Authorizing the creation of a "Special Committee on Child Separation in Philadelphia" to review child separation practices in Philadelphia's child welfare system and develop recommendations to ensure compliance with state child protective services law, protect children, uphold due process rights of families, and prevent the unnecessary break-up of families.

Authorizing the creation of a "Special Committee on Child Separation in Philadelphia" to review child separation practices in Philadelphia's child welfare system and develop recommendations to ensure compliance with state child protective services law, protect children, uphold due process rights of families, and prevent the unnecessary break-up of families. WHEREAS, Separation of children from their families, even for the short term, results in emotional and physical harm and toxic stress, disrupting a child's brain architecture and affecting health with long-term consequences for the child, the family, and the community; and WHEREAS, The issue of child separation from families arises within municipal child welfare systems, and Pennsylvania, like every jurisdiction, mandates that child separation occur only when absolutely necessary, recognizing that while such separations may be required in certain situations, they must always be done with careful consideration of the child's well-being and safety; and WHEREAS, Philadelphia has among the highest poverty rate of any large city in the country, and the highest child separation rate, three times that of New York City and four times that of Chicago; and WHEREAS, There is no evidence that Philadelphians are more likely than others to abuse their children; and WHEREAS, Studies have shown that children in foster care experience higher rates of abuse, including physical, verbal, and sexual maltreatment, often at the hands of staff in…