Mercer County Children and Youth Services

Mandated Reporting


MANDATED REPORTERS IN PENNSYLVANIA

A Mandated Reporter is defined as - A person who, in the course of employment, occupation or practice of a profession, has reasonable cause to suspect, on the basis of medical, professional or other training and experience, that a child under the care, supervision, guidance or training of that person or of an agency, institution, organization or other entity with which that person is affiliated is a victim of child abuse, including child abuse by an individual who is not a perpetrator. It is not necessary for mandated reporters to determine if an individual is a perpetrator under the CPSL and a report shall be made to ChildLine regardless of the status of the individual. The only exceptions to this are in respect to confidential communications made with a member of the clergy or an attorney.

A mandated reporter includes but is not limited to a licensed physician, medical examiner, coroner, funeral director, dentist, optometrist, osteopath, chiropractor, psychologist, podiatrist, intern, registered nurse, licensed practical nurse, a Christian Science practitioner, member of the clergy, school administrator, school teacher, school nurse, social services worker, day care center worker, child care or foster care worker, mental health professional, and a peace officer or law enforcement official.





HOW TO MAKE A REPORT

A report can be made to Mercer County Children and Youth Services by calling:

ChildLine (24 hour Child Abuse Hotline)


1-800-932-0313


and/or by contacting Mercer County CYS office directly at:

(724) 662-2703 Monday through Friday 8:30 a.m. until 4:30 p.m.


(724) 662-6130 After Hours, Weekends & Holidays

The law requires that mandated reporters identify themselves and where they can be reached.  If clarification of the situation or additional information is needed, a caseworker will be in contact.




CONFIDENTIALITY

The law requires the name of the mandated reporter to be kept confidential except in certain instances specified by law. In most cases, the identity of a person who makes a report of suspected abuse or cooperates in a subsequent investigation is kept confidential and cannot be released by Mercer County Children and Youth Services. If the case must be reported to law enforcement officials by Mercer County Children and Youth Services, the names of the persons who made the report or cooperated in the investigation must be given to law enforcement officials upon request. Law enforcement officials must treat the reporting sources and persons who cooperated in the investigation as confidential informants. Any person outside of Mercer County Children and Youth Services who receives information regarding suspected child abuse is also subject to the confidentiality provisions of the CPSL. They are required to ensure the confidentiality and security of the information and are liable for civil and criminal penalties if they release information to persons who are not permitted access to it.





RECENT AND UPCOMING LEGISLATION REGARDING MANDATED REPORTS


Act 119 of 2013

http://www.legis.state.pa.us/cfdocs/legis/li/uconsCheck.cfm?yr=2013&sessInd=0&act=119

Act 126 of 2012
http://www.legis.state.pa.us/cfdocs/legis/li/uconsCheck.cfm?yr=2012&sessInd=0&act=126

Act 179 of 2006
http://www.legis.state.pa.us/cfdocs/legis/li/uconsCheck.cfm?yr=2006&sessInd=0&act=179

Act 146 of 2006

http://www.legis.state.pa.us/cfdocs/legis/li/uconsCheck.cfm?yr=2006&sessInd=0&act=146




MANDATED REPORTER BROCHURE

Brochure - Mandated Reporters, Professional Who Work with Children