Were TLC Employees Cleared As Legally Required by PA?

I was chilled by the testimony of the Kreiders at Rep Murt's child labor law hearings yesterday, detailing occasions when the Gosselin children were left alone with cameramen and other adults related to the production of J&K+8, in the woods, in the childrens' bedrooms and bathrooms, and other places in the normal course of daily filming.

Have all the adults who've worked with the Gosselin children gone through the legal clearances that are required when working with children in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania? These include the PA and federal criminal records and child abuse clearances that are required of all teachers, child care workers, and anyone whose work normally and regularly brings them into contact with children. I am a volunteer at a local agency that assists children in Berks County and even though I rarely actually come in contact with the children served by that agency, mine are regularly updated as required by law.

So much of yesterday's testimonies revealed the lack of privacy in the children's lives. All children should be given information that helps them stay safe regarding their personal boundaries, what is acceptable treatment toward them and what is not, and what to do & who to tell if anything inappropriate happens or if they feel uncomfortable or violated in any way.

The sexual abuse of children is epidemic in this country. How much higher is it in an industry that is primarily concerned with creating images and selling air space rather than the safety and well-being of the children?