FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
October 7, 2021
Wolf Administration Announces
Federal Funding to Strengthen Family Supports in Child Welfare System
Department also releases annual child abuse report
Harrisburg, PA – The Wolf Administration today
announced Pennsylvania’s full implementation of the Family First Prevention
Services Act, prioritizing providing services to children and families in the
least restrictive manner and with their families as much as safely possible.
“The
Family First Prevention Services Act dovetails with longtime goals of both the
Wolf Administration and our county-level partners across Pennsylvania. The
implementation of our plan will enhance the impact of work we were already
doing to strengthen families and keep children safe with their families, in
their homes, whenever and however possible,” said DHS Acting Secretary Meg
Snead.
The
Family First Prevention Services Act give states the option of using federal
funds to administer their child welfare systems differently – and for the first
time to utilize federal funding that supports certain evidence-based mental
health prevention and treatment, substance use prevention and treatment, and
in-home parenting skill-based programs that are delivered to eligible children,
youth, and families to help prevent the placement of a child into out-of-home
care. In the event placement outside the home occurs, the law directs federal
funding toward family-like settings or other specialized settings that are best
suited to a child’s individual needs.
Considerable
progress has been made in recent years to improve outcomes for children in
foster care and their families. For example, there has been a steady increase
in the percentage of children in foster care who are placed in kinship care
with family. As of April 2021, 44 percent of children in foster care were
placed with relatives – compared to 31.5 percent in 2015.
Pennsylvania
has also steadily decreased its use of congregate settings – such as
institutions or group homes – in Pennsylvania’s foster care system. In 2015,
17.1 percent of Pennsylvania children in foster care were in congregate
settings. By 2019, that dropped to 12.7 percent. The overall number of children
entering foster care is also on the decline. Between 2019 and 2020, 2,797 fewer
children entered foster care. Currently, there are about 14,000 children in
foster care in Pennsylvania.
2020 Child Abuse Report
In
strengthening the child welfare system through a greater focus on prevention
and use of evidence-based programs and services, Pennsylvania aims to reduce
instances of child abuse and neglect. This week, DHS released the 2020 annual Child
Protective Services Report, which includes statewide and
county-level data relevant to the child welfare system in the previous year.
The total
number of Child Protective Services (CPS) reports received dropped about 22
percent between 2019 and 2020. CPS reports are reports of incidents that meet
the definition of child abuse contained in the Child Protective Services
Law. While
the total number of CPS reports fell significantly, the total number of substantiated
reports fell slightly -- from 4,865 in 2019 to 4,593 in 2020. These are the CPS
reports that – after investigation – indicated that child abuse had in fact
occurred.
In terms of
overall sources of the reports from 2019 to 2020, Pennsylvania saw a
predictable drop in reports from school employees -- from 12,990 in 2019 to
5,780 in 2020. However, reports from permissive reporters – those who, by law,
do not have to report suspected child abuse -- remained at almost the exact
same level as 2019.
Sadly,
Pennsylvania saw significant increases in both child fatalities and child near
fatalities substantiated as the result of child abuse between 2019 and 2020. In
2019, 51 children died and 93 children nearly died as the result of child
abuse. In 2020, 73 children died and 115 children nearly died as a result of
child abuse.
“Pennsylvania’s
child welfare system did not stop or slow down at any time during 2020.
ChildLine remained fully operational. County and DHS caseworkers continued
investigating reports. Families continued receiving services they needed,”
Acting Secretary Snead said. “In all of Pennsylvania’s 67 counties, child
welfare workers as well as mandated and permissive reporters adapted to a
changed world so families could continue to receive support and children can
grow up safely and cared for. The value of their work is immeasurable, and I
want to say thank you on behalf of the Wolf Administration and the
commonwealth.”
To learn more
about Family First and how to report potential child abuse or neglect, visit www.keepkidssafe.pa.gov.
MEDIA CONTACT: Erin James, ra-pwdhspressoffice@pa.gov
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