Half of child deaths left unreviewed in Pa. since 2020 as counties struggle with ‘unfunded mandate’

Over the past three years, nearly half of child deaths in Pennsylvania haven't been reviewed by local counties, who cite a lack of funding to comply with a 2008 state mandate. This troubling oversight highlights a significant gap in child protection and raises questions about the adequacy of resources allocated to these essential reviews. The struggle underscores broader issues in public funding and the challenges local governments face in meeting mandated responsibilities without sufficient support, potentially impacting child welfare outcomes statewide.