Sarah Boden for Spotlight PA
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Detecting Child Abuse Can Require Medical Training, but Pa. Lacks Consistent Rules
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In some Pennsylvania counties, child abuse allegations are only investigated by caseworkers, while others include the expertise of specialized doctors and nurses.
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These Primary Judicial Races Could Affect Caregiving Statewide. 4 Court Cases Show How
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In recent years, cases heard by the powerful Commonwealth and Superior Courts have changed how public education is funded and created a new legal pathway to parenthood.
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Paid Family Leave Is a Work Perk for Pa. Lawmakers but Probably Not You
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Access to paid leave in Pennsylvania is generally determined by where residents live and work. This includes the legislature, which grants paid parental leave to House staffers but not Senate ones.
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Public Health Officials in Pa. Won’t Say How They’d Handle a $500M Cut Sought by Trump Admin
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The funding helps Pennsylvania purchase and administer vaccines, monitor the spread of infectious diseases like measles, and contact people who might have been exposed to dangerous pathogens.
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Toothless ‘Child Advocate’ Position Should Be Replaced by Empowered Abuse Watchdog, Former Officeholder Says
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Former Gov. Tom Wolf created a child advocate role in 2019 to prevent abuse in state facilities, but its lack of legal authority has led to turnover.
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Debt From Childbirth, Other Medical Care Would Be Relieved Under New Bill
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Some new Pennsylvania parents pay thousands of dollars out of pocket for pregnancy and childbirth care. When they can’t afford these costs, the resulting debt affects their finances and health.
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The Children Left Behind by Free Lunch Programs, and the Proposed $250M Solution
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Hunger affects students’ grades and health, but thousands of Pennsylvania kids fall just outside the income threshold for even reduced lunch. Advocates say free lunch for all is the solution.
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Child Care Workers Could Get a Raise Under Shapiro Plan to Address Shortage
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Businesses and advocates for families say the Democrat’s $55 million proposal would make child care in Pennsylvania more available and keep parents in the workforce.
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Ghosted by Your Doc? New Law Aims to Weaken Restrictive Noncompete Contracts, Keep Physicians Local
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The rules prevent a health system from pushing dismissed doctors out of town and keeping patients in the dark, but critics say it’s still too narrow.
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Empathy Between the Person Receiving and Giving Care Helps Both. What Happens When Dementia Tears That Bond?
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When someone with dementia loses their ability to have empathy, caring for them can become isolating and fraught, research shows.