Mandated Reporters Protect Our Youth

Martine Barclay Holquist, Crime Victim Center

For too long, the responsibility to tell about child abuse has been on the children.  We teach kids they have the right to say NO, then GO and TELL a trusted adult—a very good lesson!  However, if we don't educate adults on what to do when those children come to them and disclose abuse, we as a community fail those kids. 

Children who are being abused are in every community, every walk of life and every school.  They ride the bus with your kids.  They are in your youth groups.  They ride their bikes past your house and they stop and pet your dog on a walk. 

Studies have shown that the majority (90%+) of child sexual violence is committed by people the child knows.  This could be a relative, a babysitter, coach, or other trusted adult.  It could also be a teenager or an older child.  While this makes many of us uncomfortable, the fact of the matter is parents usually do not leave their children with people who don't seem like trustworthy individuals.  Therefore the perpetrators must be able to gain the trust of the adults and parents just as much as—if not more than—the children.

It makes it that much harder for kids to tell about what is happening.  So what about those kids who aren't as vocal coming forward to tell about the physical, sexual or other abuse happening to them?

Mandated Reporters are required by Pennsylvania Law to report suspicion of abuse to Childline, the state reporting agency.  They can be reached at 800-932-0313 or through the Child Welfare Portal at www.compass.state.pa.us/cwis.  No one expects Mandated Reporters to be investigators or to know beyond all doubt.  The system is designed to take these suspicions and look into them, but it takes people willing to take that first step of reporting.

Who are Mandated Reporters?  School employees, those in the medical profession, funeral directors, police, coroner, medical examiners, child care providers, religious leaders, social service professionals, foster parents, library workers and others. 

Many don't realize all of the changes that went into effect in January of 2015.  One of these changes is that mandated reporters do not only need to report children they encounter in their professional lives, but of any identified child, no matter when, where, or from whom they hear the information. 

This has far reaching effects.  The goal is to create a community of people who are educated about what child abuse is, what it looks like, how to handle a child they feel has been the victim of abuse, and the appropriate way to report that suspected abuse. 

How would a Mandated Reporter know all of the ins and outs of the law?  Sometimes their employer provides the training for them.  Others are mandated to receive training by law.  Regardless, CVC has a state-approved training for Mandated Reporters.  Held monthly at our agency, this training is $10 and satisfies the requirements for health professionals, school employees and others.  To register for one of our trainings, or for more information, please call 814-455-9414 during normal business hours.  

Remember, our children have enough to figure out in this world.  How to be safe from their loved ones shouldn't need to be one of them. 

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