The Post-Gazette has embraced the need for Pennsylvania to improve its child abuse policies and practices. It was surprising then that your editorial portrayed recent reforms as bad news, including inaccurately suggesting too little public funding was available to train mandated reporters (“Trouble Spotters: Pa.’s New Child-Abuse Reporters Need Training,” Feb. 11).
Mandated reporters (e.g., social workers, child care providers, teachers, Girl Scout volunteers) have a legal duty to report suspected child abuse. These individuals are critical to protecting children, and Pennsylvania recognizes training them is important.
Pennsylvania provided public funds to the University of Pittsburgh to create a free online training resource that meets the legal requirements that certain mandated reporters (e.g., doctors, social workers, teachers, foster parents) be trained about recognizing and reporting suspected child abuse. This free online resource can also be used by volunteers, who do not have a legal training requirement.
Public funds also support contracts with the Pennsylvania Chapter of the American Academy of Pediatrics and Pennsylvania Family Support Alliance to provide face-to-face training. Meanwhile, other entities like Pittsburgh Action Against Rape offer state-approved training.
Expecting that demand would outpace existing resources, lawmakers targeted some of a certified birth certificate fee into training mandated reporters. Such training may also eventually receive a share of the $48 million available to state officials to spend as part of a settled lawsuit over sanctions imposed on Penn State University by the NCAA.
Pennsylvania’s efforts to better protect our children and investment in training mandated reporters is good news. The good news will continue if Pennsylvania commits to evaluating how mandated reporting, including related training, impacts child safety and well-being.
CATHLEEN PALM
Founder
The Center for Children’s Justice
Bernville, Pa.
First Published: February 23, 2015, 5:00 a.m.