Children and Youth Services

Overview

The Franklin County Children and Youth Service is the local public child welfare agency responsible for assuring the safety and well being of dependent and abused children from birth to age 18.

The Franklin County Children and Youth Service is the local public child welfare agency responsible for assuring the safety and wellbeing of dependent and abused children from birth to age 18 years. Anyone can contact the agency at any time to make allegations of maltreatment or neglect or to request agency assistance.

Mission Statement

To protect children, preserve families and ensure that every child has a permanent home.

To report child abuse or neglect, call the Pennsylvania Child Abuse Hotline: 1-800-932-0313

During normal business hours, there is always a caseworker available to discuss referrals and to initiate Children and Youth response. Emergency services are available after traditional county business hours by contacting the on-call caseworker via County Control. Allegations will be reviewed and an appropriate assessment/intervention plan will be made to assure the child’s safety and to determine what additional services may be needed.

Jurisdiction is limited to incidents that occur in Franklin County or when there is a request for a courtesy service from another child welfare agency. The parent, parent’s paramour, person responsible for the child’s care, or a member of the child’s household must be the person (perpetrator) causing the harm or risk of harm to a child in order for Children and Youth to have jurisdiction in a case.

In other situations, the police may have sole jurisdiction. To substantiate child welfare concerns, the agency must be able to determine that the action or non-action of the perpetrator causes an adverse effect on the child’s wellbeing or safety. Adolescent services address behaviors of teens that place them at risk of harm, in violation of the school code, or in conflict with their family.

It is always the agency’s first goal to assure the safety of children in their own homes, to work with the family to build strengths and to minimize risk. We employ the least restrictive intervention necessary to assure safety. We attempt to engage extended family and community supports. Our services are confidential and are applied with respect for all parties involved.