ChildLine is a confidential and toll-free hotline service in Pennsylvania that provides a 24/7 helpline for individuals to report suspected child abuse or neglect. The service is operated by the Pennsylvania Department of Human Services in partnership with ChildLine and Abuse Registry.

ChildLine is part of a mandated statewide child protective services program designed to accept child abuse referrals and general child well-being concerns and transmit the information quickly to the appropriate investigating agency. ChildLine is responsible for receiving verbal and electronic referrals 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

The toll-free hotline, 1-800-932-0313, is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week to receive reports of suspected child abuse. Reports can also be submitted online through the Child Welfare Portal on the Pennsylvania Department of Human Services website. Child abuse investigation outcomes and general protective services assessment outcomes are submitted to, and reviewed and finalized by, ChildLine specialists.

9.1 Reasonable Cause to Suspect vs. Conducting an Investigation

Reasonable cause to suspect may be a determination you make based on your training/experience and all known circumstances—to include “who”, “what”, “when”, and “how”, observations (e.g., indicators of abuse or “red flags”, behavior/demeanor of the child(ren), behavior/demeanor of the adult(s), etc.), as well as familiarity with the individuals (e.g., family situation and relevant history or similar prior incidents, etc.).

Some indicators may be more apparent than others depending on the type of abuse and/or depending on the child's health, developmental level, and well-being. For example, some indicators may be visible on the child's body while other indicators may be present in the child's behaviors.

Persons encouraged to report suspected child abuse (23 Pa.C.S. § 6312): any person may make an oral/verbal (1-800-932-0313) or written report of suspected child abuse, which may be submitted electronically, or cause a report of suspected child abuse to be made to DHS, county agency, or law enforcement, if that person has reasonable cause to suspect that a child is a victim of child abuse.

Reasonable cause is based upon what you have seen, what you have been told, your training and experience, and whether you feel that a child has been harmed or is in danger of being harmed as a result of an act or omission by the person legally responsible for the child. You do not need proof of harm or potential harm; you must make a report when you suspect something is wrong.

Direct or firsthand observation of abuse is not required nor is the reporter required to identify the person responsible for the child abuse to make a report of suspected child abuse. Nothing in the PA CPSL requires a person who has reasonable cause to suspect a child is a victim of child abuse to identify the person responsible for the child abuse in order to make a report of suspected child abuse.

The child does not have to come before the mandated reporter in order for the mandated reporter to make a report of suspected child abuse. Concerns related to the safety of children can be referred to ChildLine or the county children and youth agency for assessment as general protective services cases (KKSP, 2023).

9.2 Reporting without Having to Determine the Relationship of the Perpetrator to the Victim Child

Neither mandated nor Persons encouraged to report suspected child abuse are required determine the relationship of the perpetrator to the child or even if the person meets the definition of perpetrator to make a report. Similarly, they do not have to identify the person responsible for the child abuse to make a report of suspected child abuse. It is not a reporter’s responsibility to determine if the person who allegedly committed child abuse or harm to a child is a perpetrator.

9.3 Making a Report (Mandated Reporters)

When child abuse is suspected, a mandated reporter must make an immediate and direct report of suspected child abuse to ChildLine either electronically at www.compass.state.pa.us/cwis or by calling 1-800-932-0313.

Reporting procedure (23 Pa.C.S. § 6313)

Report by mandated reporter:

1. A mandated reporter shall immediately make an oral/verbal report of suspected child abuse to the DHS via the Statewide toll-free telephone number (1-800-932-0313) or a written report using electronic technologies under section 6305 (relating to electronic reporting) via the self-service Child Welfare Portal.
2. A mandated reporter making an oral/verbal report of suspected child abuse to the DHS via the Statewide toll-free telephone number under section 6332 (relating to establishment of Statewide toll-free telephone number) shall also make a written report, which may be submitted electronically, within 48 hours to the DHS or county agency assigned to the case by using a CY-47 form.
3. The failure of the mandated reporter to file the written report CY-47 shall not relieve the county agency from any duty under the PA CPSL, and the county agency shall proceed as though the mandated reporter complied with paragraph (2).

Confirmation of reports—A confirmation by DHS of the receipt of a report of suspected child abuse submitted electronically shall relieve the person making the report of making an additional oral/verbal or written report of suspected child abuse, subject to section 6313 (relating to reporting procedure).Oral reports are required to be followed up within 48 hours with a written report that is sent to the investigating agency.

The approved written reporting form (Report of Suspected Child Abuse CY47) can be found at www.keepkidssafe.pa.gov. The form is under the forms tab (located on the left-hand side of the main page). This is only required if the report is completed orally and not done via electronic submission.

Child welfare professionals at ChildLine will accept reports of suspected abuse and neglect and refer them to the appropriate investigating agency. In cases where the children require other services, ChildLine can refer the report to the appropriate county agency for assessment.

Immediately after making the report to ChildLine, mandated reporters are required to notify the person in charge of the institution, school, facility, or agency where they are employed, or the designated agent of the person in charge. In the past, reporters were directed to make a report to the person in charge at their institution who would then make the report to ChildLine, but with the changes in statute a mandated reporter now makes the report directly themselves.

Contents of report—A written report of suspected child abuse, which may be submitted electronically, shall include the following information, if known. The law specifies the information to be included in a written report, if available (23 Pa.C.S. § 6313):

1. The names and addresses of the child and the child’s parents, and any other person responsible for the child’s welfare.
2. Where the suspected abuse occurred.
3. The age and sex of each subject of the report.
4. The nature and extent of the suspected child abuse including any evidence of prior abuse to the child or any siblings of the child.
5. The name and relationship of each individual responsible for causing the suspected abuse, if known, and any evidence of prior abuse by each individual.
6. Family composition.
7. The source of the report.
8. The name, telephone number and e-mail address of the person making the report.
9. The actions taken by the person making the report, including those actions taken under section 6314 (relating to photographs, medical tests and X-rays of child subject to report), 6315 (relating to taking child into protective custody), 6316 (relating to admission to private and public hospitals) or 6317 (relating to mandatory reporting and postmortem investigation of deaths).
10. Any other information required by Federal law or regulation.
11. Any other information that DHS requires by regulation.

Applicability of Mental Health Procedures Act—Notwithstanding any other provision of law, a mandated reporter who makes a report of suspected child abuse or who makes a report of a crime against a child to law enforcement officials shall not be in violation of the act of July 9, 1976 (P.L.817, No.143), known as the Mental Health Procedures Act, by releasing information necessary to complete the report.

If you work for an employer, we refer you to your employer for any internal policies related to reporting suspected child abuse that they may have.

9.4 Disposition of Complaints Received (23 Pa.C.S. § 6334) & Responsibility for Investigation (23 Pa.C.S. § 6334.1)

When a county agency or law enforcement receives a referral/report, the county agency or law enforcement official is to notify DHS/ChildLine after ensuring the immediate safety of the child and any other child(ren) in the child’s home. When DHS/ChildLine receives a referral/report, DHS/ChildLine will immediately evaluate and transmit the information to the appropriate agency for assessment or investigation.

• Referral to county agency (CPS)—If the suspected child abuse is alleged to have been committed by a perpetrator, DHS/ChildLine will transmit the information to the county agency where the suspected child abuse is alleged to have occurred for investigation of the allegation(s).
• Referral to county agency and law enforcement officials (LEO)—If the suspected child abuse is alleged to have been committed by a perpetrator and the behavior constituting the suspected child abuse may include a violation of a criminal offense, DHS/ChildLine will transmit the information to the appropriate law enforcement official in the county where the suspected child abuse is alleged to have occurred for a joint investigation of the allegation(s).
• Referral to law enforcement officials only (LEO)—If the person suspected of committing child abuse is not a perpetrator but the behavior constituting the suspected child abuse may include a violation of a criminal offense, DHS/ChildLine will transmit the information to the appropriate law enforcement official in the county where the suspected child abuse is alleged to have occurred for investigation of the allegation(s).
• Referral to county agency (GPS)—If the referral/report does not suggest the child is in need of protective services but suggests the child is in need of other services, DHS/ChildLine will transmit the information to the appropriate county agency for assessment of the needs of the child.