Pennsylvania § 6384 - Training and education requirement.

§ 6384. Training and education requirement.

(a) Facility staff training.--Beginning December 31, 2025, the facility shall provide or arrange a training program for staff who have contact with a pregnant, laboring or postpartum child. The training program shall be related to the physical and mental health of the pregnant or postpartum child and unborn baby, including:

(1) The general care of a pregnant child.

(2) The impact of restraints on a pregnant child and unborn baby.

(3) The impact of being placed in exclusion on a pregnant child.

(4) The impact of invasive searches on a pregnant child.

(5) Any other pertinent information the department finds appropriate or necessary.

(b) Facility staff training exceptions.--If the facility prohibits the placement of a pregnant child as a matter of policy, the facility may submit a written exemption reporting that there is no risk of staff interacting with a pregnant child housed in the facility. The following apply:

(1) The exemption under this subsection shall apply only to the facility, not the individual staff of the facility.

(2) All facility staff that come in contact with a pregnant child shall complete the training under this section.

(3) If facility staff work at more than one institution, the staff must receive the required training at the nonexempt facility.

(c) Education programming for pregnant child.--Beginning December 31, 2025, the facility shall provide or arrange educational programming for a pregnant or postpartum child. The educational programming shall be related to:

(1) Medical screenings related to reproductive and overall health, including preventive screenings.

(2) Prenatal care.

(3) Pregnancy-specific hygiene.

(4) The impact of alcohol and drugs on the unborn baby.

(5) General health of the unborn baby.

(6) Any other pertinent information the department finds appropriate or necessary.

(d) Trauma-informed approach.--

(1) The individual in charge of a facility shall, as necessary, ensure that the facility provides a quality trauma-informed approach to a child.

(2) A trauma-informed approach for a child shall begin immediately upon the child's intake and assessment at a facility.

(3) Beginning December 31, 2025, facility staff shall receive no fewer than four hours of professional training related to trauma-informed approach, which shall include the following:

(i) Training to identify a child with trauma.

(ii) Training on how and when to refer a child to the proper health care professionals, including preventive health care and mental health care.

(iii) Training on how to interact with and empower a child who has experienced trauma.