Monday Press Conference: Protect Every Pennsylvania Child

HARRISBURG, Pa., Nov. 20, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- On Monday, November 21, 2011, stakeholders who are diverse in their daily work but united in their commitment to protecting every Pennsylvania child from abuse and victimization will renew a call for a Child Protection and Accountability Commission.

In April, the Protect Our Children Committee (POCC) wrote to Governor Tom Corbett and leaders of the General Assembly asking that they create a bi-cameral, bipartisan Child Protection and Accountability Commission. 

POCC – citing Pennsylvania as a statistical outlier in when it investigates and how often it determines a child to be a victim of child abuse – called for objective review of core elements of how the Commonwealth protects children from abuse.  POCC expected such review would result in timely and intentional statutory changes and practice reforms. 

POCC advocates that the Commission include the following topics within its scope of review:  

• Defining child abuse;
• Strengthening our mandatory reporting laws to ensure clarification about who is required to report, how reports are made and to establish a training requirement for those who are mandated;
• Operations at the state child abuse hotline known as ChildLine;
• Improvements to the multiple paths to investigation and services; and
• Increased accountability and transparency within PA's child protection system.

The November 21st press conference will be held in the Capitol Rotunda beginning at 9:00 a.m. 

Speakers include representatives from The American Academy of Pediatrics – PA Chapter, National Association of Social Workers – PA Chapter, Pennsylvania Coalition Against Rape, Pennsylvania Social Services Union, Prevent Child Abuse PA, St. Christopher's Hospital for Children – Child Protection Program, and the Support Center for Child Advocates.

The event will feature a pledge for every adult to do their part to ensure a child is connected to nurturing adults.  Participants will also Ring the Bell for Children in an effort to raise awareness about the importance of Pennsylvania moving toward an independent Child Protection Ombudsman or Child Advocate. 

A variety of blue ribbons, pinwheels and other tangible illustrations of the community's responsibility to prevent child abuse will be on display.  Pennsylvania's Office of the Victim Advocate, Pennsylvania Coalition Against Rape, Prevent Child Abuse PA, Dauphin County Victims/Witness Assistance, and other community-based organizations will be available to promote important prevention and treatment resources. 

SOURCE The Protect Our Children Committee