Resolution authorizing the Committee on Public Health and Human Services to hold a hearing on the policies of the Department of Health and Human Services regarding child welfare protections.

Resolution authorizing the Committee on Public Health and Human Services to hold a hearing on the policies of the Department of Health and Human Services regarding child welfare protections. WHEREAS, The safety, well-being, and development of children are essential to the future of our community, and all children deserve to grow up in a safe and nurturing environment; and WHEREAS, The Philadelphia Department of Human Services (DHS) plays a critical role in safeguarding the welfare of children, particularly those who are at risk of abuse, neglect, or other forms of harm; and WHEREAS, Since 2012, DHS has outsourced care for children involved in abuse and neglect investigations to private nonprofit organizations known as Community Umbrella Agencies (CUAs), with the goal of localizing services and improving care for children in need; and WHEREAS, This goal has unfortunately not been met, as investigations reveal systemic breakdowns within the CUA network, leading to at least 70 lawsuits, 14 of which involve children who were killed while under the care of these agencies, and many more involving allegations of physical, sexual, and emotional abuse; and WHEREAS, The Philadelphia DHS system has allowed the CUA model to operate with significant failures, such as a lack of adequate oversight, unmanageable caseloads, high staff turnover, and inadequate resources, leading to unsafe conditions for vulnerable children; and WHEREAS, The City’s high foster care numbers, disproportionate to …