Children and Youth Services

Jun 19, 2025 | CYS

The Adoption Services provide activities designed to culminate in legal adoption. These services include, but are not limited to:

• Adoptive home recruitment
• Study of the child and natural parents
• Study of the adoptive applicants
• Placement and supervision of the child in the adoptive home
• Preparation and presentation of material for the adoption hearing
• An assuring of adoption subsidies when needed.

Additional subsidies are available as a method for encouraging and promoting the placement in adoptive homes of children who are; physically and/or mentally handicapped, emotionally disturbed, physically disabled or mentally handicapped, emotionally disturbed, or hard to place by virtue of age, sibling relationship, or ethnicity.

Jun 19, 2025 | CYS

The Child and Adolescent Service System Program (CASSP) came to Potter County in 1992. The Potter County CASSP Interagency Team meets as needed. The Team consists of representatives from Children & Youth, Mental Health, Juvenile Probation, Intermediate Unit 9, Drug and Alcohol, CCBH, Family Based and BHAU. The parent and child/adolescent are also included at these meetings. A representative from the school (principal or guidance counselor) is also invited, particularly if the child or adolescent is displaying behaviors at school that are problematic. Other agencies or individuals are invited if deemed necessary to deliver the appropriate services to that family.

To be eligible for CASSP a child or adolescent (under the age of 21) must meet the following criteria:

• be at risk for out-of-home placement
• have had a recent psychiatric hospitalization
• be involved in more than one child-serving system
• have a mental health diagnosis that is impacting on his ability to function at home, school or in the community.

If a child does not have a mental health diagnosis, he/she will still be reviewed by the CASSP Team who will then make a recommendation that a psychiatrist or psychologist assess the child for a possible mental health diagnosis.

Coordination of service provision

Services are voluntary and free

Emphasis is on consumer choice

Services are child/adolescent centered, family focused, and community based and sensitive to cultural differences and promote the least restrictive, intrusive approach.

• CASSP Referral Form
• CASSP Brochure

Jun 19, 2025 | CYS

The Facility Based Child Caring Service provides shelter and service activities for more than eight children, provided on the grounds of a General Child Care Facility. This service is facility-based, generally with education, health, and other services provided on the grounds. These facilities provide a program designed either for delinquent or for non-delinquent children, as described in Chapter IV, Section 2A-92 of the Department’s Social Services Manual.

Counseling Intervention Services

Jun 19, 2025 | CYS

The Counseling Intervention Services provides supportive activities and active intervention provided to a child and his/her family. The service helps to:

• Improve problem solving abilities
• Improve coping skills
• Strengthen intra- and interpersonal functioning
• Prevent or alleviate conditions which present a risk to the safety and well being of the child
• Stabilize the family unit
• Strengthen their capacity to function independently in the community

Included in this service are activities such as coordination and assistance in the use of the total network of community resources and services needed by the family; advocating for the rights, needs, and entitlements of children and families; and assisting the family in developing parenting and homemaking and other life skills.

Emergency Shelter Service

Jun 19, 2025 | CYS

The Emergency Shelter Service is a time limited placement for no more than 30 days, and is available for those children who must be removed from their current living situations or who request voluntary placement. The time period of up to 30 days is designed to allow those persons directly involved to develop a continuing service plan appropriate to the child’s needs. Emergency Shelter is available on a 24-hour basis and can include the following facilities: foster home, group homes, and general child care facilities operated for the benefit of dependent children.

Jun 19, 2025 | CYS

What is Foster Parenting?

• An opportunity to make a difference in a child’s life
• Caring for a child who has been abused/neglected until his/her parent(s) can resume the responsibility, or a permanent home can be found
• A commitment to helping children and their families through a difficult period
• Providing love and guidance and then letting go
• Learning and developing the parenting skills needed to meet the unique needs of each child

Foster Parent Requirements

• You must be at least (21) years of age
• Pass a medical appraisal by a licensed physician
• Pass screening requirements related to child abuse and criminal history clearances

Who can be a Foster Parent?

• Anyone!

Who are the Children that need Foster Care?

• Foster children are often siblings, who need to be placed together
• Babies through teens, who are any race or religion
• Like other children, some may have medical needs
• Most have been physically or sexually abused or neglected

As a result of difficult life experiences, some of the children’s behaviors may be challenging and may require ongoing counseling/therapy!

Other things to Consider

• Am I willing to work with social worker and other community professionals, advocate for the child’s needs in school, counseling and medical community?
• Do I have energy and time enough to give foster children the attention they need?
• Do I have family, friends or other support systems that you can call on for support?
• Am I able to ask for help and not be embarrassed?

Foster Family Residence Requirements

• One flush toilet, one wash basin and one bath or shower with hot/cold running water
• An operable heating system
• An operable telephone

Sleeping areas shall meet the following criteria

• No unsuitable area such as a hall, stairway, unfinished basement or attic, garage, bathroom, eating area, closet, shed or detached building
• Separate bedrooms for Foster Children of the opposite sex who are 5 years of age or older
• Each foster child shall be provided with a clean, comfortable mattress and clean linens, blankets and pillow

Jun 19, 2025 | CYS

The Group Home Service is a residential care and rehabilitation service. This can be provided for a maximum of eight children in an open community setting apart from institution grounds, which offers a full range of supportive and resource activities through child care staff. The service is directed at establishing consistent developmental relationships focused on self-reliance, self-direction, and other skills necessary for the child to function appropriately in the community.

Jun 19, 2025 | CYS

In-home Services provides case management and assistance for struggling youths and their families. The services provide help in such a way that the youth may remain in the home environment, rather than being relocated.

Jun 19, 2025 | CYS

The Potter County Mentor Program is funded by a three year delinquency prevention grant, which was awarded to Potter County Human Services by the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. This grant provides the program with the means to develop and implement a one-on-one mentor program for the young people of Potter County.

If you are interested in becoming a mentor, call the Potter County Human Services office and ask for the program coordinator for the Potter County Mentor Program. Reviewing some of the frequently asked mentoring questions (listed on our home page) might help you decide if you can make a difference. The Program Coordinator will be happy to set up an appointment and discuss the program with you.

If you are interested in requesting a mentor for a youth, print and complete the application form and return it to our offices.

Jun 19, 2025 | CYS

Parents Helping Parents

For better relationships with your children…
(800) 800-2560 or (814) 544-7315

Being a parent is the most demanding job in the world, and we learn “on the job.” With so many demands on our time and energy, we often get stressed out. Here are some tips you can use when you become stressed out this summer.

Try some tension relievers. Take a break from your child, call a friend and talk, sing or listen to music.

Take care of yourself. Pay attention to your need for physical exercise, sleep and proper food.

Enjoy humor. Watch a comedy movie, read or listen to jokes. Stress improves if you can find something to laugh about.

Know when to ask for help. Asking for help is a sign of strength, not weakness. If you feel out of control more often than you like, if you see no way out of your frustration, or of you can’t talk to your kids without yelling or hitting, it may be time for some help.

Parents Helping Parents provides support groups are for all parents who could use a little hope and encouragement. At each meeting you will find:

Other parents who understand how you’re feeling

Someone to talk to

A place to share practical advice
…and remember, what you say stays within the group!

Placement Program

Jun 19, 2025 | CYS

The ultimate goal of the Community Placement Program is to allow the reunification of youth to their home and to also resolve family conflicts.

Jun 19, 2025 | CYS

The General Protective Services provides child safety with service activities. The service is provided to protect the rights, health, and welfare of children when parents fail or are unable to provide their children with adequate food, clothing, shelter, care, or protection. Activities are provided to children and families when the children have been neglected, exploited, or injured by their parents to an extent not sufficient to be covered by Act 124 of November 26, 1975, as amended by Act 127 of 1998. Included are runaway children by virtue of their status. Activities are provided to insure such children an opportunity for healthy growth and development and to prevent the occurrence of further and more serious harm.

The Child Protective Service is provided for children reported as abused.