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PA CHILD ABUSE PREVENTION AND TREATMENT ACT - Citizen Review Panel

 

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HISTORY

In 1996, the U.S. Congress amended the Child Abuse Prevention and Treatment Act (CAPTA). With this amendment to CAPTA, (Public Law 104-235), Congress required that states establish Citizen Review Panels, in order to receive funding for the Child Abuse and Neglect State Grants Programs. Citizen review panels are directed to evaluate state child welfare agencies and make recommendations for improvement in child protective services (U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, 1998).


PURPOSE

On November 9, 2006, House Bill 2670 was signed into law as Act 146 by Governor Edward G. Rendell. Act 146 required the Department of Human Services to establish citizen review panels and amended Pennsylvania's Child Protective Services Law (CPSL). Act 146 broadly states the Citizen Review Panels' functions and activities as:

  • Examining policies, procedures and practices of State and local agencies and where appropriate, specific cases to evaluate the extent to which State and local child protective services system agencies are effectively discharging their child protection responsibilities under 106 (b) of the Child Abuse Prevention and Treatment Act (Public Law 93-247, 42 U.S.C. § 5106 a (b)).
  • Evaluating and monitoring the extent to which the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania’s Department of Human Services is fulfilling its child protection responsibilities in accordance with its Child Abuse Prevention and Treatment Act (CAPTA) Five-Year Plan, as required by CAPTA.
  • Meeting at least quarterly and must make available to the public an annual report of their recommendations and summary of activities.
  • Providing for public outreach and comment to assess the impact of child welfare procedures and policies upon children and families in the community.

RESOURCES

Department of Human Services
http://www.dhs.pa.gov/






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