News

Fewer Abused and Neglected Children in Foster Care

News Article

August 07, 2013

The number of abused and neglected children placed in foster care or temporary living arrangements throughout Pennsylvania continues to drop, according to figures released for the end of March. Since the Supreme Court began leading efforts to better care for dependent children, the number of children placed out of their homes has fallen from 21,395 in 2006 to 14,139. Justice Max Baer leads the initiative on behalf of the court.

The court works closely with the Department of Public Welfare and county Children and Youth Services offices on this effort. To date, more than half of the state’s counties have implemented the court’s Permanency Practice Initiative, while other counties are applying some of the initiative’s key elements such as “family finding” and “family group decision-making” strategies that are bringing the numbers down.

Family Finding provides professionals with the tools they need to find relatives and others committed to helping a child achieve permanency faster and more efficiently.

Family Group Decision-Making is a process designed to join the wider family group, including relatives, friends, community members and others in collectively making decisions to resolve an identified family concern.

Justice Baer recently told the Associated Press the concept is simple: “It's identifying individuals — competent individuals — who will take responsibility for these kids day in and day out and will help raise these kids.”

In addition to fewer children in foster care, the annual number of days dependent children spent out of their homes has been reduced by 2.2 million, according to statistics provided by the Department of Public Welfare. Placing these children into permanent family settings greatly improves their chances to succeed and also significantly reduces the cost of institutional care, saving an estimated 117 million in tax dollars each year. 

 

Media Contact: Steve Schell

717-231-3331