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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE |
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State
Rep. Frank Dermody |
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Dermody bill to prevent child abuse deaths signed into law
HARRISBURG, July 3 – Child abuse prevention is the goal with a new law the governor signed today that gives the Department of Public Welfare new tools to investigate child fatalities and serious injuries resulting from child abuse.
State Rep. Frank Dermody, D-Oakmont, attended the bill-signing ceremony at the state Capitol today; his proposal (H.B. 823) was amended into the bill that ultimately became law.
The law requires DPW to review and report on each child fatality and serious injury that stems from child abuse, while creating uniform standards for county children and youth agencies reviewing and reporting on these cases. Current law does not provide specific guidelines for the review and reporting of child fatalities and near fatalities resulting from abuse.
"This new law has been a long time in coming, nearly 10 years, but it's now law and will be an important tool in child abuse prevention, " Dermody said. "It will help agencies and communities through collaboration better protect children from tragic and fatal consequences caused by neglect and abuse."
Under the law, a county children and youth agency will convene a child fatality or near fatality review team to analyze a case that resulted from abuse and recommend steps to prevent future tragedies. Individuals in the community with expertise in child abuse, such as district attorneys, educators, representatives from domestic violence and drug and alcohol programs, children's lawyers and advocates and health-care professionals, would make up the review team.
Once completed, that review will be released to the public, minus certain identifying information, unless releasing it could jeopardize a criminal investigation.
"Making these reports public will allow the community to look at the child welfare system and make sure it is operating as effectively as possible," Dermody said. "Last year 46 children died from child abuse in the Commonwealth. It we can save even one child with this new law, all of our efforts will have been worth it."
The law takes effect in six months.
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