How is the child welfare system in pennsylvania characterized

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Report Child Abuse in PA

Call 1-800-932-0313

Visit the Keep Kids Safe website to learn the signs of abuse/neglect and for information for mandated reporters, details on how to get a clearance, training, and more for people who work with children.

Directory of Services

The directory of services has information on:

ChildLine
Regional Offices
County Children and Youth Agencies
National Child Welfare Resources
Pennsylvania Child Welfare Resources

Safe Haven

Safe Haven of Pennsylvania, also known as the Newborn Protection Act, was enacted in 2003 and amended in 2014. It states that a parent of a newborn may leave a child in the care of a hospital or a police officer at a police station without being criminally liable, as long as the child is no older than 28 days and is not harmed. Safe Haven gives parents a safe, legal, and confidential alternative to abandoning their baby.

Want to speak with someone about Safe Haven? Make a confidential call to (866) 921-7233.

Safe Haven Report forms

Relinquished Newborn Report Form for County Children & Youth Agency
Relinquished Newborn Report Form for Hospitals

Adoption and Foster Care in PA

Every child deserves a loving, nurturing, permanent home where they feel cared for, safe and supported. Foster care provides temporary care with foster parents for children who are unable to remain in their own homes, while adoption connects children with their forever families.

Preventive Services

Pennsylvania Family Support Alliance
Regional Children, Youth and Families Offices
County Children and Youth Agency Directory
Integrated Children's Services Plan

Reports

Child Abuse Annual Reports
Child Fatality/Near Fatality Reports

Child Abuse Task Force

Act 55 of 2013, Rate Methodology Task Force Recommendations to the General Assembly, dated December 2014
Act 55 Task Force February 2015 Webinar PowerPoint Presentation
Q&A from the February 2015 Webinar for Other Purchased Services
Act 55 of 2013, Rate Methodology Task Force Recommendations to the General Assembly, dated May 2014
Act 55 Task Force May 2014 Webinar PowerPoint Presentation
Act 55 Rate Methodology Task Force Frequently Asked Questions

Challenges and Strategies in Following an Individualized, Strengths-Based Approach

The experiences of the nine grant communities involved in the Improving Child Welfare Outcomes Through Systems of Care initiative provide useful information to administrators and stakeholders nationwide for implementing an individualized, strengths-based approach.

1. Agency Culture and Characteristics of Families Involved with Child Protective Services

Challenges. Grant communities reported that it often is challenging for agencies to move from a pathology-based model to an individualized, strengths-based approach given the potentially severe threats to children's safety and risk factors, such as physical or sexual abuse or addiction, that are present in some families. An additional complicating factor is that the majority of families involved with child protective services do not seek services voluntarily and often are viewed as resistant or non-compliant, which interferes with the establishment of a working alliance between the caseworker and the family.

Strategies. Despite these challenges, supervisors interviewed in several grant communities reported that there is a greater focus now (compared to past years) on identifying strengths in families. They also reported a greater emphasis on identifying non-traditional services and supports for families.

Strategies used by grant communities to overcome challenges related to agency culture and characteristics of families involved with child protective services include:

Training-All grant communities provide training on strengths-based approaches and cultural competency to staff from all child-serving agencies, with emphasis on practical application. Training formats range from traditional conferences to more informal case discussions. For example, New York discusses case scenarios at monthly network meetings as part of systems of care development.¹ North Dakota provides parent coordinator training entitled "We Are All Related," which emphasizes the strengths of the family and the culture.
Collaboration with Other Agencies-Most grant communities are using collaboration and networking with other agencies and faith-based organizations to support strengths-based approaches. For example, Colorado provided material for sermons to be given by clergy at area churches on community acknowledgment of and response to child welfare issues. Collaboration is key to influencing existing and potential partners to adopt an individualized and strengths-based approach with children and families, and can foster creative identification and expansion of informal supports to help families. Networking also helps to engage partners in a system approach and abandon the categorical model in which services are delivered in isolation.
Assessment Tool-Several grant communities (California, Colorado, Kansas, North Carolina, and Oregon) have implemented strengths-based assessments of children and families involved with child welfare to identify needs and match services to those needs. For example, the Colorado Division of Children, Youth, and Families' assessment tool, Family Social History and Assessment Summary, specifically asks for a description of the family's strengths. Using a structured intake tool, the North Carolina Department of Social Services begins the process of gathering information about family strengths at the first contact with the reporter by including questions about what the family does well.

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2. Child Welfare Staff Turnover

Challenges. Child welfare staff turnover is identified frequently by child welfare supervisors and grantee project directors as one of the greatest obstacles to implementing and sustaining an individualized, strengths-based approach. The child welfare field often is characterized by high staff turnover, which can lead to low staff morale, excessive workloads for those who remain, and most importantly, feelings of rejection and insignificance by the child or family. A particular challenge for strengths-based care cited by grantees is orienting new staff to the systems of care philosophy, values, and practices, which can be time consuming and frustrating when it must be done repeatedly as new staff members are hired.

Strategies. Strategies to promote an individualized, strengths-based approach amidst high rates of turnover include ongoing training, not only for caseworkers, but also for supervisory staff, policy- and decision-makers, and community partners. Comprehensive training is viewed as an important factor in fostering shared responsibility for child welfare as well as shared commitment to managing, supervising, and working with peers from a strengths-based approach. Shared responsibility can alleviate the sense of isolation and being overwhelmed among caseworkers which in turn can contribute to less staff turnover.

Training for Child Welfare Supervisors-At the State level, the North Carolina Department of Social Services has developed several trainings for child welfare supervisors to allow for exploration and identification of their own strengths and to encourage strengths-based supervision of caseworkers. Strengths-based supervision can contribute to a more positive work environment that is characterized by decreased staff turnover and increased job satisfaction.
North Carolina and Nevada offer ongoing training on family-centered child and family team meetings and facilitation skills for all child welfare staff. Also, to encourage agencies to practice for and participate in child and family teams, North Carolina developed a collaborative child and family team curriculum that is used to train staff across agencies. Studies show that child welfare staff have an increased commitment to their work when they participate in training that leads to greater competencies (Zlotnik, DePanfilis, Daining, & Lane, 2005).

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3. Time Constraints

Challenges. Among the biggest challenges faced by child welfare staff is the issue of time constraints, due in large part to sizeable caseloads, which limit the time caseworkers can spend with families. The lack of time has several effects that conflict with the principle of strengths-based, individualized care. It often prevents child and family team meetings from being scheduled as frequently as may be necessary. Also, limited time can require team meetings to be held in the child welfare office, rather than in a community setting, because there is not enough time for caseworkers to effectively plan for or travel to a family-friendly location. As a consequence, family members and their informal supports are less likely to participate. The child welfare office setting can emphasize the power differential between the caseworker and the family. Additionally, the less time caseworkers and supervisors have, the more likely it is for children and families in the child welfare system to have "cookie cutter" case plans that are not individually tailored.

Strategies. Several grant communities (California, Colorado, Kansas, North Carolina, and Oregon) rely on policies, mandates, and protocols that have been developed to help ensure that child and family team meetings take place as intended. By having a formalized structure that requires child and family participation and input, child welfare workers are more apt to prioritize child and family meetings among competing demands on their time. Policies mandating child and family input ensure the child and family guide development of the case plan; otherwise, the process ultimately can be more costly in terms of staff time and resources. The Kansas child welfare agency has mandated time frames within which family meetings must take place and differ depending on the stage of the case. Systems of care project leaders reported that it is useful for collaborative members and child welfare staff to share success stories to help caseworkers and supervisors understand how and why taking extra time to use an individualized, strengths-based approach with families is worthwhile. Grant communities reported that this internal marketing to achieve staff buy-in is facilitated by discussion of individual cases at staff meetings and highlighting how a strengths-based approach has contributed to better service outcomes. When child welfare workers hear about successful cases, the probability is greater that individualized, strengths-based practice will become institutionalized as a permanent part of the child welfare infrastructure.

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4. Lack of Services and Access to Services

Challenges. Many of the grant communities, particularly the rural ones, reported that a lack of services poses a major challenge to creating individualized service plans. For example, if there is only one parenting class offered in the area, the parent of an infant and the parent of an adolescent do not receive parenting education tailored to their individual needs. Also, if fewer services are available, families frequently are forced to wait longer for needed services. Lack of transportation is also a challenge to accessing services.

Strategies. To help child welfare workers learn more about existing services and develop non-traditional and community (natural) supports, some grantee communities have created child welfare positions specifically to identify community services, develop collaborative relationships, and educate other child welfare staff about resources.

The Oregon Department of Human Services employs a resource developer, and one county in North Carolina developed a community social worker position.
One North Carolina community also engages "family partner" organizations. These local community-based organizations help recruit parent and youth volunteers and mentors for child welfare child and family teams, provide facilities for child and family team meetings to be held in the community rather than at the child welfare office, and identify and recruit informal and non-traditional supports for families.
Pennsylvania established an extensive network of natural supports to which caseworkers can help families connect. A system of care outreach coordinator worked with faith-based organizations and created a faith-based subcommittee that involves a wide variety of religious denominations and organizations. This subcommittee has been successful in implementing several activities, such as starting a summer camp program.
New York holds ongoing meetings of child protective services supervisors, staff, and community-based service providers so the child and family will have access to a broad array of individualized services. During service planning meetings, caseworkers are provided with resource referrals that address specific needs of children and families.

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National Technical Assistance and Evaluation Center for Systems of Care Collaborative Member Survey Findings
Currently, the extent to which systems of care collaborative members agree that systems of care activities have been effective in increasing individualized, strengths-based approaches is mixed, with differences evident among grant communities. On a scale of 1 to 5, where higher is stronger agreement, the average scores of collaborative members across all nine grant communities ranged from 3.3 (neutral) to 4.4 (agree) and the median across grant communities was 3.8. Collaborative members will be surveyed again toward the end of the initiative to determine if perceptions change over time.
-Systems of Care Collaborative Survey Data, Fall/Winter 2006/2007

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¹ Improving Child Welfare Outcomes Through Systems of Care grantees are indicated by State name. View demonstration site names. back

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Child Protection | UN peacekeeping operations

By protecting children, who have often known nothing but war throughout their lives, peacekeepers can break the cycle of violence and lay the foundations for lasting peace.

Why are child protection issues central to peacebuilding?

Armed conflicts disproportionately affect children. As the main victims of wars, many girls and boys are killed and maimed, recruited and used as child soldiers, sexually abused, abducted and denied access to humanitarian assistance. In addition, they are increasingly being targeted in attacks on schools and hospitals.

In many conflict-torn countries, peacekeeping missions are the largest actors on the ground and their contribution to child protection is vital.

The Security Council has dealt with this issue since the late 1990s, requesting the Secretary-General in resolution 1261 (1999) to provide “adequate training on the protection, protection of the rights and welfare of children for staff involved in United Nations efforts to establish peace, peacekeeping and peacebuilding”. The issue of protecting children in conflict has been included in the mandates of United Nations peacekeeping operations since 2001. In their tireless efforts to implement the child protection mandate, United Nations peacekeepers have, among other things, helped free thousands of child soldiers and provided vital technical support for legislative reforms to strengthen the national child protection system.

How does United Nations peacekeeping protect children?

Photo: MONUSCO

Deployment of child protection advisers

In resolution 1379 (2001) and subsequent thematic resolutions, the Security Council called for the inclusion of specific child protection provisions in the mandates of United Nations peacekeeping operations, as well as the deployment of advisers on child protection issues. (For more details, see Who are Child Protection Advisers below.)

Child protection advisers are currently active in peacekeeping operations such as:

United Nations Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS)
United Nations Stabilization Mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (MONUSCO)
United Nations Multidimensional Integrated Stabilization Mission in Mali (MINUSMA)
United Nations Multidimensional Integrated Stabilization Mission in the Central African Republic (MINUSCA)

Mainstreaming child protection into mission

Mainstreaming child protection is an approach to mainstreaming the protection of children in armed conflict into all aspects of United Nations peace operations, including strategies, policies, training and other activities. This approach allows the United Nations to use the entire staff of the mission and their various types of expertise, networks and existing capacities to provide more effective and comprehensive protection for children. Heads of peacekeeping missions play a critical role in ensuring that child protection principles and commitments are mainstreamed and integrated into all operational decisions, activities and processes within United Nations peacekeeping operations. All groups within a mission have an obligation to contribute to the protection of children. Child Protection Advisers work closely with other entities, such as the United Nations Police, Human Rights Section, Rule of Law Section, and military personnel, to ensure consistency and exchange of information related to serious violations against children . For example, in South Sudan, UNMISS from January 2018 to July 2019organized training and mainstreaming activities within the child protection mandate for more than 4,900 United Nations staff.

Monitoring and reporting

Monitoring and reporting on violations committed by armed forces and groups against children in armed conflict are the primary and primary responsibilities of child protection advisers. Observation and reporting on the strictest basis enable child protection officers to act as credible advocates for children and serve as the basis for analysis and recommendations. Child Protection Advisers contribute and fulfill reporting obligations under the Security Council mandated monitoring and reporting mechanism on serious violations against children, including general review notes; country reports of the Secretary-General on children and armed conflict (DCC); and the annual report of the Secretary-General on the issue of DCC. Systematic data collection supports national and international efforts to ensure that children and communities affected by serious violations of children's rights are properly responded to, that perpetrators are held accountable, and that further violations are prevented by strengthening child protection. In 2020, the United Nations verified 4,030 violations in four countries where United Nations Child Protection Advisers operate. That same year, in South Sudan, UNMISS child protection officers participated in more than 160 patrols to verify cases of serious violations against children.

For details, see Guidelines for Monitoring and Reporting Mechanism for Serious Violations of Children's Rights in Armed Conflict. United Nations child protection advisers and teams are empowered and have the political space to engage with all state and non-state armed actors involved in serious violations against children. Child Protection Advisers anticipate and carefully plan opportunities to engage with parties to conflict on child protection issues.

Photo: MONUSCO

Over the past year, numerous action plans have been adopted and thousands of children have been released as a direct result of engagement with parties to conflict. For example, in 2020, 497 children in the Central African Republic were disengaged through dialogue with armed groups. In the same year, 44 children were released and reintegrated in South Sudan, 23 in Mali and 1,313 in the Democratic Republic of the Congo.

Photo: MONUSCO

Advocacy

The head of the peacekeeping mission is the highest United Nations official in the country and is uniquely positioned to influence government to advocate for children. United Nations entities, NGOs, donors and other local and international actors also play a critical role in supporting and implementing action for the realization of the rights, well-being and protection of children. Child protection officers use evidence collected through monitoring and reporting processes to advocate for real and lasting change for children affected by conflict and their communities. In MINUSCA, direct advocacy by the Child Protection Section with armed groups resulted in the release of more than 8,600 children between January 2016 and June 2019of the year.

Capacity Building for National Partners

Child Protection Advisers and their teams work daily with national partners to strengthen their ability to overcome and address child protection issues. For example, in South Sudan, UNMISS deployed a child protection officer to the Sudan People's Liberation Army (SPLA) to support the implementation of an action plan to end the recruitment and use of children. In the Central African Republic, MINUSCA is working with local authorities to help them effectively fulfill their child protection responsibilities, including reintegrating into communities children formerly associated with armed forces and groups and identifying early signs of serious violations against children. In 2020, 22 members of the Malian Defense and Security Forces and 152 police officers participated in training of trainers on the protection of children in armed conflict.

Photo: UN, MINUSCA/Leonel GROTHE

National Legal Reform

Child Protection Advisers support and promote the development and adoption of new national child protection laws. For example, through the joint efforts of MINUSCA and other partners, the Central African Republic adopted a Child Protection Code in 2020 that criminalizes the recruitment and use of children and addresses other serious violations against children.

Awareness raising

Peacekeeping operations use their radio stations, events and campaigns to raise awareness of child protection issues and help identify ways to prevent serious abuses against children involved in conflict. For example, MONUSCO, together with the Government of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, launched a campaign called "Kadoga no more fighting" to prevent the recruitment and use of children by armed forces and groups. In the period from January 2018 to July 2019UNMISS provided training and outreach on national and international child protection laws and military command orders to more than 19,000 military and group members, community members and child protection partners. In 2019, MINUSMA launched the “Act to Protect Children Affected by Conflict” campaign in three regions to strengthen cooperation, partnerships and synergies among local, regional and international actors.

Peacekeeper Training

Child Protection Advisers conduct daily mission-wide child protection training to ensure that every peacekeeper has the knowledge and skills to protect children. In addition, DOM is organizing a United Nations Specialized Educational Materials (STM) training course on child protection for United Nations military personnel for members of the armed forces who serve in United Nations peacekeeping operations and national trainers from troop-contributing countries.

Our policy

All United Nations peacekeeping personnel have a responsibility not only to promote and ensure the rights of children in their work and in their interaction with national and local actors, but also to adhere to the highest international norms and standards, enshrined in legal documents and guidelines for children's rights and respect them.

The 2017 DPKO/DFS/DPPA Child Protection Policy in United Nations Peacekeeping Operations defines the roles and responsibilities of all relevant United Nations stakeholders, including the Department of Peace Operations (DOP), in the protection of children affected by armed conflict in the context of the deployment of United Nations field missions.

DOM is guided by the principles of complementarity and coherence in the implementation of the child protection mandate in United Nations peace operations and coordinates closely with the Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Children in Armed Conflict (SRSG-DVK), the United Nations Children's Fund ( UNICEF), the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) and other relevant United Nations entities.

Our Management

The DOM/DPPA Guide for Child Protection Officers in United Nations Peace Operations complements the 2017 DPKO-DPPA-DPPA Child Protection Policy in United Nations Peace Operations. The manual is a practical guide for civilian child protection officers in United Nations field missions in the core implementation of the child protection mandate. It is designed to strengthen the capacity of United Nations field mission child protection officers in their specific responsibility to protect and promote the rights of children in armed conflict.

Who are Child Protection Advisers?

While every member of a peacekeeping operation, including military and police personnel, has a role to play in the protection of children, peacekeeping missions must be adequately resourced to fully and effectively fulfill their child protection mandates, including through the early deployment of protection advisers children and child protection officers (A/74/19). Child Protection Advisers are dedicated staff members of United Nations field missions who assist them in fulfilling their child protection mandates. Their work includes, inter alia:

advising senior mission leadership, including SRSG/heads of military components, force commanders and police commissioners, on child protection issues and related measures to be taken, including through mediation and efforts for national reconciliation;
monitoring grave violations committed against children in situations of armed conflict, in accordance with relevant Security Council resolutions;
co-chairing with UNICEF the Country Task Force on Monitoring and Reporting (CMORT) at the technical level, when established, and providing support to the head of mission or senior management of the mission under the co-chairmanship with the UNICEF representative of the COIRT at the substantive level;
dialogue with parties to the conflict aimed at the signing and implementation of action plans approved by the Security Council to end and prevent serious violations against children;
facilitating the release and reintegration of children associated with armed forces and armed groups through action plan dialogues, peace negotiations and peace agreements, as well as disarmament, demobilization and reintegration programs or other relevant processes;
Appeal for protective, preventive and remedial measures for other child rights violations identified by the mission as key child protection issues, including, for example, detention of children for safety reasons and use of schools for military purposes;
preparing and providing guidance and advice on child protection issues, tools and methodologies to other components and sections of United Nations peacekeeping operations;
Liaising with the specialized agencies of the United Nations and other actors involved in child protection and providing specialized technical expertise to fulfill the child protection mandate.

How do we change the situation for the better?

Photo: MONUSCO

Deployment of child protection advisers to United Nations peacekeeping missions has improved missions to address child protection issues at both the political and operational levels, with concrete results on the ground:

Through policy advocacy by peacekeeping missions and their child protection advisers, child protection concerns have been mainstreamed into peace processes (eg in the Central African Republic and South Sudan).
With the support of the child protection sections of peacekeeping missions, and in partnership with UNICEF and national child protection actors, thousands of children have been released from armed forces and groups in various peacekeeping settings since the deployment of the first child protection advisers in 2000 year. In 2020, 1,877 children were released in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, the Central African Republic, Mali, South Sudan and Sudan.
The total number of serious violations against children decreased from 3671 (in 2018) to 3065 (in 2019) (-16.5%) in five missions where child protection advisers were deployed.
United Nations child protection officers trained thousands of military and civilian peacekeepers on child rights and protection. For example, in UNMISS, from January 2018 to July 2019, the Child Protection Section provided training and activities to mainstream the child protection mandate for more than 4900 United Nations staff. Often deployed in remote and hard-to-reach areas, these peacekeepers act as the eyes and ears of child protection advisers and officers. They provide them with notifications and information about violations of the rights of the child and prevent new violations against children by parties to the conflict.

Find out more in our 2020 one-page white paper (in English and French) and quarterly newsletter.

Child Protection in Action: Voices from the Field

Child Protection in the Democratic Republic of the Congo

Dee Brillenburg Wurth is a former Senior Child Protection Adviser in MONUSCO (Democratic Republic of the Congo).

Could you tell us about your work as a Senior Child Protection Adviser?

I have managed a team of approximately 30 child protection officers who monitor and report on child rights violations on a daily basis. The information they collect is analyzed and included in the statistics of the Monitoring and Reporting Mechanism (MORM). Statistics are essential, but it is important to never forget that every child we report has a story about what happened before the violation occurred, during the violation and after it. This information helped us to understand the dynamics and nature of violations, to get an idea about the perpetrators and their methods. This helped us develop preventive measures. For example, the recruitment of children by armed groups continues to be a huge problem. The analysis helps us understand how different armed groups operate, from which we can develop targeted preventive measures, as well as interact with leaders based on deep knowledge of their methods of operation. There are many armed groups in the DRC, about 40-45. When communicating with the commanders of the armed groups, I used the information we collected through the MNO as part of our propaganda activities. In some cases, we brought with us fact sheets that contained information about the trends and patterns of violations against children committed by the group in question over the years.

Significant progress has been made in the DRC in addressing the problem of child recruitment by government forces. When we first launched the action plan, some told me that the parties to the conflict would never stop recruiting children. I thought it was possible. Now we all know that it is possible.

"Statistics are essential, but it's important to never forget that every child we report has a story to tell."
Di Brillenburg Wurth

Links to Internet websites with interviews and stories about child protection advisers:

childrenandarmedconflict. un.org/protecting-children-in-the-democratic-republic-of-the -congo
minusca.unmissions.org/la-minusca-plaide-pour-la-protection-des-droits-des-enfants-centrafricains
minusca.unmissions.org/en/capacity-building-address-serious-crimes-against-children

Development of child protection training standards for all peacekeepers

Pre-deployment training is essential for all military personnel involved in peacekeeping operations. The United Nations Secretariat and troop- and police-contributing countries are working together to ensure that all civilian and military personnel are fully trained in their child protection roles and responsibilities (see A/74/19, para. 123) prior to their deployment, including through preparation based on specific conditions and scenarios. DOM has developed new advanced training standards for United Nations military and police personnel. Specialized child protection training materials for United Nations military personnel and specialized child protection training materials for United Nations police personnel instruct non-civilian United Nations personnel on how to prevent and report violations against children, how to interact with other actors involved in child protection issues, as well as raising the awareness of non-civilian personnel on how to deal with children.

Security Council resolutions

resolution 2427 (S/RES/2427(2018))
resolution 2225 (S/RES/2225(2015))
resolution 2143 (S/RES/2143(2014))
resolution 2068 (S/RES/2068(2012))
resolution 1998 (S/RES/1998(2011))
resolution 1882 (S/RES/1882(2009))
resolution 1612 (S/RES/1612(2005))
resolution 1539 (S/RES/1539(2004))
resolution 1460 (S/RES/1460(2003))
resolution 1379 (S/RES/1379(2001))
resolution 1314 (S/RES/1314(2000))
resolution 1261 (S/RES/1261(1999))

COVID-19 and child protection

On June 1, 2020, the Department of Peace Operations (DOP), Save the Children, and the Governments of Niger and Uruguay co-hosted a high-level virtual side event on the theme “Child Protection Mandate during a Pandemic” COVID‑19: Shared Responsibility in United Nations Peace Operations”. As part of the event, Under-Secretary-General for Peace Operations Jean-Pierre Lacroix, United Nations Military Adviser for Peace Operations Lt. Gen. Carlos Humberto Loiti, United Nations Police Adviser Luis Carrilho, UNMISS Senior Child Protection Adviser Alfred Orono-Orono and Representative of Save the Children discussed best practices and lessons learned from the implementation of the mandate to protect children in peace operations, and Member States reaffirmed their commitment to protecting children in armed conflict.

Families & Carers - Melmark

Families & Carers

Melmark recognizes the unique challenges families and caregivers face when supporting a child or adult with a diagnosis of autism, mental retardation or developmental disability. Melmark works with families and caregivers to find helpful resources.

Training and Support
Melmark offers continuing education programs for parents, employees and other professionals in the communities we serve and throughout the region. Our Expert Speaker Series includes topics related to behavioral analysis with BCBA speakers, as well as training and workshops on a range of clinical topics.

Click here to view our exceptional 2020-2021 Expert Speaker Series.

Information Resources

Pennsylvania

The following are links to organizations and resources that families and caregivers may find helpful in navigating the world of services available to people diagnosed with autism, mental disabilities or developmental disorders. Many of them are national organizations; some of them are in Pennsylvania.

American Association for Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities (AAIDD)

Promotes policy, research, best practices and human rights for children and adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities.

United States ARC

National advocacy group (with local chapters) that advocates and promotes the human rights of people with intellectual and developmental disabilities and actively supports their inclusion in society.

Association for Behavioral Analysis International (ABAI)

Focused on promoting the growth and vitality of the science of behavior analysis through research, education and practice.

Association for the Science of Autism (ASAT)

A nonprofit organization of parents and professionals dedicated to improving the education, treatment, and care of people with autism.

Autism Society

Founded in 1965 by Dr. Bernard Rimland, Dr. Ruth Sullivan and many other parents of children with autism, the Autism Society is the leading source of reliable and reliable information about autism.

Autism Speaks

Brings the autism community together as a single voice to encourage both the public and private sectors to take action against this international health crisis.

Autism Research Institute (ARI)

Provides information based on research into causes and treatments for autism and related disorders.

Autism watch

Autism Watch provides a scientific perspective on many aspects of autism.

Pennsylvania Brain Injury Association

A national organization that supports education, advocacy, and research in the field of traumatic brain injury.

Brain Injury Resource Center

Reflects the best practices in the field of traumatic brain injury.

Center for Applied Special Technologies (CAST)

Provides information about the research and development of innovative computer technologies for people with disabilities.

Center for Autism Research (CAR)

Joint effort of the Children's Hospital of Philadelphia and the University of Pennsylvania. They are working to discover evidence-based ways to significantly improve the lives of people with ASD and related conditions throughout their lives.

Autism Research Center

Provides information about autism to parents and professionals and conducts research on the effectiveness of various therapeutic interventions.

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)

Provides information on newborn screenings, child development and parenting, and topics related to developmental disabilities.

Council for Exceptional Children

The Exceptional Children's Council (CEC) is the largest international professional organization dedicated to the achievement of people with disabilities and/or gifts and talents. The CEC advocates for appropriate public policy, sets professional standards, provides professional development, protects individuals with exceptional characteristics, and helps professionals obtain the conditions and resources they need to perform effectively.

Department of Mental Health and Mental Health Care

Responsible for planning, monitoring, and coordinating services for Philadelphia residents with intellectual or developmental disabilities. The Services and Support Directory is a good reference resource for Philadelphia residents and others in the area.

HYUN

Provides free bilingual English and Spanish tuition, technical assistance and one-on-one assistance to parents of infants, toddlers, children and adolescents with disabilities and the professionals who support them.

Autism Research Organization (VESLO)

Focused exclusively on applied research. The organization and its work is a resource for family members, clinical and educational professionals, and others directly or indirectly affected by autism.

Weissman Center

Dedicated to expanding knowledge of human development, developmental disorders, and neurodegenerative diseases.

Raitslav

Offers user-friendly publications on special education and advocacy law. It also offers a free online bulletin on special education topics.

Registration data: Melmark Pennsylvania is not responsible for the information/content provided on other websites that may be linked from this page. The information provided on these sites does not necessarily imply Melmark's endorsement or endorsement of the materials presented. Melmark does not endorse or recommend a particular professional, organization, or treatment model that is not evidence-based or scientifically validated.

New England

Below are links to organizations and resources that families and caregivers can find helpful in navigating the world of services available to people diagnosed with autism, an intellectual disability, or a developmental disability. Many of them are national organizations; some of them are in New England.

American Association for Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities (AAIDD)

AAIDD is an advocacy group that promotes policy, research, best practices and human rights for children and adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities.

United States ARC

National advocacy group (with local chapters) that advocates and promotes the human rights of people with intellectual and developmental disabilities and actively supports their inclusion in society.

Association for Behavioral Analysis International (ABAI)

The International Association for Behavior Analysis is a non-profit membership organization dedicated to promoting the growth and vitality of the science of behavior analysis through research, education and practice.

Association for the Science of Autism (ASAT)

ASAT is a non-profit organization of parents and professionals committed to improving the education, treatment and care of people with autism.

Autism Society

Contains information and resources on autism.

Autism Speaks

Autism Speaks brings the autism community together as a single voice to encourage both the public and private sectors to take action against this international health crisis.

Autism Research Institute (ARI)

Provides information based on research into causes and treatments for autism and related disorders.

Autism watch

Autism Watch provides a scientific perspective on many aspects of autism.

Center for Applied Special Technologies (CAST)

Provides information about the research and development of innovative computer technologies for people with disabilities.

Autism Research Center

Provides information about autism to parents and professionals and conducts research on the effectiveness of various therapeutic interventions.

Cambridge Center for Behavioral Research

The Cambridge Center for Behavioral Research is a non-profit organization that draws on the expertise of hundreds of behavioral scientists to address problems in the home, school, community and workplace.

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)

Provides information on newborn screenings, child development and parenting, and topics related to developmental disabilities.

Council for Exceptional Children

Doug Fluty Jr. Foundation

The foundation's mission is to help low-income families who need help caring for their children with autism; to fund education and research into the causes and consequences of childhood autism, and to act as an information and communication center for new programs and services designed for people with autism.

Massachusetts Association of 766 Approved Private Schools (MAAPS)

Provides a list of special education institutions, resources, and organizations.

OAR - Autism Research Organization

OAR was established in 2001 and is dedicated exclusively to applied research. The organization and its work is a resource for family members, clinical and educational professionals, and others directly or indirectly affected by autism.

Weissman Center

Dedicated to expanding knowledge of human development, developmental disorders and neurodegenerative diseases.

Raitslav

Offers user-friendly publications on special education and advocacy law. It also offers a free online bulletin on special education topics.

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Carolyn

Below are links to organizations and resources that families and caregivers may find helpful as they navigate the world of autism and mental and developmental disabilities services. Many of them are national organizations; some of them are based in Carolina.

American Association for Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities (AAIDD)

Promotes policy, research, best practices and human rights for children and adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities.

United States ARC

National advocacy group (with local chapters) that advocates and promotes the human rights of people with intellectual and developmental disabilities and actively supports their inclusion in society.

Association for Behavioral Analysis International (ABAI)

Focused on promoting the growth and vitality of the science of behavior analysis through research, education and practice.

Association for the Science of Autism (ASAT)

A nonprofit organization of parents and professionals dedicated to improving the education, treatment, and care of people with autism.

Autism Society

Founded in 1965 by Dr. Bernard Rimland, Dr. Ruth Sullivan and many other parents of children with autism, the Autism Society is the leading source of reliable and reliable information about autism.

Autism Speaks

Brings the autism community together as a single voice to encourage both the public and private sectors to take action against this international health crisis.

Autism Research Institute (ARI)

Provides information based on research into causes and treatments for autism and related disorders.

Watch for Autism

Autism Watch provides a scientific perspective on many aspects of autism.

Brain Injury Resource Center

Reflects the best practices in the field of traumatic brain injury.

Center for Applied Special Technologies (CAST)

Provides information about the research and development of innovative computer technologies for people with disabilities.

Autism Research Center

Provides information about autism to parents and professionals and conducts research on the effectiveness of various therapeutic interventions.

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)

Provides information on newborn screenings, child development and parenting, and topics related to developmental disabilities.

Council for Exceptional Children

Department of Mental Health and Mental Health Care

HYUN

Autism Research Organization (VESLO)

Focused exclusively on applied research. The organization and its work is a resource for family members, clinical and educational professionals, and others directly or indirectly affected by autism.

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