(a) General rule.--Based on the investigation and evaluation conducted pursuant to this chapter, the county agency shall provide or contract with private or public agencies for the protection of the child at home whenever possible and those services necessary for adequate care of the child when placed in protective custody. Prior to offering these services to a family, the agency shall explain that it has no legal authority to compel the family to receive the services but may inform the family of the obligations and authority of the county agency to initiate appropriate court proceedings.
(b) Initiation of court proceeding.--
(1) In those cases in which an appropriate offer of service is refused and the county agency determines that the best interests of the child require court action, the county agency shall initiate the appropriate court proceeding. The county agency shall assist the court during all stages of the court proceeding in accordance with the purposes of this chapter.
(2) (i) If the county agency deems it appropriate in a dependency or delinquency proceeding, including an instance in which the alleged perpetrator has access or poses a threat to a child, the county agency may petition the court under 42 Pa.C.S. Ch. 63 (relating to juvenile matters) for a finding of child abuse.
(ii) If the court makes a specific finding that child abuse as defined by this chapter has not occurred, the county agency shall consider the court's finding to be a determination that the report of suspected abuse was an unfounded report. The county agency shall immediately notify the department of the change in the status of the report from an indicated report to an unfounded report. Upon notice, the department shall be responsible for expunging the indicated report consistent with the expunction requirements of this chapter.
(iii) If there is a determination that the subjects of the unfounded report need services provided or arranged by the county agency, the county agency may retain those records only if it specifically identifies the report as an unfounded report of suspected child abuse.
(Dec. 16, 1994, P.L.1292, No.151, eff. July 1, 1995)
Cross References. Section 6370 is referred to in section 6340 of this title.
Structure Pennsylvania Consolidated & Unconsolidated Statutes
Pennsylvania Consolidated & Unconsolidated Statutes
Chapter 63 - Child Protective Services
Section 6301 - Short title of chapter
Section 6302 - Findings and purpose of chapter
Section 6304 - Exclusions from child abuse
Section 6305 - Electronic reporting
Section 6311 - Persons required to report suspected child abuse
Section 6311.1 - Privileged communications
Section 6312 - Persons encouraged to report suspected child abuse
Section 6313 - Reporting procedure
Section 6314 - Photographs, medical tests and X-rays of child subject to report
Section 6315 - Taking child into protective custody
Section 6316 - Admission to private and public hospitals
Section 6317 - Mandatory reporting and postmortem investigation of deaths
Section 6318 - Immunity from liability
Section 6320 - Protection from employment discrimination
Section 6331 - Establishment of Statewide database
Section 6332 - Establishment of Statewide toll-free telephone number
Section 6333 - Continuous availability of department
Section 6334 - Disposition of complaints received
Section 6334.1 - Responsibility for investigation
Section 6335 - Access to information in Statewide database
Section 6336 - Information in Statewide database
Section 6338 - Disposition of founded and indicated reports
Section 6339 - Confidentiality of reports
Section 6340 - Release of information in confidential reports
Section 6340.1 - Exchange of information
Section 6341 - Amendment or expunction of information
Section 6342 - Studies of data in records
Section 6343 - Investigating performance of county agency
Section 6343.1 - Citizen review panels
Section 6344 - Employees having contact with children; adoptive and foster parents
Section 6344.1 - Information relating to certified or licensed child-care home residents
Section 6344.2 - Volunteers having contact with children
Section 6344.3 - Continued employment or participation in program, activity or service
Section 6344.4 - Recertification
Section 6345 - Audits by Attorney General
Section 6346 - Cooperation of other agencies
Section 6347 - Reports to Governor and General Assembly
Section 6361 - Organization for child protective services
Section 6362 - Responsibilities of county agency for child protective services
Section 6363 - County plan for protective services
Section 6364 - Purchasing services of other agencies
Section 6365 - Services for prevention, investigation and treatment of child abuse
Section 6366 - Continuous availability to receive reports
Section 6367 - Reports to department and coroner
Section 6368 - Investigation of reports
Section 6369 - Taking child into protective custody (Repealed)
Section 6370 - Voluntary or court-ordered services; findings of child abuse
Section 6371 - Rehabilitative services for child and family
Section 6372 - Protecting well-being of children maintained outside home
Section 6373 - General protective services responsibilities of county agency
Section 6374 - Principles and goals of general protective services
Section 6375 - County agency requirements for general protective services
Section 6376 - Appeals with respect to general protective services
Section 6378 - Purchase of services
Section 6381 - Evidence in court proceedings
Section 6382 - Guardian ad litem for child in court proceedings (Repealed)
Section 6383 - Education and training
Section 6384 - Legislative oversight
Section 6385 - Reimbursement to county agencies