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CWLA Reiterates Call for All Members of Congress to Report Child Abuse and Neglect Based on Ethics Findings
For more information, contact
Joyce Johnson
Phone: 804/492-4519
Cell: 703/980-7641
E-mail: jjohnson@cwla.org
December 13, 2006, Washington, DC -- The Child Welfare League of America (CWLA) is repeating its call for Members of Congress to enact legislation requiring that they be mandatory reporters of child abuse and neglect.
In light of the December 8, 2006 ethics committee report on the actions of former Congressman Mark Foley, and other Members of Congress and certain staff, it is evident there was no clear path of action or guidance on how members of Congress should act when faced with potential allegations involving minors.
All fifty states and the District of Columbia, require key professionals and those responsible for the care and safety of children to report instances or allegations of abuse and neglect.
Shay Bilchik, CWLA President and CEO, said, "The recommendations of the ethics committee comes close to calling for specific actions when allegations are made in regard to the potential abuse of minors, but it does not go far enough and is too vague. We believe that Congress now needs to outline specific actions and steps that must be followed when information on suspected abuse is presented."
The Committee on Standards of Official Conduct (ethics committee) issued on December 8, 2006 the recommendation, "All members, officers and employees of the House must pursue specific allegations of improper interaction between a Member of the House or House employee and a participant in the House Page Program."
We continue to be shocked over the apparent inaction to fully address this conduct when knowledge of it first became known. Fifty states and the District of Columbia have mandatory reporting laws that require various professions such as physicians, nurses, schoolteachers, child care providers and law enforcement officers to report instances of abuse when they become aware of it. Since the Congress does not fall under the jurisdiction of any state government it is appropriate that a new federal law now be applied to all members of congress."
According to recent information from the Children's Bureau at HHS, the laws in the fifty states, the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico vary, but typically include social workers, school personnel, health care workers, mental health professionals, child care providers, medical examiners/coroners and law enforcement officers as mandatory reporters. Some states such as Florida include judges under their mandatory reporting laws. In twenty-five states members of the clergy are now included. The state of Oregon goes so far as to require members of its legislative assembly be mandatory reporters.
Mandatory reporters are required to make a report when they suspect or know of abuse or neglect. In addition to specific professions, some states expand their coverage to include any professional that has responsibility for the care or treatment of a minor. This standard should be applied to members of Congress who assume the role of trusted caretaker for minor children that serve as pages, the same as any health professional or teacher.
"We think it is essential for Congress to act and to send a clear message that the abuse of children whether it is through the internet or any other means is not acceptable and that members of Congress give this issue the same level of attention state governments have," commented Bilchik.
Since 1920, the Child Welfare League of America (CWLA) has been the nation's pre-eminent organization dedicated to ensuring that disadvantaged and vulnerable children are protected from harm and have the tools and resources they need to grow into healthy and happy adults.
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