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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’re hiring Juvenile Detention Counselors and Social Workers!

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 has released and will release several job announcements on the main phila.gov/jobs webpage to support our hiring efforts. Please share these announcements with your networks.

Class Code Class Title Open Close Starting Salary Application Link
5A05 Social Work Services Trainee (B) PERIODIC 4/17/2023 4/28/2023 $ 43,067 Application link opens on April 17.
5A07 Social Work Services Manager 2 (B) PERIODIC 4/17/2023 4/28/2023 $ 56,480  Application link opens on April 17.
5B21 Juvenile Detention Counselor Trainee (General) 6/26/2023 7/7/2023 $ 45,830 Application link opens on June 26.
5B23 Juvenile Detention Counselor 2 6/26/2023 7/7/2023 $ 51,233 Application link opens on June 26.

 

We’re hiring a Resource Home Recruitment Specialist!

The Philadelphia Department of Human Services is committed to supporting the placement stability of children and youth in foster care. 

As part of this commitment, DHS has released the Resource Home Recruitment Specialist job announcement to support our hiring efforts. All the details of this announcement can be found here.

Please share this announcement with your networks.

Events

  • Mar
    29
    Parenting group for parents who have children in placement
    1:00 pm to 3:00 pm
    Virtual through Webex

    Parenting group for parents who have children in placement

    March 29, 2023
    1:00 pm to 3:00 pm, 2 hours
    Virtual through Webex
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    How to Refer: Submit an ARC Referral through the IRSS database on DHS Central/Connect or have the parent phone-in to ARC, 267-514-3500, Monday – Friday 9:00 – 5:00. An intake will be completed for the parent to enroll in ARC/PAN services.

    Facilitators:  Andrew Williams, andrew.williams@phila.gov and Renee Durham, renee.durham@phila.gov

    Group Description: An intensive 12-week or more education and support group for parents who have children in out-of-home placement. This group focuses on empowering parents to take control of the process to retain custody of their children. This involves an understanding and acceptance of responsibility on the part of parents for their parental actions, past and present as well as strengthening the partnership between placement parents and their DHS SWSM and/or CUA case manager. A safe and supportive environment encourages self-exploration and reflection.

  • Mar
    29
    Help Us Understand “Why NOT Pre-K and Kindergarten enrollment?”
    4:00 pm to 5:30 pm
    2701 N Broad St, Philadelphia, PA 19132, USA

    Help Us Understand “Why NOT Pre-K and Kindergarten enrollment?”

    March 29, 2023
    4:00 pm to 5:30 pm, 2 hours
    2701 N Broad St, Philadelphia, PA 19132, USA
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    Help UsUnderstand “Why NOT Pre-K and Kindergarten enrollment?”


    Thegoal of this event is to provide guidance and get feedback on why families inthe 19140 and 19132 zipcode have not registered their child for Pre-school andKindergarten programs in the community.  

    > In-Person Community Listening Session

    March 29, 2023 from4:00pm to 5:30pm

    NET CommunityCare 

    2701 N. Broad Street,Philadelphia, PA 19140

     

    > Virtual Option

    March 29, 2023 from4:00pm to 5:30pm

    Meeting ID: 852 86031411

    Passcode: 847971

  • Mar
    30
    SF Event "Men's Health Day" CUA 9
    10:00 am to 4:00 pm
    PHMC Health Center on Cedar, 501 S 54th St, Philadelphia, PA 19143, USA

    SF Event "Men's Health Day" CUA 9

    March 30, 2023
    10:00 am to 4:00 pm, 6 hours
    PHMC Health Center on Cedar, 501 S 54th St, Philadelphia, PA 19143, USA
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     Public Health Management Corporation will be distributing FREE SUITS and providing men’s health programs and resources to West and Southwest Philadelphia. PHMC’s Workforce Development is offering career counseling, resume-building and professional development workshops. Protective Factors: Concrete supports and resilience.

    Registration link: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/mens-health-day-tickets-535921564827

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