Child Abuse: Pennsylvania Mandated Reporter Training
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Preventing Abuse in Sports: What Coaches and Volunteers Should Watch For
Posted by Mary Thompson
Youth sports play a powerful role in shaping children’s lives. From building confidence and discipline to encouraging teamwork and resilience, sports can be one of the most positive influences in a young person’s development. Yet, these environments can also become unsafe when proper safeguards are not in place.   Coaches and Volunteers often hold significant authority over athletes. That power comes with responsibility–not just to teach the rules of the game, but to protect the well-being of every child in their care. In Pennsylvania, anyone working with children in a supervisory role, including coaches and sports volunteers, is considered a mandated reporter under state law. This legal and ethical duty means recognizing the warning signs of abuse and taking action when concerns arise.   The purpose of this article is to help coaches and volunteers identify the different types of abuse that can occur in sports, understand the risk factors, r...
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Where in the U.S. Are Children Most Likely to Be Bullied and Bully Others?
Posted by Dr. Julia Tortorice
Bullying is a widespread problem affecting millions of children across the United States, with more than one-third of children aged 6 to 17 having experienced it at least once in the past year. From school bullying to cyberbullying, the issue has only grown in recent years.  A survey conducted by The Child & Adolescent Health Measurement Initiative shows that bullying is much more prevalent in certain states than others. Using data from their 2022–2023 National Survey of Children’s Health, the team at PARequirements.com created a graphic highlighting the U.S. states with the highest rates of children who are bullied and those with the highest rates of children who bully others.  The National Survey of Children’s Health provides data on the percentage of children aged 6–17 who have either experienced bullying — meaning they were “bullied, picked on, or excluded by other children in the past 12 months” — or who have bull...
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The Digital Backpack Checklist: Online Safety Tips Before School Starts
Posted by Mary Thompson
As the school year begins, students are stocking up on pencils, notebooks, and backpacks, but one essential item often gets overlooked: their digital backpack. In today’s classrooms, technology is just as integral to learning as traditional school supplies. From tablets and Chromebooks to learning platforms like Google Classroom and Zoom, students are more connected than ever. With this increased connectivity comes a growing responsibility for educators, youth workers, and caregivers to ensure children's digital safety. Concerns about cyberbullying, online predators, and data privacy have become more pressing, especially for those in mandated reporting roles. The purpose of this blog is to provide practical guidance and tools that youth workers and educators can use to help students navigate the digital world safely and confidently. The Digital Landscape in Today’s Classrooms In modern education, digital tools are not optional—they're embedded in ...
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In Which States Do Children Drink the Most Soda?
Posted by Dr. Julia Tortorice
As sugary sweet as it is crisp and refreshing, soda is a staple in American fridges for good reason. It’s easy to grab on the go, tastes great, and gives you a quick burst of energy. But for all its fizzy charm, overconsumption of soda has some sticky consequences. However, even though we know soda isn’t good for us, there’s no denying that the beverage holds a significant place in diets nationwide. While many adults are rethinking their soda habits these days, it’s easy to overlook just how much our kids are drinking. Even more interesting is how that number changes depending on where they live. In this report from PARequirements.com, we’ve cracked open the numbers to show you where kids are reaching for soda most often and what those patterns might reveal about their health. Click here to download the printable PDF version of the chart.   How Does Soda Affect Your Health? These days, we’re all aware that soda isn’t the ...
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Where in the U.S. Are the Most Kindergartners Not Up to Date on Their Measles Vaccines?
Posted by Dr. Julia Tortorice
According to the World Health Organization, “Measles is a highly contagious viral disease that affects individuals of all ages and remains one of the leading causes of death among young children globally.” Almost one in three children under the age of five who contract the disease will need to be hospitalized, highlighting the seriousness of this public health threat. But in the United States, since the COVID-19 pandemic, vaccination rates among kindergartners for all state-required vaccines, including the measles vaccine, have declined from 95% to 93%. As of the end of April, there have been 12 measles outbreaks in 2025 among children under the age of 5, with 23% of those affected requiring hospitalization. In comparison, 16 outbreaks were reported in all of 2024. Vaccination rates and the rates of exemptions granted vary across the 50 states, with the reasons for these discrepancies depending on many factors, including religion, misinformation, vaccine confidence, and ...
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Recent Posts
Preventing Abuse in Sports: What Coaches and Volunteers Should Watch For
Where in the U.S. Are Children Most Likely to Be Bullied and Bully Others?
The Digital Backpack Checklist: Online Safety Tips Before School Starts
In Which States Do Children Drink the Most Soda?
Where in the U.S. Are the Most Kindergartners Not Up to Date on Their Measles Vaccines?
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