PA advocates urge state to focus on child abuse prevention

(Harrisburg) -- A new report by a children's advocacy group says that as Pennsylvania works to improve its handling of child abuse complaints, it must also guard against any inadvertent weakening of efforts to prevent neglect and abuse in the first place. 

The Pennsylvania Partnerships for Children is releasing its annual ``State of Child Welfare'' report today.

The group notes that Pennsylvania is working to strengthen its child abuse reporting system in the wake of the Jerry Sandusky molestation scandal at Penn State. But it cautions that a ``higher volume of abuse reports'' that may come with tougher reporting rules would not necessarily mean the state is doing a better job of protecting children.

It says the state must keep programs that work to prevent abuse.