March 4, 2011 | Policy Guidance, Practice Guidance
Mandated Child Abuse Reporting When Working With Minors: Legal Analysis and Best Practices
Organization:
Pennsylvania Coalition Against Domestic Violence
Publication Date:
March 4, 2011
The Pennsylvania Coalition Against Domestic Violence‘s Best Practices Legal Analysis document can be a tool for used by other programs looking to create mandatory reporting protocols for their own organizations.
GOAL:
Provide PCADV programs with information and best practices for providing minors with information and/or supportive services that take into account the role of domestic violence program staff as mandated reporters of suspected child abuse under the Child Protective Services law while protecting a minor’s confidentiality where possible.
PURPOSE:
The purpose of developing best practices on the issue of mandated reporting and working with minors is to assist domestic violence programs to understand their legal duty to report child abuse in balance with the programs’ duty of confidentiality to those it serves including minors.
ISSUES:
Under what circumstances a domestic violence counselor or advocate providing prevention education or supportive services to a minor is a mandated reporter of suspected child abuse under the Child Protective Services law. Under what circumstances a domestic violence counselor or advocate can provide prevention education or supportive services to minors and be compliant with the mandatory child abuse reporting requirements of the Child Protective Services law.
