Child Abuse and the Law

This manual familiarizes the professional and the lay reader with Pennsylvania’s child abuse and neglect laws and regulations. Reports of suspected child abuse and/or child dependency invoke policies and procedures under several Pennsylvania statutes and codes that both overlap with and diverge from each other. The aim of this publication is to clarify the role of these various laws and regulations and to clarify the complicated process of state intervention in the family. The manual distinguishes between the Juvenile Act and the Child Protective Services Law on when and how to take action under each and on the critical responsibilities of children and youth agencies under the §3130 regulations.