What is Child Abuse in PA? Serious Mental Injury
What is Child Abuse in PA?
Serious Mental Injury – Causing or substantially contributing to serious mental injury to a child through any act or failure to act.
A psychological condition (diagnosed by a physician or licensed psychologist) that:
(1) renders a child chronically and severely anxious, agitated, depressed, socially withdrawn, psychotic or in reasonable fear that their life or safety is threatened; or
(2) seriously interferes with a child’s ability to accomplish age-appropriate developmental and social tasks.
Other types of abuse…
- Bodily injury
- Sexual Abuse or Exploitation
- Neglect
- Per Se (e.g., actions that endanger a child but might not lead to a physical injury)
- Harmful exaggeration or misrepresentation of a child’s medical condition
- Causing the death of the child
