SENATOR O'PAKE LAUDS WORK OF COUNTY CHILD SERVICES WORKERS
IN RECOGNITION OF CHILD ABUSE PREVENTION MONTH

          Reading, April 20, 2007 -- Speaking at an "Operation Safe Kids" luncheon sponsored by Berks County Children and Youth Services, Senator Michael A. O’Pake (D-Berks) -- the author of Pennsylvania’s Child Protective Services Law -- thanked the 210 attendees and county child services workers for exceeding the statewide substantiation rate of child abuse reports.  Senator O’Pake told the group that, according to 2006 Child Abuse Report published by the Pennsylvania Department of Public Welfare, BCCYS caseworkers substantiated 22% of all suspected child abuse reports, which is 5% better than the statewide average of 17%.
          “As a result of your dedicated efforts, 171 Berks County Children were protected from further abuse in 2006,” said Senator O’Pake.
          Senator O’Pake also pointed out that the number of deaths due to child abuse went down from 40 to 31 statewide.  “Fifteen of those deaths were caused by the mother, eleven by the father,” noted Senator O’Pake.  “Twenty-eight were victims under the age of the five and half never reached their first birthday!”
          O’Pake also pointed out that as a result of mandatory background screening required of all job seekers for positions in schools, child care centers, and other places with access to children, 1,278 applicants were uncovered as perpetrators in prior child abuse reports.
          “As a result of our law and your work, over 1,000 perpetrators were not allowed access to children,” concluded Senator O’Pake.

                                                                        ###