Child Abuse
All University employees, volunteers, and independent contractors are required to report all instances of suspected child abuse.
Call 911
If a child is in immediate danger, contact police at 911 to obtain immediate protection for the child.
How to report suspected child abuse:
Immediately make a report:
Submit a report online
- Make an electronic report using the Child Welfare Portal (the “Portal”) at www.compass.state.pa.us/cwis.
- If you have not done so already, you will be required to create an account for the Portal. Complete the report and submit it online.
- The Portal will then automatically generate a completed Form CY47 based on the report. Download a copy of the completed Form CY47 and forward as directed below.
- Solely informing a supervisor that you suspect abuse is NOT sufficient under this Policy or the law.
Submit an oral report
- Call the Pennsylvania Department of Human Services via ChildLine (1-800-932-0313).
- After the oral report is made to ChildLine, immediately prepare and submit a written report utilizing Form CY47, which then must be submitted by facsimile, to the County Children and Youth agency where the suspected abuse occurred.
- Solely informing a supervisor that you suspect abuse is NOT sufficient under this Policy or the law.
For all reports (electronic and oral):
After the report has been made, the reporter must immediately notify the University of the report by emailing AD72@psu.edu and attaching a copy of Form CY47.
- If the report was made electronically, the Form CY47 can be downloaded from the Compass Portal to attach to the email.
- If the report was made orally, please attach the written Form CY47 to the email.
- In response to the report, the person making the report will be contacted by University Police Services, Penn State’s Office of Ethics & Compliance, and/or Penn State’s Risk Management Office.
- All University employees, volunteers, and independent contractors are required to assist the University, to the extent deemed necessary by the University, in gathering factual information related to the report.
- Refer to Penn State Policy AD72 for more information regarding reporting suspected child abuse.
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Learn More
Learn more about reporting child abuse and training requirements for mandated reporters. Access more resources related to reporting, including the CY47 form and a directory of Children, Youth, and Families Offices in Pennsylvania.
More Resources