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PROCEDURES TO REPORT REGARDING CHILD ABUSE

Title 23 Pa. C.S.A. Chapter 63 §6304(a) states “No child shall be deemed to be physically or

mentally abused based on injuries that result solely from environmental factors, such as

inadequate housing, furnishings, income, clothing and medical care, that are beyond the

control of the parent or person responsible for the child's welfare with whom the child

resides…”

Title 23 Pa. C.S.A. Chapter 63 §6311(a) Mandated reporters.--The following adults shall make a

report of suspected child abuse, subject to subsection (b), if the person has reasonable cause to

suspect that a child is a victim of child abuse:…

(11) An employee of a public library who has direct contact with children in the course of

employment.

Title 23 Pa. C.S.A. Chapter 63 §6303(a) defines direct contact with children as “The care,

supervision, guidance or control of children or routine interaction with children.”

Basis to Report (Title 23 Pa. C.S.A. Chapter 63 §6311)

All Library employees shall make a report when they have reasonable cause to suspect, on the

basis of their training and experience, that a child they are aware of in their professional or

official capacity is an abused child. Reasonable cause may be established by direct observation

or report from a third party.

Confidentiality (Title 23 Pa. C.S.A. Chapter 63 §6311.1)

The privileged communications between a mandated reporter and a patient or client of the

mandated reporter shall not apply to a situation involving child abuse or relieve mandated

reporter of the duty to make report. Therefore, the Libraries Confidentiality of Circulation

Records policy does not apply in situations of suspected child abuse.

Presumption of Good Faith (Title 23 Pa. C.S.A. Chapter 63 §6318(c))

“For the purpose of any civil or criminal proceeding, the good faith of a person required to

report pursuant to section 6311 (relating to persons required to report suspected child abuse)

and of any person required to make a referral to law enforcement officers under this chapter

shall be presumed.”

Failure to Report or Refer (Title 23 Pa. C.S.A. Chapter 63 §6319(a))

1. “A person or official required by this chapter [63] to report a case of suspected child abuse or to make

a referral to the appropriate authorities commits an offense if the person or official willfully fails to do

so.

2. An offense under this section is a felony of the third degree if: (i) the person or official willfully fails to

report;

(ii) the child abuse constitutes a felony of the first degree or higher; and

(iii) the person or official has direct knowledge of the nature of the abuse.

3. An offense not otherwise specified in paragraph (2) is a misdemeanor of the second degree.

Mandate To Report Suspected Child Abuse Form - Employees Of Tredyffrin Township Libraries Page 2