Philadelphia’s Department of Human Services (DHS) is a cornerstone agency dedicated to supporting vulnerable children, youth, and families throughout the city. Charged primarily with child welfare and juvenile justice responsibilities, DHS plays a vital role in promoting safety, stability, and well-being for young Philadelphians at risk of abuse, neglect, or delinquency. Through community-based prevention, child protection, foster care and adoption services, and juvenile justice programs, DHS serves as a crucial safety net and resource for families navigating tough challenges.
The DHS mission centers on providing services that keep children safely within their own families when possible while ensuring permanency through foster care or adoption when necessary. Prevention is core to this mission, with programs designed to support families before crises escalate. When child welfare involvement is required, DHS operates a 24-hour hotline for reporting suspected abuse or neglect and ensures thorough investigations. The Department also manages Community Umbrella Agencies that deliver targeted case management across Philadelphia’s diverse neighborhoods.
Beyond child welfare, DHS administers the city’s juvenile justice system with a focus on diversion to prevent youth from entering detention unnecessarily. The department partners with courts, community organizations, and schools to provide educational, vocational, and behavioral services that aid youth rehabilitation and safe transition to adulthood. Through system-wide reform efforts and evidence-based programming, DHS aims to nurture safer families and stronger communities.
Contact Information
- Name: Philadelphia Department of Human Services
- Address: 1515 Arch St, Philadelphia, PA 19102
- Phone: Information: (215) 683-4347 | Complaints: (215) 683-6000
- Website: phila.gov/departments/department-of-human-services
- Location: View on Map
The Philadelphia Department of Human Services stands as a guardian for the city’s most vulnerable children and youth, with a mission grounded in safety, permanency, and well-being. By balancing prevention, intervention, and rehabilitative services, DHS seeks to build stronger families and healthier communities. With a compassionate staff, collaborative partners, and an evolving strategic framework, the department remains committed to upholding dignity and opportunity for all Philadelphians in need.
Residents and professionals alike are encouraged to familiarize themselves with DHS services, engage with public resources, and participate in building a compassionate child welfare and juvenile justice system. For more details, or if you need assistance or wish to report concerns, visit the official website at phila.gov/departments/department-of-human-services. Understanding the Department’s integrated approach to family and youth support provides a foundation to participate meaningfully in Philadelphia’s social ecosystem.
The Department of Human Services’ work extends far beyond government bureaucracy—it is about real people’s lives, futures, and opportunities in Philadelphia.
Philadelphia’s Department of Human Services (DHS) stands as a cornerstone institution dedicated to protecting some of the city’s most vulnerable populations—children, youth, and families facing challenges including abuse, neglect, and systemic barriers. As the county child welfare and juvenile justice agency, DHS’s mission is to promote safety, permanency, and well-being for those at risk, while ensuring that families receive the support and resources needed to thrive. Its comprehensive scope ranges from prevention programs and foster care placement to juvenile detention and community outreach.
The DHS operates with a profound commitment to equity, recognizing the disproportionate impacts of poverty and social determinants on health and wellbeing. By working directly with families and overseeing a network of Community Umbrella Agencies (CUAs), DHS delivers case management and supportive services across Philadelphia’s neighborhoods. This community-based approach helps DHS intervene early to prevent crises, stabilize families, and when necessary, provide safe and nurturing alternative placements for children.
In addition to child welfare, DHS manages Philadelphia’s juvenile justice system, focusing on diverting youth from incarceration through intervention programs and providing services that promote rehabilitation. This holistic effort involves coordination with courts, social services, and the community, reflecting the department’s commitment to long-term positive outcomes for youth and families.
Core Responsibilities
Prevention Services:
DHS works to keep families intact by providing in-home support services and connecting families to community resources that reduce the risk of abuse and neglect. These prevention efforts involve parenting education, behavioral health services, and economic assistance through collaborations with the Office of Community Empowerment and Opportunity. Prevention programs have helped thousands of families maintain stability and avoid foster care placement.
Child Welfare Operations:
The department operates a round-the-clock child abuse hotline, receiving approximately 35,000 calls annually. Trained social workers investigate allegations and determine safety risks. DHS partners with seven Community Umbrella Agencies (CUAs) to deliver ongoing case management in 10 city regions. When removal from home is necessary, DHS places children in family-like settings such as kinship care, foster families, or supervised group homes.
Foster Care and Adoption:
DHS certifies and contracts with agencies to recruit and support foster and adoptive families. The goal remains family reunification, but when that is not possible, children often find permanent adoptive homes through the department’s programs. Clear pathways and training support resource parents in providing nurturing environments for children from diverse backgrounds.
Juvenile Justice Services
DHS manages Philadelphia’s secure juvenile detention center and runs programs aimed at diverting youth from incarceration. The Juvenile Justice Services Center offers court-ordered trauma support, educational programming, and vocational training to reduce recidivism and promote a positive transition to adulthood. Several contracted community-based programs provide alternatives to detention including mentoring and counseling.
Budget and Funding
Fiscal Year 2026 budget for DHS proposes approximately $124 million to operate child welfare and juvenile justice services with a focus on prevention, family support, and reducing residential placements. Continuous investment is made in program innovation, workforce development, and infrastructure improvements. The budget reflects priorities for equity, accountability, and community partnership in achieving better outcomes for Philadelphia’s youth and families.
Fiscal and Organizational Overview
DHS operates under a substantial annual budget—over $120 million in recent years—to support its extensive network of services and providers. The Office of Children and Families within DHS manages financial operations, contracts, and audits to ensure efficient and transparent use of funds aimed at reaching high-needs families. This fiscal stewardship enables DHS to sustain prevention initiatives and expand critical services that protect children and youth effectively.
The department’s staff includes social workers, case managers, health professionals, and administrative experts committed to a diverse and skilled workforce that meets Philadelphia’s complex social needs. Ongoing training, cultural competency development, and innovation are prioritized to improve program delivery and client outcomes.
Specialized Divisions and Key Leadership
Office of Children and Families: Oversees the DHS system-wide strategy, focusing on equity, quality assurance, and family-centered care.
Human Resources: Supports staff recruitment and retention to uphold a trained and compassionate workforce.
Data and Information Systems: Manages the Philadelphia Family Data System for case management and policy analysis.
Deputy Commissioner: Kimberly Ali leads DHS with a focus on data-driven reform and crisis response.
What the Public Should Know
DHS provides essential services 24/7, including mandatory reporting pathways, immediate investigations, and continuous family support plans. Reporting suspected child abuse or neglect is a civic responsibility crucial to child safety. Information about how to report concerns is widely available through DHS channels.
Families involved with DHS benefit from a range of services including counseling, parenting support, kinship placements, adoption services, and help navigating social systems. The department works with community organizations to ensure culturally affirming care and address disparities affecting communities of color.
Engagement and Transparency
Philadelphia’s DHS prides itself on transparency and public engagement. It regularly publishes data reports tracking outcomes, placements, and service usage. Community advisory boards and public listening sessions inform policy adjustments and increase accountability. DHS values feedback from families, providers, and advocates to evolve its programs continually.
Contact Information
- Name: Department of Human Services – City of Philadelphia
- Address: 1515 Arch St, Philadelphia, PA 19102
- Phone: (215) 683-4347 (Information) | (215) 683-6000 (Complaints)
- Website: phila.gov/departments/department-of-human-services
- Location: View Map
Core Functions and Responsibilities
Philadelphia’s Department of Human Services (DHS) is tasked with wide-ranging responsibilities concentrated on child safety and juvenile justice. The department manages the city’s child abuse hotline, responding to approximately 35,000 calls annually, and supervises investigations while working toward placing children in safe, permanent homes. A major component of its work is partnering with ten Community Umbrella Agencies across the city, which provide ongoing case management, family support, and access to resources within local communities.
DHS contracts with licensed agencies to recruit and support foster care and adoption placements. The ultimate goal is reunification with biological families whenever safe, but DHS also facilitates adoption services to provide permanency when reunification is not possible. Comprehensive training and support are provided to foster and adoptive families to ensure children’s diverse needs are met in welcoming environments.
The department’s juvenile justice programming focuses on diverting youth from detention facilities into positive educational, vocational, and mental health services. DHS operates the juvenile detention center and supports community-based alternatives that emphasize rehabilitation, trauma-informed care, and safe family reunification. This balance between accountability and care aims to reduce recidivism and help youth succeed.
Prevention and Community Support
Prevention is a foundational pillar of DHS’s strategy. Through intensive prevention services (IPS), the department works with at-risk families to address issues early and prevent child removal. This includes parenting education, in-home interventions, access to counseling, and resources to strengthen family stability. DHS also recognizes the importance of engagement with kinship caregivers, offering programs that support relatives providing care for children whose parents cannot.
Specialized youth and family initiatives integrate a trauma-informed framework aimed at sustainable health improvements. These include initiatives addressing domestic violence, substance use prevention, and programs for incarcerated parents to maintain active relationships with their children despite separation. DHS also offers educational resources and workshops, such as parenting classes and behavioral support programs, emphasizing collaboration and empowerment.
Partnerships and Collaborations
DHS collaborates with public and private partners including schools, healthcare systems, community organizations, and advocacy groups. One notable partnership is with Be Strong Families, integrating protective factors frameworks into child welfare services to improve resilience and family functionality. Strengthening Families coordinators support parent-led initiatives and workshops throughout the city, offering vital community engagement.
The department also maintains an Institutional Review Board overseeing ethical standards in human subject research and partners with other city agencies on public safety, housing, education, and health interventions.
How to Engage and Access Services
Residents seeking help from DHS can access a broad portfolio of services via the department’s main office, the network of umbrella agencies, and health centers. Families needing to report suspected child abuse or neglect have a confidential 24/7 hotline, and those involved with DHS receive coordinated case management and supports customized to their needs.
The department readily provides information and resources online for families, foster parents, and prospective adoptive parents. Workshops, informational sessions, and public outreach help ensure community knowledge and participation. Transparency is promoted through published data reports, community listening sessions, and ongoing updates through digital platforms.
Contact Points for Specific Programs
Housing and Prevention Services: The DHS housing programs assist families and youth aging out of care with stable living options and support.
Child Abuse Hotline: Available anytime to report concerns and initiate protective investigations.
Intensive Prevention Services (IPS): Targeted services aiming to prevent juvenile justice involvement.
Resource Parent Programs: Information on how to become a foster or adoptive parent is readily available through DHS.
The Department of Human Services in Philadelphia carries a profound responsibility in the safeguarding and nurturing of children and youth amid life’s challenges. Through coordinated prevention, comprehensive child welfare services, and innovative juvenile justice programs, DHS strives to create a city where every child has the chance to grow up safely, loved, and supported.
Its dedication to family-centered, trauma-informed care, equity, and community partnerships defines DHS’s impact across Philadelphia. For residents, engaging with DHS means access to critical supports in times of crisis and pathways to stability. For stakeholders and policymakers, DHS represents an evolving system striving to meet rising demands with compassion and accountability.
In our city, DHS is more than a government agency—it is a community partner committed to the future of Philadelphia’s children and families.
For further information, resources, or assistance, visit the official Department of Human Services website: phila.gov/departments/department-of-human-services. To explore community-based services and support, consult the network of Community Umbrella Agencies. Active citizens and families can also follow DHS social media pages for timely updates and announcements.