Daycare Sexual Abuse Lawyers in Pennsylvania

Daycare sexual abuse lawyers in Pennsylvania are availble if trust in a daycare center in Pennsylvania is broken and a child is abused.

Unfortunetly, there is a hidden history of abuse in such facilities that has only recently started to be exposed.

The most vulnerable people in society are also the most abused. This includes children in daycare centers.

Most employees in daycare facilities excel at their jobs and would never dream of abusing a child. However, these facilities also attract predators who are experts at evading detection – and who use the system to abuse children.

Sexual abuse of children should never be tolerated. Fortunately, it has become more accessible in recent years to hold perpetrators accountable and to prosecute cases of historical and current abuse.

The child sexual abuse lawyers at Andreozzi + Foote are at the forefront of assisting victims in receiving justice in Pennsylvania.

The Realities Of Daycare Facilities

Daycare facilities exist in every community across the country.

Around 11 million children under five enter daycare centers each week around the country. Many spend long hours there and are enrolled in multiple childcare arrangements due to parents’ working hours.

And most children have a wonderful experience.

It’s almost impossible to get accurate statistics on child sexual abuse in daycare centers because, traditionally, there have been no mandatory reporting requirements for staff who suspect abuse.

How Common Is Daycare Sexual Abuse?

Daycare abuse takes many forms: neglect, sexual and physical abuse among the most common

In Pennsylvania, child abuse is a serious problem. There were a total of 39,093 reports of suspected child abuse received in 2022, as opposed to 38,013 reports received in 2021. Of those reports 8.9% were substatiated by daycare workers.

As the child sexual abuse problem has become more high profile in society in recent years (particularly concerning clergy abuse cases), the number of cases in daycare centers appears to have increased, too.

We have worked on enough cases in Pennsylvania and elsewhere to know that every victim of such crimes deserves justice. With most children in daycare being so young, any case of sexual abuse is horrific and must be investigated thoroughly.

What Constitutes Sexual Abuse In Pennsylvania Daycare Facilities?

Nobody wants to consider a child expericing sexual abuse.

However, by learning more about what constitutes child sexual abuse – and identifying the possible signs of abuse – we can become more adept at preventing it.

Contrary to what some people think, sexual abuse does not always involve physical contact. It can take many forms, and each can have a significant impact on a child’s psychological development.

Of the following five types of sexual abuse, only two or three may involve physical contact:

1. Exposing a child’s genitals: If a daycare worker “helps” a child go to the bathroom, or watches a child undress, this could be construed as abuse.
2. Inappropriate photography: Most photography is innocent, but if it is of a child in any sexual context that is illegal.
3. Showing pornography: Pornography has no place in daycare centers.
4. Inappropriate touching: If staff in a daycare center handle a child inappropriately or force a child to touch someone else inappropriately, it may lead to a claim of sexual abuse.
5. Sexual stimulation or intercourse: Any case of sexual stimulation or intercourse involving a child is illegal and should not go unreported.

How Can We Protect Children From Daycare Abuse?

Five ways that children can protect themselves:

• Stricter hiring policies and procedures with background checks conducted on every employee.
• Checks and balances are in place in daily routines, such as avoiding instances where an adult is alone with a child in an isolated area of the center or needs to help children change their clothes.
• Ensure that there is adequate staffing and enough supervision of children in care centers.
• Educating all employees on the signs of child abuse so that they know what to look for should help identify early warning signs of abuse.
• Have clear procedure for reporting suspected child abuse.

These three measures are good starting places for keeping children in daycare facilities safe and secure.

Parents should thoroughly check facilities. Speak to other parents about their experiences before selecting a center to send their child to.

Protect Your Child From Daycare Abuse In Pennsylvania

As a parent, it is essential to educate your children about what abuse is and when and how they should tell someone about inappropriate behavior.

Here are some pointers to prepare your child:

• Educate your child on appropriate and inappropriate touching
• Teach your child about when it is ok to say “no” to an adult
• Let your child know that they’ll never get in trouble for anything they tell you
• Ask your child every day about what they did at daycare

Other steps you can take as a parent include:

• Maintain a close relationship with the daycare center and staff
• Performing background checks on daycare employees who interact most with your child
• Reading up on how to prevent child abuse

Suspect abuse in daycare in Pennsylvania, contact us.

Start with a free confidential consultation with a child abuse attorney at Andreozzi + Foote.