Pennsylvania

Facilities in Pennsylvania

Residential facilities providing religious, behavioral, and mental health treatment to children exist in all 50 states. Some of these facilities are known to be part of the Troubled Teen Industry, while others have not yet been verified. Any facility where children live and receive care requires additional oversight. This directory helps communities monitor local programs and advocate for accountability.

Reporting abuse in Pennsylvania

Pennsylvania routes every complaint about a licensed professional through one bureau, the Bureau of Professional and Occupational Affairs, whichever board holds the licence. Its ChildLine is one of the clearer state hotlines: it takes both formal abuse referrals and general child well-being concerns, so you do not have to be certain you are describing abuse before you call.

Time limits in Pennsylvania: a general guide

This was correct as far as we could tell when we checked it on 28 September 2026. Laws on time limits change often, sometimes every legislative session, so some of what follows may have been updated since. It is a starting point, not legal advice: please check with a lawyer before relying on any date here. A time limit on a lawsuit or a criminal charge is also not a time limit on telling someone, and most of the places listed below will still take a report.

Time limits for abuse of a child often run from the survivor's 18th birthday, or from when they came to understand what happened, rather than from the day the program closed. Many states have lengthened them, removed them for child sexual abuse, or reopened claims that had already expired. A criminal charge, a lawsuit and a licence complaint each have their own time limit, so one having passed does not necessarily mean the others have.

Lawsuits

Physical abuse or injury: Two years for assault, battery, false imprisonment, or injury caused by negligence. 42 Pa.C.S. § 5524(1), (2), (7)
If it happened before you turned 18: If you were under 18 when you were hurt, the clock does not start until you turn 18. You then get the same two years as anyone else, so the deadline is your 20th birthday. 42 Pa.C.S. § 5533(b)(1)
If the program was run by or for the government: Less certain Before suing a state agency, county, school district or other government unit, you must file a written notice within six months of the injury; the lawsuit itself generally has the normal two-year deadline. Courts can excuse a late notice for a reasonable excuse. 42 Pa.C.S. § 5522(a)
Child sexual abuse: The civil SOL for CSA, trafficking, and CSAM claims against all defendants is age 55. CHILD USA's summary

Criminal charges

Physical child abuse: Less certain Most physical abuse crimes must be charged within two years, or five years for aggravated assault. But if the abuser was a person responsible for the child's welfare, the clock does not start until the child turns 18. 42 Pa.C.S. §§ 5552(a), (b)(1), 5554(3)
Assault: Five years for aggravated assault. Simple assault and most other offenses must be charged within two years. 42 Pa.C.S. § 5552(a), (b)(1)
Child sexual abuse: CSA: There is no criminal SOL for many CSA offenses and the SOL is age 55 for all other CSA felonies and misdemeanors. Trafficking: There is no SOL for trafficking offenses. CSAM: The SOL is age 55 for CSAM offenses. CHILD USA's summary

The injury, assault and physical abuse lines are our reading of the statutes linked, as they stood on 28 September 2026. The child sexual abuse lines are CHILD USA's summary as it stood on 28 September 2026; their page may be more current than ours. In them SOL means statute of limitations, CSA child sexual abuse, and CSAM child sexual abuse material. "Less certain" marks a line where the law is unclear or where our reading has not been confirmed, so please treat it with extra care. Exceptions, court rulings and the details of what happened can all change which time limit applies, and some of these may be longer or shorter for you than they look here. CHILD USA's statute of limitations tracker, updated as each state changes its law. A lawyer can tell you which time limit applies to you, and many offer a free first consultation.

The therapist's licensing board

Holds the individual clinician's licence and can suspend or revoke it.

Pennsylvania Bureau of Professional and Occupational Affairs (BPOA)

Multiple professions

Receives and processes every complaint against a state-licensed professional in Pennsylvania, including those under the State Board of Social Workers, Marriage and Family Therapists and Professional Counselors, and the State Board of Psychology. The Department's Bureau of Enforcement and Investigation does the investigating, and the boards discipline the licence.

Use this whenA licensed social worker, marriage and family therapist, professional counselor or psychologist in Pennsylvania. Any member of the public can file.

HowUse the Department of State's complaint form for a PA-licensed professional.

1-833-367-2762 1-833-DOS-BPOA.
File a complaint
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By postState Board of Social Workers, Marriage and Family Therapists and Professional Counselors, P.O. Box 2649, Harrisburg, PA 17105-2649

The agency that licenses the program

Inspects the facility itself and can cite, fine, suspend or close it.

Pennsylvania DHS, Office of Children, Youth and Families residential licensing

Licenses the private providers running residential and day treatment, secure care and transitional living settings for children in Pennsylvania, alongside county child welfare offices. It inspects them, and can impose a provisional licence or revoke one outright.

Use this whenA licensed children's residential or day treatment provider operating out of compliance.

HowFile through the Department's certification and licensing complaint form. Check the provider directory first: Pennsylvania publishes each facility's licensing status and its completed inspection reports.

The Department publishes a quarterly licensing report and an online provider directory carrying every licensed facility's status and inspection history.

Law enforcement and legal channels

Child protection, the Attorney General, and the criminal side.

Pennsylvania ChildLine

The statewide child protective services referral line. Trained specialists take both suspected abuse referrals and general child well-being concerns, and decide what happens next with each one.

Use this whenA child at a Pennsylvania program. You do not have to be sure it is abuse - ChildLine explicitly takes general well-being concerns too.

HowCall, at any hour. Mandated reporters have a separate electronic route; permissive reporters - anyone else - may report anonymously.

Pennsylvania distinguishes mandated reporters, who must report and have their own portal, from permissive reporters, who are encouraged to and may do so anonymously.

1-800-932-0313 24 hours a day, seven days a week. TDD 1-866-872-1677.
File a complaint
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Oversight and advocacy

Bodies with a right to investigate, and advocates who can act for you.

Disability Rights Pennsylvania

Pennsylvania's Protection and Advocacy agency, with federal authority to investigate abuse and neglect of people with disabilities in facilities, a right of access to them, and free legal advocacy.

Use this whenA Pennsylvania program where the young person has a disability or a mental health diagnosis.

HowContact the intake line.

1-800-692-7443 Main line 717-236-8110; TDD 717-346-0293.
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National reporting channels, and the same list for other states