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Report child abuse.
Suspicion is enough—you do not need proof.
If you think a child under 18 is being abused or neglected, report it immediately. Child protective services and local police will take care of the investigation, that's not on you.
Child Abuse FAQs
What is child abuse?
Under Pennsylvania Child Protective Services Law (CPSL), the term “child abuse” is defined as:
- Any recent act or failure to act by a perpetrator which causes nonaccidental serious physical injury to a child.
- An act or failure to act by a perpetrator which causes nonaccidental serious mental injury to or sexual abuse or exploitation of a child.
- A recent act, failure to act or series of the acts or failures to act by a perpetrator which creates an imminent risk of serious physical injury to or sexual abuse or exploitation of a child.
- Serious physical neglect by a perpetrator constituting prolonged or repeated lack of supervision or the failure to provide the essentials of life, including adequate medical care, which endangers a child’s life or development or impairs the child’s functioning.
The majority of cases referred to Children’s Advocacy Centers (CAC)s are for child sexual abuse allegations. However, CACs also respond to cases of child physical abuse, as well as extreme neglect and trafficking (Commercial Sexual Exploitation of Children, CSEC). Additionally, CACs also serve children who have suffered emotional trauma as witnesses to violence.
Sexual abuse occurs when an adult or another child asks or pressures a child for sexual contact. The abuser may use physical abuse, bribery, threats, tricks, or take advantage of the child’s limited knowledge of sexual matters. Sexual abuse can also include taking photos of the child, or showing them pornography through pictures, magazines, movies, online, etc.
Parents often warn children against “stranger danger” but in most cases of child sexual abuse, the perpetrator is not a stranger but a relative or close friend of the family.
Why should I report suspected child abuse?
Reporting child abuse is crucial to ensure the safety and well-being of children. When abuse goes unreported, it can continue, causing lasting harm. Reporting helps protect children from further harm and provides them with the support they need. It also holds the abuser accountable, preventing them from hurting others. By speaking up, you can make a difference in a child’s life, helping them escape from a harmful situation and receive the care they deserve. Remember, reporting child abuse is not only the right thing to do, but it’s also essential for building a safer and healthier community for everyone.
What are signs of child sexual abuse?
Physical Indicators
- Sleep disturbances
- Bedwetting
- Pain or irritation in genital or anal area
- Difficulty walking or sitting
- Difficulty urinating
- Pregnancy
- Positive testing for sexually transmitted disease
- Excessive or injurious masturbation
Behavioral Indicators
- Age-inappropriate sexual behavior
- Cruelty to animals
- Fire setting
- Withdrawal from friends and social activities
- Depression or anxiety
- Changes in personality or mood
- Fear of or sudden reluctance to be alone with someone
- Changes in academic performance
- Loss of appetite or changes in eating habits
- Self-harm Behavioral Indicators
What are signs of child physical abuse?
Physical Indicators
- Unexplained injuries
- Unbelievable or inconsistent explanations of injuries
- Multiple bruises in various stages of healing
- Bruises located on faces, ears, necks, buttocks, backs, chests, thighs, back of legs, and genitalia
- Bruises that resemble objects such as a hand, fist, belt buckle, or rope
- Injuries that are inconsistent with a child’s age or developmental level
- Burns
Behavioral Indicators
- Excessive fear of caretakers
- Antisocial behavior
- Withdrawal from friends and social activities
- Depression or anxiety
- Changes in personality or mood
- Fear of or sudden reluctance to be alone with someone
- Changes in academic performance
- Loss of appetite or changes in eating habits
- Self-harm
What information do I need to report abuse?
When making a report of suspected child abuse or general child well-being concerns, it is important to provide as much information as possible.
The below list will give you a general idea of what information you’ll be asked to provide:
- Name and physical description of the child
- Age or approximate age range of the child
- Name, home address, and telephone number of legal guardian or parent of the child
- Name or physical description of suspected child abuse perpetrator
- Home address and telephone number of suspected child abuse perpetrator
- Suspected perpetrator’s relationship to the child
- Description of the suspected injury to the child
- Where the incident took place
- Any concern for the child’s immediate safety
- Your relationship to the child
- Your contact information, although you may report anonymously if you are a permissive reporter
Mandated Reporters
What is a mandated reporter?
Mandated reporters are certain adults, who are legally required to report suspected child abuse if they have reasonable cause to suspect that a child is a victim of child abuse.
The law requires that the mandated reporter identify themselves and where they can be reached. In addition to having documentation that the report was made, this information is also helpful so that if clarification on the situation or additional information is needed, the children and youth caseworker can contact the mandated reporter.
How do I know if I'm a mandated reporter?
Mandated Reporters are defined under the Pennsylvania Child Protective Services Law (CPSL), Section 6311. The following adults shall make a report of suspected child abuse, subject to subsection (B), if the person has reasonable cause to suspect that a child is a victim of child abuse:
- A person licensed or certified to practice in any health-related field under the jurisdiction of the Department of State,
- A medical examiner, coroner or funeral director,
- An employee of a health care facility or provider licensed by the Department of Health, who is engaged in the admission, examination, care or treatment of individuals,
- A school employee,
- An employee of a child care service, who has direct contact with the children in the course of employment,
- A clergyman, priest, rabbi, minister, Christian science practitioner, religious healer or spiritual leader of any regularly established church or other religious organization,
- An individual paid or unpaid, who, on the basis of the individual’s role as an integral part of a regularly scheduled program, activity or service, is a person responsible for the child’s welfare or has direct contact with children,
- An employee of a social services agency, who has direct contact with children in the course of employment,
- A peace officer or law enforcement official,
- An emergency medical services provider certified by the Department of Health,
- An employee of a public library, who has direct contact with children in the course of employment,
- An individual supervised or managed by a person listed under paragraphs (1), (2), (3), (4), (5), (6), (7), (8), (9), (10), (11), (13) who has direct contact with children in the course of employment,
- An independent contractor,
- An attorney affiliated with an agency, institution, organization or other entity, including a school or regularly established religious organization that is responsible for the care, supervision, guidance, or control of children,
- A foster parent,
- An adult family member who is a person responsible for the child’s welfare and provides services to a child in a family living home, community home for individuals with an intellectual disability or host home for children which are subject to supervision or licensure by the department under Articles IX and X of the act of June 13, 1967 (P.L.31, No.21), known as the Public Welfare Code.
What are my requirements as a mandated reporter?
If you are a mandated reporter and have “reasonable cause to suspect” a child is being abused or neglected, you must report that suspicion to law enforcement or child welfare professionals—and you are required by law to do it immediately.
A mandated reporter should make a report of suspected child abuse if he or she has reasonable cause to suspect that 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 of 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, Pennsylvania or there 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.
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