Child Protection

FAQ’s and Resource Links

Frequently Asked Questions – Volunteers, PA Department of Human Services

Frequently Asked Questions – Employees, PA Department of Human Services

Questions and Reporting

Questions related to child protection can be sent to the Department of Human Services Office of Children, Youth and Families at RA-PWCPSLQuestions@pa.gov.

For questions regarding Child Abuse Referrals, contact ChildLine at 1-800-932-0313.

To report suspected child abuse go to www.compass.state.pa.us/cwis or call 1-800-932-0313.

For more information from the Department of Human Services, you can visit www.KeepKidsSafe.PA.gov

Free Training

The Department of Human Services has collaborated with the University of Pittsburgh’s Child Welfare resource Center to develop a Free, Web-Based Training. This training is approved in accordance with Act 126 of 2012 and Act 31 of 2014, for mandated and permissive reporters.

RESOURCE FOR CHURCH POLICY

If you are looking for assistance in creating or revising your church policy, take a look at Samaritan Counseling SafeChurch program. The following from their website:

“Our ‘SafeChurch Project: Protection of Children and Youth from Sexual Abuse’… program helps you to create policies and guidelines developed in alignment with your mission and theological understanding to create a sanctuary where all can gather in an atmosphere of trust and safety.

SafeChurch is Samaritan’s unique process of working with groups or “Clusters” of congregations from various traditions to help shift congregational culture to proactive engagement of all adults to protect children from sexual harm – not only at church, but in the communities where we live, work, play and go to school.”

The program will cover items such as:

Development of policies with “best practices”
Training for staff and volunteers
Mandated Reporting
Education for parents and other congregants
Curriculums for children and teens
Honoring adult survivors
Utilizing resources for congregational awareness
Welcoming sexual offenders while prioritizing child safety

Their mission is “to help congregations and youth serving organizations become aware of the need to be proactive and provide leadership in the community to keep children and teens safe.”