Pennsylvania’s child welfare and juvenile justice systems are consequential. Decisions made at the local and state level impact child safety, parental rights, a child’s connection to family and school, the ability to hold those who abuse children accountable, and even affect a person’s ability to be employed if they are placed on the Commonwealth’s child abuse registry.
The human impact is immeasurable. The fiscal impact is equally compelling. In the 2022-2023 Fiscal Year, nearly $2 billion was spent related to child welfare services through a mix of federal, state, and local funding. $1.2 billion was state funds. Over $303 million was spent by state and county child welfare agencies to respond to reports made to ChildLine, the Commonwealth’s child abuse and neglect reporting portal.
In 2024, Idaho and Kansas became the latest states to establish an independent Office of Child Advocate within their state statutes. At the end of 2024, it was reported that 46 states have an operational Office of Child Advocate, sometimes called a Children’s Ombudsman, with 33 states specifically prioritizing child welfare as the advocate’s scope of work.
Last year, bipartisan members of the Pennsylvania House of Representatives sent House Bill 2175, which would have permanently created an Office of Child Advocate, to the Pennsylvania Senate. Unfortunately, the Senate did not act on the bill. The PA House has consistently stood with vulnerable children, youth, and families. A Child Advocate bill was first introduced in 2001 with more than 40 bipartisan cosponsors. Members of the House also served on Pennsylvania’s Juvenile Justice Task Force, which recommended the creation of a “permanent Office of the Child Advocate”. The Task Force specifically recommended:
- The Office of the Child Advocate shall have statutory authority to access DHS records and data to provide independent oversight over out-of-home placements for youth.
- Staff within the Office of the Child Advocate shall have the authority for all trained and authorized representatives from the Office to have unfettered access to Youth Day or night at unscheduled, unannounced visits.
- The Office of the Child Advocate shall develop an avenue to receive complaints directly from youth.
- The Office of the Child Advocate shall issue a public report on a yearly basis.
These recommendations were consistent with what the National Conference of State Legislatures (NCSL) outlines as duties of an Office of Child Advocate:
- “Handle and investigate complaints from citizens and families related to government services for children and families - this may include child protective services, foster care, adoption, and juvenile justice services.
- Provide an accountability mechanism for child welfare systems by recommending system-wide improvements to benefit children and families. These recommendations are often in the form of annual reports to the state’s legislature or governor.
- Protect the interests and rights of children and families, both individually and system-wide.
- Monitor programs, placements, and departments responsible for providing children's services, which may include inspecting state facilities and institutions.”
We hope you will join us in sponsoring legislation to create a permanent Office of Child Advocate and to ensure that this important legislation finally is signed into law in our Commonwealth.
Statutes/Laws affected: Printer's No. 1499 (Apr 28, 2025): P.L.31, No.21