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Resources

This page includes resources for youth, their families, and residential placement facilities.

Know your rights

Learn more about the rights of youth in residential placements, as well as the rights of their families. Download the full guides or just get the highlights. These documents are available in English and Spanish.

We also provide know-your-rights trainings for young people, parents and guardians, and placement facility staff. To schedule a training, call our office at (215) 686-1178 or email OYO@phila.gov.


Learn more about our office

We’re working with local agencies to help keep our youth safe. Learn more about our role.

Watch our explainer video

About the Office of the Youth Ombudsperson

We promote the safety and well-being of youth in residential placements. Find out more about what we do in a brief explainer video.

Watch the video


Report abuse or neglect

To report child abuse or neglect, call Pennsylvania’s ChildLine at (800) 932-0313. They accept reports 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

Our office cannot independently investigate reports of child abuse or neglect. OYO is a mandated reporter. This means that our office must report suspected abuse or neglect to the state. You can still report abuse or neglect to OYO. However, if you describe abuse or neglect, we’ll contact ChildLine on your behalf.

If you suspect abuse or neglect, you can also contact the appropriate agency listed below.

For facilities overseen by the Philadelphia Department of Human Services

Call the Commissioner’s Action Response Office (CARO) at (215) 683-6000 or email dhscaro@phila.gov.

For behavioral health facilities

Call Community Behavioral Health Member Services at (888) 545-2600.

For criminal complaints

Contact your local police station.


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