Child Protective Services
The Allegheny County Department of Human Services (DHS) Office of Children, Youth and Families (CYF) is the county's public office mandated by law to protect children from abuse and neglect and to ensure permanency for children.
Families become known to CYF through reported incidents of child abuse or neglect and other reports that are serious, but may not rise to the level of abuse as defined by the Child Protective Services Law (CPSL) [23 PA CS § 6303; 55 PA Code §3490.4]
Reporting Abuse
Report cases of suspected child abuse or neglect by calling ChildLine at 1-800-932-0313.
Information about reporting child abuse, what “child abuse” means, mandated reporters and how calls are screened by CYF.
Overview of Key CYF Philosophies, Practices and Procedures
Recent Changes in Child Welfare Laws
Includes changes for background checks, permanency plans, annual photographs, births of infants born exposed to illegal substances, reporting of child fatalities and reporting child abuse (Acts 73, 76, 126, 146 and 179).
Intake
Descriptions of the intake process, the rights of the child, parents and family, investigation process, the assessment process, and safety factors that guide caseworkers when working with a family.
Family Services
Descriptions of services related to prevention, in-home services, Family Group Decision Making and Family-focused Solutions-based services.
Juvenile Court and Advocacy
Descriptions of the types of hearings and processes involved in juvenile court.
Announcements
The Allegheny County Children’s Court in partnership with Child Watch of Pittsburgh is piloting the 
Video Conferencing Project that provides videoconferencing and teleconferencing capabilities for Children’s Court proceedings.
Related Publications
Home Alone Is your child ready to be left home alone?
Solo en casa – ¿Estu listo tu hijo?
A Parent's Handbook Manual para Padres