Social Services Group

The Social Services Group consists of two units.

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Child Welfare Unit

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

Litigation & Appeals Division

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 Policy & Special Projects section of the Division provides legal counsel to Philadelphia’s Office of Children and Families (OCF) and Department of Human Services (DHS) on various matters utilizing exceptional legal analysis, critical thinking, strategic planning, and advice. Attorneys in this section play an essential role in supporting OCF’s work, coordinating legal advice on a large portfolio of complex policy projects, and delivering high-quality work on time.

Administration & Specialty Practice Division

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.

Leadership

Karen Fortune, (she/her/hers)

Chief Deputy City Solicitor

(215) 832-2102

karen.fortune@phila.gov

Karen Fortune manages the administration of the Child Welfare Unit (CWU) and supervises the Specialty Practice Groups, which include the Adoptions, Older Youth, and Bureau of Hearings and Appeals teams. Karen is a graduate of Wesleyan University and attended the University of California at Berkeley Law School. She was a big firm litigator in San Francisco and on Wall Street before moving to Philadelphia and joining the Law Department in 1993. She began her career in the Law Department in the Commercial Litigation Unit before leaving to join the legal department at the Philadelphia Housing Authority. She then spent many years as in-house counsel at CIGNA Corporation. After CIGNA, Karen took some time off from the profession to spend more time with her daughter, who became a nationally ranked Division I basketball player. She taught as an adjunct professor at the Community College of Philadelphia while also working in a small law firm doing custody, support, divorce, and dependency work before coming back to the Law Department in 2016 when she joined the CWU.

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Jon Houlon

Chief Deputy City Solicitor

(215) 683-5138

jonathan.houlon@phila.gov

Jonathan Houlon is a 1995 graduate of the University of Pennsylvania Law School. He has practiced in the Child Welfare Unit of the Law Department since 1996 and, in this capacity, has represented the Philadelphia Department of Human Services (DHS) in its mission to protect abused and neglected children. Jon began as an Assistant City Solicitor and then graduated to Deputy and eventually Chief of the CWU, a position he currently shares with Karen Fortune. He oversees the Litigation & Appeals Division of the CWU.

Jon has been recognized by Philadelphia HIAS for his work on immigration matters involving DHS youth and has also served as DHS’ representative on the Administrative Offices of the Pennsylvania Courts’ Older Youth Committee. In addition to his accomplishments in the legal profession, Jon has released 12 albums of his original compositions with his bands, John Train and The Donuts. With these combos, he has toured the world and elsewhere.

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Name	Job title	Email	Phone #
Robert Aversa	Senior Attorney Child Welfare Unit	Robert.Aversa@phila.gov	(215) 683-5020
Emauel Awuta-Coker, (he/him)	Deputy City Solicitor Child Welfare Unit	emanuel.awuta-coker@phila.gov
Jeffrey Azzarano	Deputy City Solicitor Child Welfare Unit	jeffrey.azzarano@phila.gov	(215) 683-9045
Jeri Behrman	Senior Attorney Child Welfare Unit	Jeri.Behrman@phila.gov	(215) 683-5128
Laura Bonnington	Legal Assistant Supervisor Child Welfare Unit	Laura.Bonnington@phila.gov	(215) 683-5153
Sophia Botero	LSI Child Welfare Unit	sofia.botero@phila.gov	(215) 683-5224
Michael Brenner	Senior Legal Assistant Child Welfare Unit	Michael.Brenner@phila.gov	(215) 683-5284
Angela Bright	Legal Assistant Supervisor Child Welfare Unit	Angela.Bright@phila.gov	(215) 683-5161
Sharleetha Brown	Data Services Support Clerk Child Welfare Unit	sharleetha.brown@phila.gov	(215) 686-5136
Lisa Bryant -Nelson	Legal Assistant Supervisor Child Welfare Unit	Lisa.Bryant-Nelson@Phila.gov	(215) 683-5158
Jean Carn-Wolfe	Divisional Deputy City Solicitor Child Welfare Unit	Jean.Carn-Wolfe@Phila.gov	(215) 683-5208
Trish Carroll, (she/her)	Senior Legal Assistant Child Welfare Unit	trish.carroll@phila.gov	(215) 683-5177
Emily Clauna, (she/her/hers)	Assistant City Solicitor Child Welfare Unit	emily.clauna@phila.gov	(215) 683-8455
Jacqueline Coelho	Senior Attorney Child Welfare Unit	jacqueline.coelho@phila.gov	(215) 683-5120
Thomas Cola	Office Manager Child Welfare Unit	thomas.cola@phila.gov	(215) 683-5156
Shelby Collier, (she/her/hers)	Deputy City Solicitor Child Welfare Unit	shelby.collier@phila.gov	(215) 683-5174
Rosalind Crews	Legal Assistant Child Welfare Unit	Rosalind.Crews@phila.gov	(215) 683-5195
Anne Cunningham, (she/her/hers)	Deputy City Solicitor Child Welfare Unit	anne.cunningham@phila.gov	(215) 683-5425
Lisa M. DeStefano, (she/her/they/them)	Office Clerk Child Welfare Unit	lisa.destefano@phila.gov	(215) 683-4775
Emma Dickson	LSI Child Welfare Unit	emma.dickson@phila.gov	(215) 683-0017
Tara Doherty, (she/her)	Assistant City Solicitor Child Welfare Unit	tara.doherty@phila.gov	(215) 307-6177
Ensume Dunor	LSI Child Welfare Unit	Ensume.A.Dunor@phila.gov	(215) 683-2999
Lakeisha Fields	Senior Attorney Child Welfare Unit	lakeisha.fields@phila.gov	(215) 683-5287
Paola Figueroa	Deputy City Solicitor Child Welfare Unit	paola.figueroa@phila.gov	(215) 683-8457
Patricia Fingeroff	Senior Legal Assistant Child Welfare Unit	Patricia.Fingeroff@phila.gov	(215) 683-5165
Patrick Gallagher, (he/him/his)	Legal Assistant Child Welfare Unit	patrick.gallagher@phila.gov	(215) 683-5221
John Gambescia	Senior Attorney Child Welfare Unit	John.Gambescia@phila.gov	(215) 683-5214
Luisa Garcia	Deputy City Solicitor Child Welfare Unit	luisa.garcia@phila.gov	(215) 686-5188
Celena Gentry, (she/her/hers)	Assistant City Solicitor Child Welfare Unit	celena.gentry@phila.gov	(215) 683-3569
Jasroop Gill-Gakhal	Senior Attorney Child Welfare Unit	jasroop.gill-gakhal@phila.gov	(215) 832-2101
Whitney Golden, (she/her)	Deputy City Solicitor Child Welfare Unit	whitney.golden@phila.gov	(215) 683-5215
Daniel G. Gordon	Assistant City Solicitor Child Welfare Unit	daniel.g.gordon@phila.gov	(215) 683-8457
Danielle Guiteras	Deputy City Solicitor Child Welfare Unit	danielle.guiteras@phila.gov	(215) 683-5187
A. Bennette Harrison, (she/her/hers)	Divisional Deputy City Solicitor Child Welfare Unit	A.Bennette.Harrison@phila.gov	(215) 683-5149
Rashann Henry, (he/him/his)	Legal Assistant Child Welfare Unit	rashann.henry@phila.gov	(215) 683-5152
Eleanor Holzman, (she/her)	Assistant City Solicitor Child Welfare Unit	eleanor.holzman@phila.gov	(215) 683-5123
Michael Joyce	Senior Attorney Child Welfare Unit	Michael.Joyce@phila.gov	(215) 683-5090
Antonia Karasavas	LSI Child Welfare Unit	antonia.karasavas@phila.gov	(215) 683-8453
Kathleen Kim, (she/her/hers)	Senior Attorney Child Welfare Unit	Kathleen.Kim@Phila.gov	(215) 683-5143
Daria Kowalski	LSI Child Welfare Unit	daria.kowalski@phila.gov	(215) 683-3587
Sarah Kuethe	Deputy City Solicitor Child Welfare Unit	sarah.kuethe@phila.gov
Nailah Levy	LSI Coordinator Child Welfare Unit	nailah.levy@phila.gov	(215) 683-5256
Joseph Lewis	LSI Child Welfare Unit	joseph.lewis@phila.gov	(215) 683-5253
Emerlyn Lloyd	LSI Child Welfare Unit	emerlyn.lloyd@phila.gov	(215) 683-5150
Emma J Maley, (she/her/hers)	Legal Assistant Child Welfare Unit	emma.maley@phila.gov	(215) 683-5006
Erin Maloney	Deputy City Solicitor Child Welfare Unit	Erin.M.Maloney@phila.gov	(215) 683-0369
Dana Masciantonio	Deputy City Solicitor Child Welfare Unit	dana.masciantonio@phila.gov	(215) 683-5133
Jonathan McCray-Boston, (he/him)	Legal Assistant Child Welfare Unit	jonathan.mccray-boston@phila.gov	(215) 683-5155
Rachel McHale	Senior Attorney Child Welfare Unit	Rachel.Hantgan@phila.gov	(215) 683-5122
Bridget McMenamin, (she/her/hers)	Legal Assistant Child Welfare Unit	bridget.mcmenamin@phila.gov	(215) 683-3011
Kolleen McMullen	Deputy City Solicitor Child Welfare Unit		(215) 685-6606
Kira Meibos, (she/her/hers)	Deputy City Solicitor Child Welfare Unit	Kira.Meibos@phila.gov	(215) 683-5189
Meagan Mirtenbaum	Divisional Deputy City Solicitor Child Welfare Unit	Meagan.Mirtenbaum@phila.gov	(215) 683-5091
Michael Mon	Deputy City Solicitor Child Welfare Unit	Michael.Mon@phila.gov	(215) 832-2126
Peter Moran	Senior Legal Assistant Child Welfare Unit	Peter.Moran@phila.gov	(215) 683-5225
Harry Morris, (he/him)	Assistant City Solicitor Child Welfare Unit	harry.morris@phila.gov	(215) 683-5134
Kathryn Morris	Assistant City Solicitor Child Welfare Unit	kathryn.morris@phila.gov	(215) 683-5144
Amanda Morrison	LSI Child Welfare Unit	amanda.morrison@phila.gov	(215) 683-5150
Eric Moyer	Data Services Supp Clerk Child Welfare Unit	Eric.Moyer@Phila.gov	(215) 683-5197
Amanda Muscavage	Assistant City Solicitor Child Welfare Unit	amanda.muscavage@phila.gov	(215) 683-8454
Courtney Norella	Divisional Deputy City Solicitor Child Welfare Unit	Courtney.Norella@phila.gov	(215) 683-5181
Solomon Oduwole	LSI Child Welfare Unit	solomon.oduwole@phila.gov	(215) 683-5223
Schaundra Oliver	Divisional Deputy City Solicitor Child Welfare Unit	Schaundra.Oliver@phila.gov	(215) 683-5142
Sheila Olszewski, (she/her)	Assistant City Solicitor Child Welfare Unit	sheila.olszewski@phila.gov	(215) 683-5057
Dara Omotayo, (she/her)	Assistant City Solicitor Child Welfare Unit	dara.omotayo@phila.gov	(215) 832-2114
Matthew Pennell, (he/him/his)	Assistant City Solicitor Child Welfare Unit	matthew.pennell@phila.gov	(215) 686-6770
Grace J Ryan, (she/her/hers)	Legal Assistant Child Welfare Unit	grace.ryan@phila.gov	(215) 683-5154
Ishika Sachdeva	LSI Child Welfare Unit	ishika.sachdeva@phila.gov	(215) 683-3588
Mya Seda, (she/her)	Legal Assistant Child Welfare Unit	mya.seda@phila.gov	(215) 683-5194
Raymond Sheriff	LSI Child Welfare Unit	raymond.sheriff@phila.gov	(215) 683-5223
Sterling Sims	LSI Child Welfare Unit	Sterling.Sims@phila.gov	(215) 683-0018
Edward Sinitsa, (he/him/his)	Assistant City Solicitor Child Welfare Unit	edward.sinitsa@phila.gov	(215) 683-5167
Vincent Smith	Legal Assistant Child Welfare Unit	vincent.smith@phila.gov	(215) 683-5151
Jacqueline Stolzenberg, (she/her/hers)	Assistant City Solicitor Child Welfare Unit	jacqueline.stolzenberg@phila.gov	(215) 683-5215
Sheree Strauss	Legal Assistant Child Welfare Unit	Sheree.Strauss@phila.gov	(215) 683-3587
Ariel Torres, (she/her/hers)	Deputy City Solicitor Child Welfare Unit	ariel.bruce@phila.gov	(215) 683-5432
Ryan Trott, (he/him/his)	Assistant City Solicitor Child Welfare Unit	ryan.trott@phila.gov	(215) 683-5410
Kiana Walton, (she/her)	Office Clerk Child Welfare Unit	Kiana.walton@phila.gov	(215) 683-5135
Bridget Warner, (she/her)	Divisional Deputy City Solicitor Child Welfare Unit	Bridget.Warner@phila.gov	(215) 832-2103
Lorene Whiting	Senior Legal Assistant Child Welfare Unit	Lorene.Whiting@Phila.gov	(215) 683-5160
Mariah Wise, (she/her/hers)	Legal Assistant Child Welfare Unit	mariah.wise@phila.gov	(215) 683-5138
Afershe Woodson	LSI Child Welfare Unit	afershe.woodson@phila.gov	(215) 683-5418
Angela Yancey	Deputy City Solicitor Child Welfare Unit	Angela.Yancey@phila.gov	(215) 683-5213

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Health & Adult Services Unit

The Health & Adult Services Unit (HAS) represents the Department of Public Health, the Department of Behavioral Health and Intellectual disAbility Services, and the Office of Homeless Services in the Court of Common Pleas and at various administrative proceedings. HAS provides counsel to the Medical Examiner and regularly attends meetings of the Institutional Review Board. Attorneys provide counsel to all clients regarding statutory and regulatory compliance. Attorneys in this unit litigate a myriad of cases, including the involuntary civil commitment of mentally ill adults and children and the involuntary civil commitment of adults with intellectual disabilities.

Additionally, this unit is responsible for litigation related to the remediation of lead in Philadelphia housing and the treatment of communicable diseases, including tuberculosis. HAS attorneys attend advisory and planning meetings geared toward assisting our clients with the effective provision of social services and are responsible for the review and production of confidential treatment records consistent with a variety of state and federal laws. HAS attorneys routinely work with service providers and the public to provide information on access points for City services. Also, the unit provides training to assist individuals on navigating City health and other critical services.

Leadership

Melanie Levin

Chief Deputy City Solicitor

(215) 683-5206

Melanie.Levin@phila.gov

Melanie Levin is the Chief Deputy of the Health and Adult Services Unit (HAS). Melanie began her career with the Law Department in 2003 as an Assistant City Solicitor in the then Health and Human Services Unit which handled both child abuse and neglect cases as well as mental health hearings. When that unit split, Melanie joined the newly formed Health and Adult Services Unit and later spent four years serving in the Tax Unit before returning to HAS. She has since been promoted to through the ranks to her current position. Melanie is a graduate of the University of Pittsburgh where she received her Bachelor’s Degree in Psychology. Melanie received her Juris Doctorate degree from Rutgers School of Law -Camden and her LL.M. in taxation from Temple Beasley School of Law.

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Name	Job title	Email	Phone #
Michelle Conner, (she/her)	Senior Attorney Health & Adult Services Unit	michelle.conner@phila.gov	(215) 683-5462
Sarah Connor, (she/her)	Assistant City Solicitor Health & Adult Services Unit	sarah.connor@phila.gov	(215) 683-9020
Vernette Dow	Divisional Deputy City Solicitor Health & Adult Services Unit	Vernette.Dow@Phila.gov	(215) 683-5218
Dean Erlick	Senior Attorney Health & Adult Services Unit	Dean.Erlick@phila.gov	(215) 683-5289
Harland Geer, (he/him)	Legal Assistant Supervisor Health & Adult Services Unit	harland.geer@phila.gov	(215) 683-5401
Paul Gianfrancesco	Divisional Deputy City Solicitor Health & Adult Services Unit	paul.gianfrancesco@phila.gov	(215) 683-5216
Lauren Lane, (she/her/hers)	Legal Assistant Health & Adult Services Unit	Lauren.Lane@phila.gov	(215) 683-5396
Mathieu O'Brien	Deputy City Solicitor Health & Adult Services Unit	mathieu.o'brien@phila.gov	(215) 683-5080
Shannon Thompson, (she/her/hers)	Legal Assistant Health & Adult Services Unit	shannon.thompson@phila.gov	(215) 683-5395
Jasmine Weiss, (she/her/hers)	Deputy City Solicitor Health & Adult Services Unit	Jasmine.Weiss@Phila.gov	(215) 683-5219
Brian Zesdorn	Data Services Support Clerk Health & Adult Services Unit	brian.zesdorn@phila.gov	(215) 683-5220

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Child Welfare Unit

Litigation & Appeals Division

Administration & Specialty Practice Division

Leadership

Health & Adult Services Unit

Leadership