Browse By Policies & Programs

• Child welfare

  Child welfare/child protection is used to describe a set of usually government-run services designed to protect children and encourage family stability. These typically include investigation of alleged child abuse ("child protective services"), foster care, adoption services, and services aimed at supporting at-risk families so they can remain intact ("prevention services" or "family preservation services"). In Philadelphia, Child Welfare is managed by the City’s Department of Human Services (DHS). The primary role of DHS is to protect children who are alleged to have been abused or neglected and to ensure their safety from immediate threats and impending dangers. The Children and Youth Division (CYD) provides child and family-centered services to nearly 20,000 children and their families each year.

  Child Support

  In family law and government policy, child support or child maintenance is the ongoing obligation for a periodic payment made directly or indirectly by a non-custodial parent to a custodial parent, caregiver or guardian, or the government, for the care and support of children of a relationship or marriage that has been terminated. Single parents, usually mothers, who receive TANF are required to cooperate with the state's collection of child support from the absent parent.  A portion of the child support income is passed through from the state to the TANF recipient, but the state keeps the remainder to cover some of the costs of providing TANF.  The policy requiring TANF recipients to cooperate with child support collection can be waived in cases of domestic violence.

  Child support