The Child Welfare Unit represents the Department of Human Services (DHS).  DHS is the child welfare agency responsible for providing safe and permanent solutions for children with at-risk behaviors or are the subject of emotional, sexual, and physical abuse or neglect. The Child Welfare Unit consists of three divisions:

• Adoptions & Domestic Relations Division
• Juvenile Justice Division
• Administrative Appeals & Solicitor Review Division

The Adoption and Domestic Relations Division is the largest division consisting of 35-40 attorneys that represent DHS in Family Court throughout the various phases of litigation.  The Adoptions and Domestic Relations Division is separated in two distinct sections:

• In the Domestic Relations section, attorneys litigate cases involving youth that are the subject of a dependency petition. These attorneys consult with DHS on the filing of a dependency petition as well as represent DHS during the shelter care, adjudicatory and review hearing phases of litigation. Their representation continues until termination of parental rights.
• In the Adoptions section attorneys litigate cases in review hearings where parents have already had their rights terminated and the youth are awaiting adoption.

The Juvenile Justice Division is comprised of attorneys that represent DHS in dependency hearings in courtrooms that are specially designated to address:

• Minor victims of sex trafficking that require specialized trauma-informed treatment in the least restrictive manner
• Youth who have committed delinquent acts but are also dependent.

The Administration Appeals & Solicitor Review Division is comprised of attorneys who appear before an Administrative Law Judge at the Pennsylvania Department of Human Services Bureau of Hearings and Appeals (BHA) on behalf of DHS in hearings that involve an appeal from an indicated child abuse report.