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 who are the subject of emotional, sexual, and physical abuse or neglect. The Child Welfare Unit consists of two divisions:

• Litigation & Appeals
• Administration & Specialty Practice

The Litigation & Appeals Division is the largest division consisting of 35-40 attorneys that represent DHS in Family Court throughout the various phases of litigation. The 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.

The Administration & Specialty Practice Division is separated into three distinct sections.

• 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/Older Youth section is comprised of attorneys that represent DHS in dependency hearings in courtrooms that are specially designated to address:
  • Minor victims of sex trafficking who require specialized trauma-informed treatment in the least restrictive manner.
  • Youth who have committed delinquent acts but are also dependent.
  • Youth who will transition into adulthood.
• The Administration Appeals & Solicitor Review section 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.