If families and their children have concerns about what is happening in a residential facility, they have many resources and options to resolve those concerns. Still, the Commonwealth admits that it may be harder for families and children to receive a fair review of abuse from an investigation when the investigators may be colleagues of the accused offender. The responsible investigative agency, the Pennsylvania Department of Public Welfare, Office of Children, Youth and Families has recently hired an outside investigator to determine if cases of abuse filed by children and their families are being properly handled by authorities.

Here is a list of resources for families to contact about problems with residential facilities:

The PA ChildLine and Abuse Registry Intake Unit

ChildLine is available 24 hours a day to receive reports of suspected child abuse, including reports against staff at residential facilities.  This is the official government agency responsible for all abuse investigations. ChildLine contacts the local county Child Welfare agency who then conducts the evaluation.

Phone: 800-932-0313
Website: http://www.dpw.state.pa.us

External Youth Advocates

External Youth Advocates are provided through a contract with the Mental Health Association in Pennsylvania (MHAPA) and the state Department of Public Welfare. An External Youth Advocate is an independent advocate – not employed by the state – who provides assistance and support to youth placed in the state run juvenile justice facilities and their families.

Supported facilities are: Loysville, South Mountain, New Castle, Cresson, North Central and Youth Forestry Camps #2 & #3

The External Advocates visit all the Units, Centers and Camps each week to speak with youths who have concerns about their rights or the conditions of their stay. The External Advocates can also talk with families about similar concerns.

A Youth Advocate can:

  • Ensure the youth’s fundamental rights are protected while in the facility
  • Assist youth and their families with questions, concerns, complaints regarding the facilities and services
  • Assist youth in resolving issues
  • Assist youth in filing grievances
  • Work with youth and their families to ensure an individualized educational plan
  • Work with youth, family members and others to facilitate return to their home communities

Phone: 866-578-3659 (toll-free)
Email: externaladvocacy@mhapa.org

Disability Rights Network of PA

Disability Rights Network of Pennsylvania (DRN) is a statewide, non–profit corporation designated as the federally–mandated organization to advance and protect the civil rights of adults and children with disabilities. DRN has the right to investigate allegations of abuse for children with disabilities who are in residential facilities, including those visiting the facilities.

Contact DRN’s Intake Team to seek advice about disability rights, access to services, and neglect. The intake system is staffed by intake workers (who take basic information from callers), full-time intake advocates (who address advocacy issues), and full-time attorneys (who address legal advocacy issues).

Phone: 1-800-692-7443 [Voice], 1-877-375-7139 [TDD]
Website: http://drnpa.org/
Main email:  drnpa-hbg@drnpa.org
Abuse email: abuseintake@drnpa.org

Filing Grievances Through the State Government Process

When they are unable to resolve problems through discussions with staff of a residential facility, families and their children are able to file grievances. Each facility provides a process to file and resolve grievances. Families and their children can also contact local public agencies responsible for placement oversight and payment (Child Welfare, Juvenile Justice, Mental Health, Mental Retardation, HealthChoices Managed Care, and Education).

If families and their children are unable to resolve their concerns with facilities and/or local agencies, they can contact the Department of Public Welfare Regional Offices. These offices are responsible for licensing facilities and overseeing enforcement of PA Code Chapter 3800- Child Residential and Day Treatment Facilities Regulations.

Department of Public Welfare Regional Offices

  • Harrisburg Field Office
    Counties: Adams, Bedford, Blair, Cambria, Centre, Clinton, Columbia, Cumberland,Dauphin, Franklin, Fulton,  Huntingdon, Juniata, Lancaster, Lebanon, Lycoming, Mifflin, Montour, Northumberland, Perry, Snyder, Somerset, Union, York
    Phone: 717-772-7352
  • Pittsburgh Field Office
    Counties: Allegheny, Armstrong, Beaver, Butler, Cameron, Clarion, Clearfield, Crawford, Elk, Erie, Fayette, Forest, Greene, Indiana, Jefferson, Lawrence, McKean, Mercer, Potter, Venango, Warren, Washington, Westmoreland
    Phone: 412-565-5748
  • Philadelphia Field Office
    Counties: Bucks, Chester, Delaware, Montgomery, Philadelphia
    Phone: 610-313-5846
  • Scranton Field Office
    Counties: Berks, Bradford, Carbon, Lackawanna, Lehigh, Luzerne, Monroe, Northampton, Pike, Schuylkill, Sullivan, Susquehanna, Tioga, Wayne, Wyoming
    Phone: 570-963-4944