Under federal law, when a child has been in the custody of the state for more than 15 months, DHS is required to petition for the involuntary termination of parental rights. While many states provide an opportunity to reinstate the parent-child relationship under specific conditions, in PA, termination is permanent. Even when parents do the work to address the issues that resulted in termination – building a career, finding stable housing, recovering from a substance use disorder or ending a period of incarceration – the loss of the parent-child relationship is a punishment that lasts a lifetime.  

We’ve heard from county agencies across the state who are overwhelmed and frustrated that many children remain within their care for years when they could be with clearly rehabilitated parents. Some counties have even pursued creative and complex legal workarounds, such as having parents pursue the legal “re-adoption” of their own children. 

Following the lead of 22 states, our legislation will standardize the path to parental rights reinstatement by:

• Providing the agency, the child, or a parent the opportunity to petition for the reinstatement of parental rights, in cases where the child has been unable to successfully find an adoptive home.
• Establishing a hearing process involving county officials, children, parents and child advocates to assess the best interests and desires of the child.

Like our legislature’s landmark Clean Slate legislation, this is not about excusing the harm of the past but about recognizing that parents change, and families deserve second chances. Please join me in sponsoring this crucial legislation for our families.