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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.

• Call to Report Child Abuse!!! - 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. Content Detail

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  Pennsylvania Department of Human Services

• 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. Read More

  By:

  Administrative Office of Pennsylvania Courts

• 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. Read More

  By:

  PA Courts

• Information and Brochures - Kid's Voice

  KidsVoice in Pittsburgh is recognized as a national model for multidisciplinary child advocacy. This is a link to information provided on the Kid's Voice website on a variety of issues relating to Juvenile and Child Advocacy, including local resources in Allegheny County. Content Detail

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  Kids Voice

• Juvenile Delinquency

  Information from the Erie County Bar Association on the legal issues concerning juvenile delinquency proceedings from the Erie County Bar Association. Content Detail

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  Erie County Bar Association

• Juvenile Dependency (CYS)

  Information on how and why custody of a child may be taken by Children and Youth Services and your legal rights when a child is taken by the agency. Content Detail

  By:

  Southwestern Pennsylvania Legal Services, Inc.

• Know Your Rights: Extended Foster Care and Re-entry In PA

  This brochure 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. [PDF] Content Detail

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  Juvenile Law Center

• What is Delinquency?

  Information from Southwestern Pennsylvania Legal Services, Inc. on what constitutes a "Delinquent Child." Content Detail

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  Southwestern Pennsylvania Legal Services, Inc.

• Know Your Rights - A Brochure for Youth in Foster Care in Pennsylvania

  This brochure from Kid's Voice describes the right of youth in the Child Welfare System. [PDF] Content Detail

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  Kids Voice

• Know Your Rights: A Guide for Youth in Substitute Care

  This guide from the Juvenile Law Center & Kids Voice is for dependent youth in out-of-home care in Pennsylvania. Youth in care have all the same wants, needs, and hopes for the future that all youth have. If you are a youth in care you have rights to assistance and protection. This guide will provide you with information about your rights while you are in care. This guide will offer suggestions for how you can prepare to leave the system and meet your goals as a successful, happy, healthy, and productive adult. [PDF] Content Detail

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  Juvenile Law Center & Kid's Voice

• 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] Content Detail

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  Juvenile Court Project of the Allegheny County Bar Foundation

• 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. [PDF] Read More

  By:

  Juvenile Law Center

• 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. Content Detail

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  Child Welfare Information Gateway

• 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. Content Detail

  By:

  Child Welfare Information Gateway

  Read this in:

  Spanish / Español

• Community Legal Services’ Family Advocacy Hotline: Free Advice for Parents Involved with the Child Welfare System

  The Family Advocacy Hotline offers confidential information, advice and referrals for parents involved with the Philadelphia DHS (Department of Human Services) or receiving services from a Community Umbrella Agency (CUA). Read More

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  Community Legal Services of Philadelphia