Children & Youth Services

For questions regarding Children and Youth Service, or if you have questions and/or concerns regarding your specific case, please call 717-263-1900.

If you wish to report child abuse or neglect, please call the Pennsylvania Child Abuse Hotline at 1-800-932-0313.

Program Description

The Franklin County Children and Youth Service (FCCYS) 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 years. Anyone can contact the agency at anytime to make allegations of maltreatment or neglect or to request agency assistance.

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 well-being 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

Issues Addressed

Physical abuse
Sexual abuse
Emotional abuse
Imminent Risk of abuse
Neglect
Truancy
Runaway behavior
Incorrigible behavior
Parent-Child conflict

Services Provided

Information and referral
Courtesy services for other child welfare agencies
Screening
Mediation and brief intervention
Safety and risk assessment
Investigation
Parent and life skill training
In- home protective services
Case management and collaboration
Family service planning
Placement services
Reunification planning
Permanency planning
Adoption

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. 

Please call if you have concerns for the safety of a child or need assistance.

Franklin County Children and Youth Service complies with applicable Federal civil rights laws and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national orgin, age, disability, or sex.