Senator Robert Casey has acted upon strengthening the Federal Law P.I. 108-36 Keeping Children & Families Safe Act of 2003 42 U.S.C.5101 et seq. This blog is to provide you with information about your duty as a citizen to report child abuse and who to contact within the states of Pennsylvania, Delaware and New Jersey. If you are not from these states you can find out your contact info by logging on to www.HHS.gov.
Formerly this law originated in 1974 as “The Child Abuse Prevention and Treatment Act (CAPTA) and has been amended several times.
Mandatory reporting and failure to report suspected abuse can result in criminal liability, although the liability is typically a misdemeanor punishable by a fine (www.smith-lawfirm.com Susan K. Smith, Esquire – source of this information).
There is no conflict between the State Law and the Privacy Rule (HIPPA) and no preemption (duly noted for my Healthcare colleagues). All updated documentation concerning abuse reporting can be obtained by going to www.HHS.gov.
The following are contacts for reporting child abuse:
PENNSYLVANIA Department of Public Welfare Reporting Hot Lines:
Toll-free: (800) 932-0313
TTD: (866) 872-1677
NEW JERSEY Division of Youth and Family Services (DYFS) Hot Lines:
(877) NJ ABUSE (877) 652-2873
TTY/TDD use (800) 835-5510
DELAWARE Services for Children, Youth and Their Families Hot Lines:
(800) 292-9582
Provided to you by e-Nurse Femtique Judith
