➡ From Child Welfare Information Gateway NJ:
US: As states embrace mandatory reporting to curb child abuse, dissenters voice doubts
Center for Health Journalism – March 17, 2017
Legislative good intentions often have unintended consequences. Shortly after the package of new laws went into effect in 2015, the state hotline started getting hammered with calls. “Child-abuse calls go unanswered as new regulations cause personnel problems for Pa. agency,” read a 2015 PennLive headline. Despite forced overtime and eventual staff increases, the state’s problems have continued. By spring of last year, the headlines from Pennsylvania hadn’t gotten any rosier: “Child welfare system at a ‘breaking point and will soon be in crisis,’ caseworker says.”
https://www.centerforhealthjournalism.org/2017/03/16/states-embrace-mandatory-reporting-curb-child-abuse-dissenters-voice-doubts