Juveniles: Child Abuse and Neglect, Foster Care, Dependency and Delinquency
Legal Information
This section of PALawHelp.org has information and resources about Juveniles, including Child Abuse and Neglect; Foster Care; Dependency; and Delinquency issues in Pennsylvania.
Click on a resource category listed below to see information related to that category.
Definitions of Child Abuse & Neglect
Resources from the Child Welfare Information Gateway about child maltreatment, including definitions, signs and symptoms, statistics and prevalence, types of child abuse and neglect, risk and protective factors, the impact on individuals and society, and child fatalities.
Dependency
Dependency Chapter of the Family Law Handbook published by North Penn Legal Services. Dependency is the process by which a county agency steps in to take care and control of a child when a parent cannot or will not take care of a child. (2021)
Dependency and Related Services in Allegheny County
Information on Dependency and Related Services in the Allegheny County Court of Common Pleas, Family Division, including Dependency and related services; Dependency and foster care; Permanent legal custodianship and independent living; and Termination of parental rights and adoption.
Family Law Handbook
This handbook provides useful information about common Family Law issues. If you need Family Law help, this handbook has good suggestions about some of the most common areas of Family Law. This handbook also gives answers to commonly asked questions. (2021)
Juvenile Dependency Proceedings: A Fact Sheet for Parents with Mental Illness
Juvenile dependency proceedings may -- but often do not -- result in the parents’ loss of custody and, in some cases, the permanent termination of parental rights. This Fact Sheet is designed to give parents with mental illness some basic information about juvenile dependency proceedings and their rights in those proceedings. At the end of the Fact Sheet is a glossary of common terms used in juvenile dependency cases.
Megan's Law/Sex Offender Registration
Pennsylvania's Megan's Law requires the State Police to create and maintain a registry of persons who reside, or is transient, work/carry on a vocation, or attend school in the Commonwealth and who have either been convicted of, entered a plea of guilty to, or have been adjudicated delinquent of Certain Sexual Offenses in Pennsylvania or another jurisdiction.
Call to Report Child Abuse or Neglect! - ChildLine and Abuse Registry
Reporting Child Abuse - Call 800-932-0313 The ChildLine and Abuse Registry Intake Unit is available 24 hours to receive reports of suspected child abuse. Each call is answered by a trained intake specialist who will interview the caller to determine the most appropriate course of action.
Call to Report Child Abuse or Neglect! - ChildLine and Abuse Registry
Reporting Child Abuse - Call 800-932-0313 The ChildLine and Abuse Registry Intake Unit is available 24 hours to receive reports of suspected child abuse. Each call is answered by a trained intake specialist who will interview the caller to determine the most appropriate course of action.
Definitions of Child Abuse & Neglect
Resources from the Child Welfare Information Gateway about child maltreatment, including definitions, signs and symptoms, statistics and prevalence, types of child abuse and neglect, risk and protective factors, the impact on individuals and society, and child fatalities.
Family Law Handbook
This handbook provides useful information about common Family Law issues. If you need Family Law help, this handbook has good suggestions about some of the most common areas of Family Law. This handbook also gives answers to commonly asked questions. (2021)
Parent’s Guide to Understanding the Pennsylvania Dependency Process (Video)
This is a comprehensive video from the Pennsylvania Courts for parents whose children have been removed from their care or are under supervision of dependency court. The goals of the video are to help parents learn what to expect in the courtroom, how to prepare for court, how to work with their caseworkers and attorney, what rights they’re entitled to and good questions to ask. (2016)
Understanding Kinship Foster Care (Video)
This video has been produced by the Pennsylvania Courts to help potential kinship providers learn about and understand kinship foster care, navigate the dependency court system and take the necessary steps to become a kinship parent. (2015)
A Parent's Guide to Juvenile Court
This booklet is written to help participants in the Juvenile Court Project of the Allegheny Bar Foundation understand their rights in the Juvenile Court Dependency and Termination of Parental Rights process. This guide also provides information about the client's responsibilities and the responsibilities of the attorney. [PDF]
Juvenile Dependency (CYS)
This provides information from Summit Legal Aid on your legal rights when custody of a child is taken by Children and Youth Services. The only way that CYS can take your children without your consent is with a court order that finds that your children are “dependent”. Juvenile dependency cases occur where there is evidence of an unfit home environment for children. The primary objective in these cases is to always protect the children. This page explains what makes a child "dependent" and the court process involving dependent children.
Parent’s Guide to Understanding the Pennsylvania Dependency Process (Video)
This is a comprehensive video from the Pennsylvania Courts for parents whose children have been removed from their care or are under supervision of dependency court. The goals of the video are to help parents learn what to expect in the courtroom, how to prepare for court, how to work with their caseworkers and attorney, what rights they’re entitled to and good questions to ask. (2016)
Dependency
Dependency Chapter of the Family Law Handbook published by North Penn Legal Services. Dependency is the process by which a county agency steps in to take care and control of a child when a parent cannot or will not take care of a child. (2021)
Family Law Handbook
This handbook provides useful information about common Family Law issues. If you need Family Law help, this handbook has good suggestions about some of the most common areas of Family Law. This handbook also gives answers to commonly asked questions. (2021)
Juvenile Dependency (CYS)
This provides information from Summit Legal Aid on your legal rights when custody of a child is taken by Children and Youth Services. The only way that CYS can take your children without your consent is with a court order that finds that your children are “dependent”. Juvenile dependency cases occur where there is evidence of an unfit home environment for children. The primary objective in these cases is to always protect the children. This page explains what makes a child "dependent" and the court process involving dependent children.
A Parent's Guide to Juvenile Court
This booklet is written to help participants in the Juvenile Court Project of the Allegheny Bar Foundation understand their rights in the Juvenile Court Dependency and Termination of Parental Rights process. This guide also provides information about the client's responsibilities and the responsibilities of the attorney. [PDF]
Child Abuse and the Law
This manual from the Juvenile Law Center familiarizes the professional and the lay reader with Pennsylvania’s child abuse and neglect laws and regulations. The aim of this publication is to clarify the role of the various laws and regulations in issue and to clarify the complicated process of state intervention in the family. (2007)
Know Your Rights: Extended Foster Care and Re-entry In PA
This information from the Juvenile Law Center describes the rights of juveniles in extended foster care and how to re-enter care after you are discharged from foster care.
Call to Report Child Abuse or Neglect! - ChildLine and Abuse Registry
Reporting Child Abuse - Call 800-932-0313 The ChildLine and Abuse Registry Intake Unit is available 24 hours to receive reports of suspected child abuse. Each call is answered by a trained intake specialist who will interview the caller to determine the most appropriate course of action.
Child Welfare Information Gateway
The Child Welfare Information Gateway connects professionals and concerned citizens to timely, essential information and resources targeted to the safety, permanency, and well-being of children and families.
Definitions of Child Abuse & Neglect
Resources from the Child Welfare Information Gateway about child maltreatment, including definitions, signs and symptoms, statistics and prevalence, types of child abuse and neglect, risk and protective factors, the impact on individuals and society, and child fatalities.
Megan's Law/Sex Offender Registration
Pennsylvania's Megan's Law requires the State Police to create and maintain a registry of persons who reside, or is transient, work/carry on a vocation, or attend school in the Commonwealth and who have either been convicted of, entered a plea of guilty to, or have been adjudicated delinquent of Certain Sexual Offenses in Pennsylvania or another jurisdiction.
Parent’s Guide to Understanding the Pennsylvania Dependency Process (Video)
This is a comprehensive video from the Pennsylvania Courts for parents whose children have been removed from their care or are under supervision of dependency court. The goals of the video are to help parents learn what to expect in the courtroom, how to prepare for court, how to work with their caseworkers and attorney, what rights they’re entitled to and good questions to ask. (2016)
State, Territory, and Tribal Resources - Child Welfare Information Gateway
Child welfare information and laws vary from State to State. This directory provides contact information for foster care and adoption agencies, support groups, training associations, youth organizations, State offices, and State-sponsored information lines. Links to websites and agency-specific details are also provided, if available.
Understanding Kinship Foster Care (Video)
This video has been produced by the Pennsylvania Courts to help potential kinship providers learn about and understand kinship foster care, navigate the dependency court system and take the necessary steps to become a kinship parent. (2015)
What Is Child Abuse? (Dauphin County)
Description of child abuse and information on how to report child abuse in Dauphin County from Dauphin County District Attorney.
Juvenile Dependency Proceedings: A Fact Sheet for Parents with Mental Illness
Juvenile dependency proceedings may -- but often do not -- result in the parents’ loss of custody and, in some cases, the permanent termination of parental rights. This Fact Sheet is designed to give parents with mental illness some basic information about juvenile dependency proceedings and their rights in those proceedings. At the end of the Fact Sheet is a glossary of common terms used in juvenile dependency cases.
Allegheny County Court Family Division - Frequently Asked Questions
The Family Division of the Allegheny County Court of Common Pleas offers answers to many Frequently Asked Questions in the area of Custody; Dependency & Related Services; Divorce; Juvenile Delinquency and Probation; Paternity; Protection From Abuse (PFA); and Support.
Dependency and Related Services in Allegheny County
Information on Dependency and Related Services in the Allegheny County Court of Common Pleas, Family Division, including Dependency and related services; Dependency and foster care; Permanent legal custodianship and independent living; and Termination of parental rights and adoption.
What Is Child Abuse? (Dauphin County)
Description of child abuse and information on how to report child abuse in Dauphin County from Dauphin County District Attorney.
York County: Court Forms
The Court Forms section of the York County Court of Common Pleas offers popular forms provided by various Court and Court-related departments.