Supporting the needs of child abuse victims and their families
The Lancaster County Children’s Alliance is the Children’s Advocacy Center for Lancaster County accredited by the National Children's Alliance. The center brings together in one location child abuse professionals who support the needs of child victims and non-offending family members.
Our multidisciplinary team includes child protection workers, law enforcement officers, medical providers, prosecutors, victim advocates, mental health providers, and advocacy center staff. Family advocates navigate non-offending caregivers through the investigative process, providing referrals and support while working in conjunction with multidisciplinary team members.
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Our services
Forensic interviews
Specially trained forensic interviewers conduct developmentally sensitive and legally sound forensic interviews to gather factual information regarding allegations of abuse and/or exposure to violence while child abuse investigators observe through a closed-circuit recording system. As a neutral professional, the forensic interviewer uses evidence-based protocols established by the National Children's Advocacy Center.
Medical exams
Medical professionals with expertise in child sexual abuse provide specialized non-invasive medical evaluations.
Non-offending caregiver group
The Non-Offending Caregiver Group is a psycho-educational program for caregivers of sexually abused children and partners of sexual offenders. It consists of ten, 90-minute group sessions designed to help participants acknowledge the impact of the abuse, recognize indicators, and protect children from sexual abuse.
Mental health services
Licensed mental health professionals offer trauma-based therapy to children who have received other services at Lancaster County Children’s Alliance in an effort to start the healing process.
Community partners
We partner with the Lancaster County Children and Youth Social Services Agency, The Child Abuse Prosecution Unit of the Lancaster County District Attorney’s Office, including Victim/Witness Services, all 27 law-enforcement jurisdictions in Lancaster County, and the YWCA Sexual Assault Prevention and Counseling Center.
Our location and hours
Comprehensive services are now available at our location at 430 N. Lime Street, Lancaster, PA. Law enforcement and child-protective services must schedule appointments.
Signs of abuse and how to report
Learn about the signs and symptoms of child abuse.
If you are questioning whether a situation could be considered abuse or neglect, it is always recommended you call a resource, explain the circumstances and ask:
ChildLine: 1-800-932-0313 or visit the Pennsylvania COMPASS website
Lancaster County Children and Youth Agency: 717-295-7925
If a crisis occurs after business hours, a stand-by case worker is available by calling the Medical Bureau at 717-396-8085.
If it is a situation involving a life-threatening emergency, please call 911.
Frequently asked questions
Child abuse, according to the Child Protective Services Law (CPSL), includes: serious recent physical injury which is non-accidental; mental injury which is non-accidental; sexual abuse; or serious physical neglect of children under age 18 caused by the acts or omissions of a perpetrator. “Recent” is defined as an abusive act within two years from the date ChildLine is called.
Child abuse also includes any recent act, failure to act, or series of acts or failures to act by a perpetrator that creates an imminent risk of serious physical injury to or sexual abuse or exploitation of a child under 18 years of age. These are situations that would have resulted in serious injury or sexual abuse if not prevented by happenstance, third-party intervention or the actions of the child.
A perpetrator of child abuse can be a child's parent, the person responsible for the welfare of a child such as a babysitter or day care staff person, an individual residing in the same home as the child who is at least 14 years of age, or the paramour of a child's parent. Even if the person does not meet the definition of perpetrator under the CPSL, you must report suspected child abuse.
A person who, in the course of employment, occupation or practice of a profession, has reasonable cause to suspect, on the basis of medical, professional or other training and experience, that a child under the care, supervision, guidance or training of that person or of an agency, institution, organization or other entity with which that person is affiliated is a victim of child abuse, including child abuse by an individual who is not a perpetrator.
It is not necessary for mandated reporters to determine if an individual is a perpetrator under the CPSL and a report shall be made to ChildLine regardless of the status of the individual. The only exceptions to this are in respect to confidential communications made with a member of the clergy or an attorney.
Yes. The child need not come before you directly in your professional or official capacity, but must be under the care, supervision, guidance or training of an agency, institution, organization or other entity with which you are affiliated. In your personal life, you may report a case as a non-mandated reporter.
You must report immediately. State law requires that you report whenever you have “reasonable cause to suspect” that a child has been abused, regardless of any previous reports that have been made. This applies to physical injuries within the past two years, imminent risk of serious physical injury, sexual abuse, sexual exploitation, serious physical neglect and emotional abuse.
The law says that mandated reporters must immediately make a report to ChildLine by calling 800-932-0313. ChildLine is the 24-hour toll free telephone reporting system operated by the Department of Public Welfare to receive reports of suspected child abuse.
ChildLine forwards the report of suspected abuse to the local county Children and Youth agency which investigates the report, decides if the report is a valid instance of child abuse/neglect and, if so, arranges for or provides the services needed to prevent further maltreatment of the child and to preserve family unity. ChildLine also maintains a statewide central register which contains the names and vital information about children who have been abused in Pennsylvania since 1976. This information can be accessed by county Children and Youth agencies when investigating new reports of suspected child abuse.
No. Your responsibility is to make the report when you suspect a child is being abused. The county Children and Youth caseworker will conduct an investigation and determine whether the child was abused.
Yes. A mandated reporter may photograph areas of visible trauma on a child. Mandated reporters have legal immunity from liability in the taking of photographs. However, it is suggested the county Children and Youth agency be consulted prior to taking any photographs. The Children and Youth caseworker will generally photograph injuries as part of the investigation.
The law requires that mandated reporters identify themselves and where they can be reached. If clarification of the situation or additional information is needed, the caseworker will be able to contact you.
No. The Children and Youth staff maintains complete confidentiality in all cases. If law enforcement is involved, the name of the reporting source will be shared but treated as a confidential informant. The law allows only the Secretary of Public Welfare to release the name of the reporter or anyone who cooperated in the investigation. With your written consent, you can voluntarily have your name released as the reporter.
Mandated reporters must also complete a report of suspected child abuse. This report is called a CY47. Blank forms can be obtained from the Children and Youth agency in your county. The CY47 must be completed within 48 hours of the verbal report being made and mailed to the county Children and Youth agency.
A mandated reporter who is convicted of willfully failing to report suspected child abuse is guilty of a misdemeanor in the third degree. A second or subsequent offense is a misdemeanor in the second degree.
Yes. Anyone reporting child abuse or neglect in good faith is provided civil and criminal immunity from legal liability that otherwise might result by reason of such action. In fact, good faith of a mandated reporter is presumed under the law.
Criminal charges are filed against some perpetrators. You may be subpoenaed to testify at a criminal proceeding. Also, some cases go to Juvenile Court and you may be required to provide information and/or testify.
The Children and Youth caseworker investigating the allegation has the obligation to inform the parents, and other subjects of the report, that a report has been made. Verbal notification usually occurs within a few hours of receiving the report; written notification of the report is provided to parents within 72 hours in all cases.
The exact time at which the parents are told is up to the discretion of the caseworker in planning for the safety of the children. Certain professionals in ongoing relationships with families they are reporting may prefer to advise those persons involved of their legal requirement to report. This could be done only if disclosure does not jeopardize the safety of the children or interfere with an investigation.
The Children and Youth caseworker can take custody of a child only with court approval. Law enforcement or a physician examining or treating a child may take protective custody of a child.
Mandated reporters may receive information from the county Children and Youth agency regarding the final status of the report, whether it was unfounded, indicated or founded, and the services provided or arranged by the agency. It is recommended that the mandated reporter call the caseworker that conducted the investigation for this information.
It is the goal of the law and the county Children and Youth agency to preserve the family whenever the child's safety can be assured.
If the child is found to be at risk of continued harm, the child may be removed from the home and placed in a safe environment. If placement is necessary, Children and Youth will work closely with the family, school and placement provider to create a comfortable and nurturing atmosphere for the child until reunification occurs.
If reunification with parents is not possible, a permanent plan in the best interest of the child will be made. If placement is not necessary for the child, the agency will work with the family to resolve the problems that necessitated agency intervention.
Through counseling, training and other supportive services, the family is assisted in learning new ways to parent their children safely and effectively.
Reports concerning the safety of children including inadequate housing, clothing and supervision can be referred to the county Children and Youth agency for assessment as general protective services, or to ChildLine who will refer the report to the county Children and Youth agency.