuse Identification and Reporting: The Pennsylvania Requirement

Course #57543-


Study Points

  1. Identify the basis for reporting suspected child abuse, including having "reasonable cause to suspect" a child is a victim of child abuse.
  2. List the three key components of child abuse as defined by the PA CPSL.
  3. Outline the action(s) a mandated reporter must immediately make if they have reasonable cause to suspect a child is a victim of child abuse, including identification of defining circumstances.
  4. Relate the actions that are NOT required to take place in order for a mandated reporter to make a report of suspected child abuse.
  5. Describe the concept of good faith and how it relates to a mandated reporter making a report of suspected child abuse.
  6. Identify circumstances under which mandated reporters are required to make a report if they have reasonable cause to suspect a child is a victim of child abuse.

    1 . A mandated reporter must immediately make a report if they have reasonable cause to suspect a child is a victim of child abuse under which of the following circumstances?
    A) The mandated reporter comes into contact with the child in the course of employment, occupation, and practice of a profession or through a regularly scheduled program, activity, or service.
    B) A person makes a specific disclosure to the mandated reporter that an identifiable child is the victim of child abuse.
    C) An individual 14 years of age or older makes a specific disclosure to the mandated reporter that the individual has committed child abuse.
    D) Any of the above

    REPORTING SUSPECTED CHILD ABUSE

    A mandated reporter enumerated in subsection (a) (relating to mandated reporters) shall make a report of suspected child abuse in accordance with section 6313 (relating to reporting procedure) if the mandated reporter has reasonable cause to suspect that a child is a victim of child abuse under any of the following circumstances [32]:

  1. The mandated reporter comes into contact with the child in the course of employment, occupation, and practice of a profession or through a regularly scheduled program, activity, or service.

  2. The mandated reporter is directly responsible for the care, supervision, guidance, or training of the child, or is affiliated with an agency, institution, organization, school, regularly established church or religious organization, or other entity that is directly responsible for the care, supervision, guidance, or training of the child.

  3. A person makes a specific disclosure to the mandated reporter that an identifiable child is the victim of child abuse.

  4. An individual 14 years of age or older makes a specific disclosure to the mandated reporter (either within or outside of the reporter's professional role) that the individual has committed child abuse.

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    2 . Which of the following statements regarding mandated reporting is TRUE?
    A) A mandated reporter is presumed to have acted in good faith when making a report of suspected child abuse.
    B) Section 6311 of the PA CPSL requires a child to come before the mandated reporter in order for the mandated reporter to make a report of suspected child abuse.
    C) Section 6311 of the PA CPSL requires the mandated reporter to identify the person responsible for the child abuse in order to make a report of suspected child abuse.
    D) The PA CPSL requires a person who has reasonable cause to suspect a child is a victim of child abuse to consider the exclusions from child abuse in order to make a report of suspected child abuse.

    REPORTING SUSPECTED CHILD ABUSE

    For the purpose of any civil or criminal proceeding, the good faith of a person required to report suspected child abuse and of any person required to make a referral to law enforcement officers under the PA CPSL shall be presumed.

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    3 . What is the basis for reporting suspected child abuse?
    A) A "reasonable cause to suspect" a child is a victim of child abuse
    B) Law enforcement responsibility
    C) Witnessing any struggle by a child
    D) Avoidance of potential liability

    KEY TAKEAWAYS

    This course has explored the scope of child abuse and neglect in Pennsylvania as well as the appropriate response to suspected or known cases of child abuse. The following is a summary of key points:

    • The basis for reporting suspected child abuse is having "reasonable cause to suspect" a child is a victim of child abuse.

    • Nothing in the PA CPSL requires a person who has reasonable cause to suspect a child is a victim of child abuse to identify the type of abuse they are reporting when making a report of suspected child abuse.

    • The PA CPSL recognizes three key components of child abuse:

      • Child

      • Act or failure to act; recent act; recent act or failure to act; or a series of acts or failures to act

      • Intentionally, knowingly, or recklessly

    • A mandated reporter enumerated under section 6311(a) of the PA CPSL must immediately make a report suspected child abuse to ChildLine, Pennsylvania's 24/7 Child Abuse Hotline and Registry, by calling 1-800-932-0313 or electronically through the Child Welfare Portal, if they have reasonable cause to suspect a child is a victim of child abuse under any of the following circumstances:

      • The mandated reporter comes into contact with the child in the course of employment, occupation, and practice of a profession or through a regularly scheduled program, activity, or service.

      • The mandated reporter is directly responsible for the care, supervision, guidance, or training of the child, or is affiliated with an agency, institution, organization, school, regularly established church or religious organization, or other entity that is directly responsible for the care, supervision, guidance, or training of the child.

      • A person makes a specific disclosure to the mandated reporter that an identifiable child is the victim of child abuse.

      • An individual 14 years of age or older makes a specific disclosure to the mandated reporter that the individual has committed child abuse.

    • Nothing in section 6311 of the PA CPSL requires a child to come before the mandated reporter in order for the mandated reporter to make a report of suspected child abuse.

    • Nothing in section 6311 of the PA CPSL requires the mandated reporter to identify the person responsible for the child abuse in order to make a report of suspected child abuse.

    • Nothing in the PA CPSL requires a person who has reasonable cause to suspect a child is a victim of child abuse to consider the exclusions from child abuse in order to make a report of suspected child abuse.

    • A mandated reporter is presumed to have acted in good faith when making a report of suspected child abuse.

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    4 . Nothing in the PA CPSL requires a person who has reasonable cause to suspect a child is a victim of child abuse to identify the type of abuse they are reporting when making a report of suspected child abuse.
    A) True
    B) False

    KEY TAKEAWAYS

    This course has explored the scope of child abuse and neglect in Pennsylvania as well as the appropriate response to suspected or known cases of child abuse. The following is a summary of key points:

    • The basis for reporting suspected child abuse is having "reasonable cause to suspect" a child is a victim of child abuse.

    • Nothing in the PA CPSL requires a person who has reasonable cause to suspect a child is a victim of child abuse to identify the type of abuse they are reporting when making a report of suspected child abuse.

    • The PA CPSL recognizes three key components of child abuse:

      • Child

      • Act or failure to act; recent act; recent act or failure to act; or a series of acts or failures to act

      • Intentionally, knowingly, or recklessly

    • A mandated reporter enumerated under section 6311(a) of the PA CPSL must immediately make a report suspected child abuse to ChildLine, Pennsylvania's 24/7 Child Abuse Hotline and Registry, by calling 1-800-932-0313 or electronically through the Child Welfare Portal, if they have reasonable cause to suspect a child is a victim of child abuse under any of the following circumstances:

      • The mandated reporter comes into contact with the child in the course of employment, occupation, and practice of a profession or through a regularly scheduled program, activity, or service.

      • The mandated reporter is directly responsible for the care, supervision, guidance, or training of the child, or is affiliated with an agency, institution, organization, school, regularly established church or religious organization, or other entity that is directly responsible for the care, supervision, guidance, or training of the child.

      • A person makes a specific disclosure to the mandated reporter that an identifiable child is the victim of child abuse.

      • An individual 14 years of age or older makes a specific disclosure to the mandated reporter that the individual has committed child abuse.

    • Nothing in section 6311 of the PA CPSL requires a child to come before the mandated reporter in order for the mandated reporter to make a report of suspected child abuse.

    • Nothing in section 6311 of the PA CPSL requires the mandated reporter to identify the person responsible for the child abuse in order to make a report of suspected child abuse.

    • Nothing in the PA CPSL requires a person who has reasonable cause to suspect a child is a victim of child abuse to consider the exclusions from child abuse in order to make a report of suspected child abuse.

    • A mandated reporter is presumed to have acted in good faith when making a report of suspected child abuse.

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    5 . What does the PA CPSL recognize as the three key components of child abuse?
    A) Injury, intention, and isolation
    B) Child; act or failure to act, recent act, recent act or failure to act, or a series of acts or failures to act; and intentionally, knowingly, or recklessly
    C) Victim; an investigation that reaches a conclusion of intended injury; and involvement of law enforcement
    D) Age younger than 10 years; interaction with a known and identified perpetrator; and unintentionally, accidently, or carelessly

    KEY TAKEAWAYS

    This course has explored the scope of child abuse and neglect in Pennsylvania as well as the appropriate response to suspected or known cases of child abuse. The following is a summary of key points:

    • The basis for reporting suspected child abuse is having "reasonable cause to suspect" a child is a victim of child abuse.

    • Nothing in the PA CPSL requires a person who has reasonable cause to suspect a child is a victim of child abuse to identify the type of abuse they are reporting when making a report of suspected child abuse.

    • The PA CPSL recognizes three key components of child abuse:

      • Child

      • Act or failure to act; recent act; recent act or failure to act; or a series of acts or failures to act

      • Intentionally, knowingly, or recklessly

    • A mandated reporter enumerated under section 6311(a) of the PA CPSL must immediately make a report suspected child abuse to ChildLine, Pennsylvania's 24/7 Child Abuse Hotline and Registry, by calling 1-800-932-0313 or electronically through the Child Welfare Portal, if they have reasonable cause to suspect a child is a victim of child abuse under any of the following circumstances:

      • The mandated reporter comes into contact with the child in the course of employment, occupation, and practice of a profession or through a regularly scheduled program, activity, or service.

      • The mandated reporter is directly responsible for the care, supervision, guidance, or training of the child, or is affiliated with an agency, institution, organization, school, regularly established church or religious organization, or other entity that is directly responsible for the care, supervision, guidance, or training of the child.

      • A person makes a specific disclosure to the mandated reporter that an identifiable child is the victim of child abuse.

      • An individual 14 years of age or older makes a specific disclosure to the mandated reporter that the individual has committed child abuse.

    • Nothing in section 6311 of the PA CPSL requires a child to come before the mandated reporter in order for the mandated reporter to make a report of suspected child abuse.

    • Nothing in section 6311 of the PA CPSL requires the mandated reporter to identify the person responsible for the child abuse in order to make a report of suspected child abuse.

    • Nothing in the PA CPSL requires a person who has reasonable cause to suspect a child is a victim of child abuse to consider the exclusions from child abuse in order to make a report of suspected child abuse.

    • A mandated reporter is presumed to have acted in good faith when making a report of suspected child abuse.

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    6 . If they have reasonable cause to suspect a child is a victim of child abuse, a mandated reporter must immediately make a report suspected child abuse to
    A) a supervisor.
    B) ChildLine, Pennsylvania's 24/7 Child Abuse Hotline and Registry, electronically through the Child Welfare Portal.
    C) ChildLine, Pennsylvania's 24/7 Child Abuse Hotline and Registry, by calling 1-800-932-0313.
    D) Either B or C

    KEY TAKEAWAYS

    This course has explored the scope of child abuse and neglect in Pennsylvania as well as the appropriate response to suspected or known cases of child abuse. The following is a summary of key points:

    • The basis for reporting suspected child abuse is having "reasonable cause to suspect" a child is a victim of child abuse.

    • Nothing in the PA CPSL requires a person who has reasonable cause to suspect a child is a victim of child abuse to identify the type of abuse they are reporting when making a report of suspected child abuse.

    • The PA CPSL recognizes three key components of child abuse:

      • Child

      • Act or failure to act; recent act; recent act or failure to act; or a series of acts or failures to act

      • Intentionally, knowingly, or recklessly

    • A mandated reporter enumerated under section 6311(a) of the PA CPSL must immediately make a report suspected child abuse to ChildLine, Pennsylvania's 24/7 Child Abuse Hotline and Registry, by calling 1-800-932-0313 or electronically through the Child Welfare Portal, if they have reasonable cause to suspect a child is a victim of child abuse under any of the following circumstances:

      • The mandated reporter comes into contact with the child in the course of employment, occupation, and practice of a profession or through a regularly scheduled program, activity, or service.

      • The mandated reporter is directly responsible for the care, supervision, guidance, or training of the child, or is affiliated with an agency, institution, organization, school, regularly established church or religious organization, or other entity that is directly responsible for the care, supervision, guidance, or training of the child.

      • A person makes a specific disclosure to the mandated reporter that an identifiable child is the victim of child abuse.

      • An individual 14 years of age or older makes a specific disclosure to the mandated reporter that the individual has committed child abuse.

    • Nothing in section 6311 of the PA CPSL requires a child to come before the mandated reporter in order for the mandated reporter to make a report of suspected child abuse.

    • Nothing in section 6311 of the PA CPSL requires the mandated reporter to identify the person responsible for the child abuse in order to make a report of suspected child abuse.

    • Nothing in the PA CPSL requires a person who has reasonable cause to suspect a child is a victim of child abuse to consider the exclusions from child abuse in order to make a report of suspected child abuse.

    • A mandated reporter is presumed to have acted in good faith when making a report of suspected child abuse.

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    7 . A mandated reporter must immediately make a report of suspected child abuse if they have reasonable cause to suspect a child is a victim of child abuse whenever the mandated reporter is directly responsible for the care, supervision, guidance, or training of the child, or is affiliated with an agency, institution, organization, school, regularly established church or religious organization, or other entity that is directly responsible for the care, supervision, guidance, or training of the child.
    A) True
    B) False

    KEY TAKEAWAYS

    This course has explored the scope of child abuse and neglect in Pennsylvania as well as the appropriate response to suspected or known cases of child abuse. The following is a summary of key points:

    • The basis for reporting suspected child abuse is having "reasonable cause to suspect" a child is a victim of child abuse.

    • Nothing in the PA CPSL requires a person who has reasonable cause to suspect a child is a victim of child abuse to identify the type of abuse they are reporting when making a report of suspected child abuse.

    • The PA CPSL recognizes three key components of child abuse:

      • Child

      • Act or failure to act; recent act; recent act or failure to act; or a series of acts or failures to act

      • Intentionally, knowingly, or recklessly

    • A mandated reporter enumerated under section 6311(a) of the PA CPSL must immediately make a report suspected child abuse to ChildLine, Pennsylvania's 24/7 Child Abuse Hotline and Registry, by calling 1-800-932-0313 or electronically through the Child Welfare Portal, if they have reasonable cause to suspect a child is a victim of child abuse under any of the following circumstances:

      • The mandated reporter comes into contact with the child in the course of employment, occupation, and practice of a profession or through a regularly scheduled program, activity, or service.

      • The mandated reporter is directly responsible for the care, supervision, guidance, or training of the child, or is affiliated with an agency, institution, organization, school, regularly established church or religious organization, or other entity that is directly responsible for the care, supervision, guidance, or training of the child.

      • A person makes a specific disclosure to the mandated reporter that an identifiable child is the victim of child abuse.

      • An individual 14 years of age or older makes a specific disclosure to the mandated reporter that the individual has committed child abuse.

    • Nothing in section 6311 of the PA CPSL requires a child to come before the mandated reporter in order for the mandated reporter to make a report of suspected child abuse.

    • Nothing in section 6311 of the PA CPSL requires the mandated reporter to identify the person responsible for the child abuse in order to make a report of suspected child abuse.

    • Nothing in the PA CPSL requires a person who has reasonable cause to suspect a child is a victim of child abuse to consider the exclusions from child abuse in order to make a report of suspected child abuse.

    • A mandated reporter is presumed to have acted in good faith when making a report of suspected child abuse.

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    8 . Section 6311 of the PA CPSL requires a child to come before the mandated reporter in order for the mandated reporter to make a report of suspected child abuse.
    A) True
    B) False

    KEY TAKEAWAYS

    This course has explored the scope of child abuse and neglect in Pennsylvania as well as the appropriate response to suspected or known cases of child abuse. The following is a summary of key points:

    • The basis for reporting suspected child abuse is having "reasonable cause to suspect" a child is a victim of child abuse.

    • Nothing in the PA CPSL requires a person who has reasonable cause to suspect a child is a victim of child abuse to identify the type of abuse they are reporting when making a report of suspected child abuse.

    • The PA CPSL recognizes three key components of child abuse:

      • Child

      • Act or failure to act; recent act; recent act or failure to act; or a series of acts or failures to act

      • Intentionally, knowingly, or recklessly

    • A mandated reporter enumerated under section 6311(a) of the PA CPSL must immediately make a report suspected child abuse to ChildLine, Pennsylvania's 24/7 Child Abuse Hotline and Registry, by calling 1-800-932-0313 or electronically through the Child Welfare Portal, if they have reasonable cause to suspect a child is a victim of child abuse under any of the following circumstances:

      • The mandated reporter comes into contact with the child in the course of employment, occupation, and practice of a profession or through a regularly scheduled program, activity, or service.

      • The mandated reporter is directly responsible for the care, supervision, guidance, or training of the child, or is affiliated with an agency, institution, organization, school, regularly established church or religious organization, or other entity that is directly responsible for the care, supervision, guidance, or training of the child.

      • A person makes a specific disclosure to the mandated reporter that an identifiable child is the victim of child abuse.

      • An individual 14 years of age or older makes a specific disclosure to the mandated reporter that the individual has committed child abuse.

    • Nothing in section 6311 of the PA CPSL requires a child to come before the mandated reporter in order for the mandated reporter to make a report of suspected child abuse.

    • Nothing in section 6311 of the PA CPSL requires the mandated reporter to identify the person responsible for the child abuse in order to make a report of suspected child abuse.

    • Nothing in the PA CPSL requires a person who has reasonable cause to suspect a child is a victim of child abuse to consider the exclusions from child abuse in order to make a report of suspected child abuse.

    • A mandated reporter is presumed to have acted in good faith when making a report of suspected child abuse.

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    9 . Nothing in section 6311 of the PA CPSL requires the mandated reporter to identify the person responsible for the child abuse in order to make a report of suspected child abuse.
    A) True
    B) False

    KEY TAKEAWAYS

    This course has explored the scope of child abuse and neglect in Pennsylvania as well as the appropriate response to suspected or known cases of child abuse. The following is a summary of key points:

    • The basis for reporting suspected child abuse is having "reasonable cause to suspect" a child is a victim of child abuse.

    • Nothing in the PA CPSL requires a person who has reasonable cause to suspect a child is a victim of child abuse to identify the type of abuse they are reporting when making a report of suspected child abuse.

    • The PA CPSL recognizes three key components of child abuse:

      • Child

      • Act or failure to act; recent act; recent act or failure to act; or a series of acts or failures to act

      • Intentionally, knowingly, or recklessly

    • A mandated reporter enumerated under section 6311(a) of the PA CPSL must immediately make a report suspected child abuse to ChildLine, Pennsylvania's 24/7 Child Abuse Hotline and Registry, by calling 1-800-932-0313 or electronically through the Child Welfare Portal, if they have reasonable cause to suspect a child is a victim of child abuse under any of the following circumstances:

      • The mandated reporter comes into contact with the child in the course of employment, occupation, and practice of a profession or through a regularly scheduled program, activity, or service.

      • The mandated reporter is directly responsible for the care, supervision, guidance, or training of the child, or is affiliated with an agency, institution, organization, school, regularly established church or religious organization, or other entity that is directly responsible for the care, supervision, guidance, or training of the child.

      • A person makes a specific disclosure to the mandated reporter that an identifiable child is the victim of child abuse.

      • An individual 14 years of age or older makes a specific disclosure to the mandated reporter that the individual has committed child abuse.

    • Nothing in section 6311 of the PA CPSL requires a child to come before the mandated reporter in order for the mandated reporter to make a report of suspected child abuse.

    • Nothing in section 6311 of the PA CPSL requires the mandated reporter to identify the person responsible for the child abuse in order to make a report of suspected child abuse.

    • Nothing in the PA CPSL requires a person who has reasonable cause to suspect a child is a victim of child abuse to consider the exclusions from child abuse in order to make a report of suspected child abuse.

    • A mandated reporter is presumed to have acted in good faith when making a report of suspected child abuse.

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    10 . The PA CPSL requires a person who has reasonable cause to suspect a child is a victim of child abuse to consider the exclusions from child abuse in order to make a report of suspected child abuse.
    A) True
    B) False

    KEY TAKEAWAYS

    This course has explored the scope of child abuse and neglect in Pennsylvania as well as the appropriate response to suspected or known cases of child abuse. The following is a summary of key points:

    • The basis for reporting suspected child abuse is having "reasonable cause to suspect" a child is a victim of child abuse.

    • Nothing in the PA CPSL requires a person who has reasonable cause to suspect a child is a victim of child abuse to identify the type of abuse they are reporting when making a report of suspected child abuse.

    • The PA CPSL recognizes three key components of child abuse:

      • Child

      • Act or failure to act; recent act; recent act or failure to act; or a series of acts or failures to act

      • Intentionally, knowingly, or recklessly

    • A mandated reporter enumerated under section 6311(a) of the PA CPSL must immediately make a report suspected child abuse to ChildLine, Pennsylvania's 24/7 Child Abuse Hotline and Registry, by calling 1-800-932-0313 or electronically through the Child Welfare Portal, if they have reasonable cause to suspect a child is a victim of child abuse under any of the following circumstances:

      • The mandated reporter comes into contact with the child in the course of employment, occupation, and practice of a profession or through a regularly scheduled program, activity, or service.

      • The mandated reporter is directly responsible for the care, supervision, guidance, or training of the child, or is affiliated with an agency, institution, organization, school, regularly established church or religious organization, or other entity that is directly responsible for the care, supervision, guidance, or training of the child.

      • A person makes a specific disclosure to the mandated reporter that an identifiable child is the victim of child abuse.

      • An individual 14 years of age or older makes a specific disclosure to the mandated reporter that the individual has committed child abuse.

    • Nothing in section 6311 of the PA CPSL requires a child to come before the mandated reporter in order for the mandated reporter to make a report of suspected child abuse.

    • Nothing in section 6311 of the PA CPSL requires the mandated reporter to identify the person responsible for the child abuse in order to make a report of suspected child abuse.

    • Nothing in the PA CPSL requires a person who has reasonable cause to suspect a child is a victim of child abuse to consider the exclusions from child abuse in order to make a report of suspected child abuse.

    • A mandated reporter is presumed to have acted in good faith when making a report of suspected child abuse.

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