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Department of Human Services

Working together with communities to support families and protect children.

Department of Human Services

Notice: The Department of Human Services is working to support Philadelphia’s children and families during COVID-19. View our updated policies, guidance, and resources.

What we do

Philadelphia’s Department of Human Services is the county child welfare and juvenile justice agency and is overseen by the Office of Children and Families. Our mission is to provide and promote safety, permanency, and well-being for children and youth at risk of abuse, neglect, and delinquency. Our main service areas include:

  • Prevention. We work with families to safely care for children in their own home to reduce child abuse and neglect.
  • Child Welfare. We operate Philadelphia’s child abuse hotline, investigate allegations of child abuse and neglect, and help children involved with DHS achieve a permanent home. We manage the private organizations (Community Umbrella Agencies) that provide case management and other support services in 10 geographic regions throughout Philadelphia.
  • Foster and Adoption. We contract with state-licensed agencies who certify homes as placements for children and youth who are not safe in their own homes. The goal of foster care is to reunite children with their families. When this is not possible, as determined by the courts, many resource parents choose to adopt the children who are in their care. Find out how to become a foster parent and how to adopt a child.
  • Juvenile Justice. We operate the county’s juvenile detention facility, manage contracts for court-ordered youth programs, and work to divert youth from the formal justice system through intensive prevention services.

Connect

Address
1515 Arch St.
Philadelphia, PA 19102
Email dhscommunications@phila.gov
Phone: (215) 683-4347 for information
(215) 683-6000 for complaints
Social

Announcements

We hire year round!

The Philadelphia Department of Human Services is committed to supporting the placement stability of children and youth in the foster care and the juvenile justice systems. As part of this commitment, DHS regularly releases job announcements on the main phila.gov/jobs webpage to support our hiring efforts. Please either apply for an open position or sign up for job alerts. Please share these announcements with your networks.

You can also review this jobs booklet to learn more about working at DHS.

Class Code Class Title Starting Salary Application Link
5A05 Social Work Services Trainee (General) (Bilingual) $44,467 Apply now.
5A07 Social Work Services Manager 2 (General) (Bilingual) $58,316 Apply now.
5B21 Juvenile Detention Counselor Trainee (General) $47,319 Sign up for job alerts.
5B23 Juvenile Detention Counselor 2 (General) $52,898 Sign up for job alerts.

 

Events

  • Mar
    18
    The Power of A Woman's Voice
    11:00 am to 1:00 pm
    3901 Market St, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA

    The Power of A Woman's Voice

    March 18, 2024
    11:00 am to 1:00 pm, 2 hours
    3901 Market St, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA
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    In person - STAFF ONLY
  • Mar
    18
    CUA 6&7 In-person Parent Café: Spring Into Success
    11:00 am to 2:00 pm
    287 E Ashmead St, Philadelphia, PA 19144, USA

    CUA 6&7 In-person Parent Café: Spring Into Success

    March 18, 2024
    11:00 am to 2:00 pm, 3 hours
    287 E Ashmead St, Philadelphia, PA 19144, USA
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    Protective Factors: Resilience & Communication Jasmine 267-443-0056 Syanne 267-479-5917 Robin 267-372-9805 Shanae 267-838-7075
  • Mar
    19
    CUA 2 In-Person Staff Cafe "You are not just a..."
    11:00 am to 1:00 pm
    1900 N 9th St, Philadelphia, PA 19122, USA

    CUA 2 In-Person Staff Cafe "You are not just a..."

    March 19, 2024
    11:00 am to 1:00 pm, 2 hours
    1900 N 9th St, Philadelphia, PA 19122, USA
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    This parent cafe will focus on Resilience and Social Emotional Competence of Children.

    Registration: yaneirie.rondon@apmphila.org, samary.malave@apmphila.org

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