JUVENILE JUSTICE

Children First is a leading member of a growing coalition of advocates pushing for strategies to reduce the number of Pennsylvania children involved with the juvenile legal system, with a focus on reducing the use of secure detention and placement and the adult prosecution of children.

With our partners in the PA Youth Justice Alliance, a diverse statewide coalition made up of youth, system-impacted young adults, parents, service providers, and policy organizations, Children First is advancing legislation and administrative changes to:

• Raise the minimum age from 10 to 13 that a child can be charged in court.
• Reduce the number of children in the juvenile justice system through the expansion of diversion programs, which allow kids to take accountability for low-level offenses outside of the formal court process.
• Reduce the number of kids incarcerated in detention centers and secure facilities.
• Reduce the adult prosecution of children.
• Ensure a robust system of oversight of detention and residential facilities, including an independent statewide Office of Child Advocate.

CHILD WELFARE

Children First is working with partners to advance state and local policy changes that:

• Ensure children are not separated from their families just because of poverty.
• Enhance the continuum of services available to children and their families to prevent child welfare system involvement, expedite reunification, and reduce the use of congregate care placements like residential treatment.
• Ensure the Social Security benefits of children in foster care are saved for them instead of being used by the government to reimburse itself for their care.
• Ensure a robust system of oversight and reporting of residential facilities.