Child Abuse Identification and Reporting: The Pennsylvania Requirement
Course Overview
In 2020, there were 4,593 substantiated reports to child abuse in Pennsylvania. Healthcare professionals, regardless of their discipline or field, are in a unique position to assist in the identification, education, and prevention of child abuse and neglect. This course describes how victims of abuse can be accurately identified and provides the community resources available in the state of Pennsylvania for child abuse victims. Mandated reporter laws will also be outlined.
Learning Outcomes
Upon the completion of this course, the learner should be able to:
- Identify the basis for reporting suspected child abuse, including having “reasonable cause to suspect” a child is a victim of child abuse.
- List the three key components of child abuse as defined by the PA CPSL.
- Outline the action(s) a mandated reporter must immediately make if they have reasonable cause to suspect a child is a victim of child abuse, including identification of defining circumstances.
- Relate the actions that are NOT required to take place in order for a mandated reporter to make a report of suspected child abuse.
- Describe the concept of good faith and how it relates to a mandated reporter making a report of suspected child abuse.
- Identify circumstances under which mandated reporters are required to make a report if they have reasonable cause to suspect a child is a victim of child abuse.
About the Author/Presenter
Alice Yick Flanagan, PhD, MSW, received her Master’s in Social Work from Columbia University, School of Social Work. She has clinical experience in mental health in correctional settings, psychiatric hospitals, and community health centers. In 1997, she received her PhD from UCLA, School of Public Policy and Social Research. Dr. Yick Flanagan completed a year-long post-doctoral fellowship at Hunter College, School of Social Work in 1999. In that year she taught the course Research Methods and Violence Against Women to Masters degree students, as well as conducting qualitative research studies on death and dying in Chinese American families.
Previously acting as a faculty member at Capella University and Northcentral University, Dr. Yick Flanagan is currently a contributing faculty member at Walden University, School of Social Work, and a dissertation chair at Grand Canyon University, College of Doctoral Studies, working with Industrial Organizational Psychology doctoral students. She also serves as a consultant/subject matter expert for the New York City Board of Education and publishing companies for online curriculum development, developing practice MCAT questions in the area of psychology and sociology. Her research focus is on the area of culture and mental health in ethnic minority communities.
Audience/Accreditations and Approvals
TRC Healthcare/ NetCE
In support of improving patient care, this activity has been planned and implemented by TRC Healthcare/ NetCE. TRC Healthcare/NetCE is jointly accredited by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME), the Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education (ACPE), and the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC), to provide continuing education for the healthcare team.
This course is designed for the following healthcare professions (select your profession for details):
Counselor, Dental, Nursing, Pharmacy, Physician, Psychology, Social Work
If you require special accommodations, please contact Colibri Healthcare Support by clicking here: Contact Us
