Science Monday: New rules for reporting child abuse

School starts today and so the chaos of the year begins…

The commonwealth of PA enacted new rules for professionals required reporting of suspected child abuse. Two changes: first, hearing of probable child abuse second hand at your work triggers a required reporting (prior to this it needed to be a direct hearing). Second, reports to child protective services are necessary when non familial individuals abuse children (doctors, nurses, teachers). Prior to this change, a person did not report these cases to child protective services but to the police as criminal activity.

In the last month, I have been asked by 3 different individuals about the necessity of reporting. Reporting child abuse is never easy and always creates such agony, especially by non mental health professionals such as family members, pastors and/or other ministry leaders. We imagine all the heartache that comes from having a government agency intruding into the lives of our friends and loved ones. However, I believe it is a moral issue. By reporting suspected abuse, we follow Peter and submit to government officials. This increases the likelihood that things hidden in darkness will be brought to light, that vulnerable people will be protected, and that those have abused others will have an opportunity to get help. While I readily admit that the agencies involved in these situations are fallen, slow to act, biased, etc., doing nothing or thinking that the church is able to be judge and jury is worse. We have a moral obligation to rescue those in need and so all ought to consider themselves mandated reporters.

For those wondering, here’s what I do when I have a possible need to report child abuse
1. Consult a supervisor (but don’t think that I can wash my hands of it once I do that)
2. After considering what I know and don’t know I will make an anonymous call to child protective services and without identifying anyone, I will give them the details and ask for their opinion as to whether they would consider it reportable. I have found the person on the other end to be very helpful and not pushy.
3. With the information I gleaned, I go back to a colleague or supervisor to review
4. If necessary, I report and I always document. Its best to report with the family present, especially if they may be seen as the perpetrator. Its in their best interests to be part of the call, though sometimes its not possible (the person might become violent, the victim might be in greater danger, they refuse to participate).
Numbers: 1-800-4-A-CHILD (nat’l); 1-800-932-0313 (PA)