Pennsylvania’s mandated reporting requirements are a strong weapon against the repulsive crime of child abuse. However, under current law, suspected cases of child abuse do not have to be reported to the military when they involve military families. The U.S. Department of Defense has set up a Family Advocacy Program to ensure child abuse is also addressed within the military, but the system can only work with the cooperation of states across the nation.
 
I plan to address this gap in Pennsylvania law by introducing a bill that will require mandated reporters to identify if a suspected child abuse case involves a military family. Further, when the Department of Human Services reports suspected child abuse to a county child protection services agency, the Department will also be required to notify the Family Advocacy Program representative for the Commonwealth and the Program’s representative at the involved person’s assigned military installation.
 
We must combat child abuse with an all-hands-on-deck approach, and I believe my bill will align the best practices identified by the U.S. military with the strong protections provided for in Pennsylvania. I hope you will join me in co-sponsoring this important effort to protect the well-being of our children and strengthen the ranks of our military.