Reporting Child Abuse Training - FAQs

How can I make a suggestion about improving the online training?

Contact the Office of Ethics and Compliance at: [email protected]

How do I get help? I am experiencing technical issues.

If you are having technical difficulties, please contact the IT Service Desk at [email protected] or 814-865-HELP (4357).

What will be covered in the training?

This training is designed to inform you about your responsibilities as either a Penn State employee, volunteer, or independent contractor (See Penn State Policy AD72) in reporting child abuse and the steps involved in making a report. The training includes:

  • Responsibilities under Penn State policy and PA Child Protective Services law
  • Signs and indicators of child abuse
  • Responding to a child who discloses abuse
  • How to report suspected child abuse to the proper authorities

Information contained in the training will be reviewed and updated on an annual basis as laws or policies may change and to address best practices.

Why did Penn State develop this training?

We all have a responsibility to create a safe community. Penn State developed this training to provide Penn State employees, volunteers, and independent contractors with the knowledge and skills they need to report child abuse.

Who needs to take this training? How often?

All Penn State employees, volunteers, and independent contractors are required to complete Reporting Child Abuse training (See Penn State Policy AD72). After you complete the training, you are required to maintain and/or produce a current certificate upon request.

Do I have to complete training all at once?

Once you launch the "Building a Safe Penn State: Reporting Child Abuse" Training, you will be able to exit the training and return to it at a later time. Before you exit, take note of where you are in the training by looking at the navigation indicators at the bottom of the page. The next time you launch the training navigate directly to that page.

Why do I need to take this training? My job does not require me to work directly with children?

As outlined in Penn State Policy AD72, all employees, volunteers, and independent contractors, are required to take this training and are required to report suspected child abuse.

What happens after I complete the training?

Once you complete the training and pass the short assessment you will receive a certificate of completion. In order to pass you are required to obtain an 80 percent completion score, or higher, on the assessment at the end of the training. You should always retain a copy of the certificate for your records as you may need to share a copy of the certificate with your program director, manager, or supervisor.

What if I am working with minors out of state as part of my employment at Penn State?

Each State has reporting laws for child abuse and neglect. If you are traveling out of state and will be working with minors, it is recommended that you become familiar with the specific state laws and procedures for reporting.

What if no one answers when one calls ChildLine?

If you make a call to ChildLine to report suspected child abuse and no one answers, you should continue to call until someone picks up. ChildLine is available 24 hours a day, seven days per week, to receive reports of suspected child abuse. In addition, if you have any concerns or questions about how your call was handled, you can contact an Intake Managers or the Director at 717-783-1964.