Region-specific Resources

Region 1

Philadelphia County

Achieving Independence Center (AIC), a Philadelphia DHS Development Program
The Achieving Independence Center (AIC) provides resources, classes, employment, and housing services to youth currently and formerly DHS (Philadelphia) involved, who are preparing to age out of the system.

CASA Philadelphia
CASA of Philadelphia trains and supports community volunteers to advance the welfare of children in foster care through effective advocacy. In Philadelphia, CASA often serves in the capacity of Educational Decision-Maker (EDM).

Defender Association Child Advocacy Unit
The Child Advocacy Unit (CAU) represents youth involved in Philadelphia County, from birth to the age of 21. The CAU protects and promotes the legal interests of children and strives to serve their best interests.

Family Friends, by Temple University
Family Friends is an outreach program for kinship families with members who happen to have special needs. The program connects families with mentors who serve as connections to vital resources.

Girls TRACK and Boys TRACK, a Philadelphia DHS Development Program
Girls TRACK and Boys TRACK are mentoring programs for youth in grades 7-12. Youth are provided with activities to promote cultural educational enrichment, in an effort to keep them on “track” to be successful and prepare for their future.

Grandma’s Kids, by Temple University Intergenerational Center
Grandma’s Kids is an afterschool program for students K-5 in a foster care placement. Some services include Nutritious meals, tutoring, exclusive events, and academic enrichment.

HELP, by LifeSet
HELP offers weekly, sequential lessons over 8 weeks to help young people build vital knowledge and skills around obtaining and maintaining independent, stable housing. Services are available to young people ages 18-23 who are aging out of DHS custody or otherwise facing housing instability.

Juvenile Law Center (JLC)
JLC is an agency that advocates for educational rights for youth, youth homelessness prevention, promoting permanency, and decreasing institutionalization of youth with disabilities.

LifeSet
LifeSet integrates both clinical and case management components to ensure the youth are engaged in the program and establish permanency and build basic independent living skills. Staff are available to the youth 24 hours a day, seven days a week, and conduct weekly face-to-face visits.

Monkey & the Elephant Café
The Monkey & The Elephant (M&E) was created to provide former foster youth with personal and professional skills, employment, and the supportive community needed to lead a sustainable, independent life.

Support Center for Child Advocates (SCCA)
SCCA or Child Advocates provides legal assistance and social service advocacy to children who have experienced abuse or neglect in Philadelphia County. SCCA represents children who have experienced abuse or neglect.

Teenshop, a Philadelphia DHS Development Program
Teenshop has established a curriculum for young women of color, through a series of life skills workshops, college preparatory initiatives, and community service projects.

The Attic, a Philadelphia DHS Development Program
The Attic offers a variety of programming and activities for LGBTQ youth and allies, aged 14-23, in our safe and supportive space. Programming focuses on developing essential life skills in the areas of job readiness, academic and educational enrichment, leadership, arts and culture, and health and wellness.

Valley Youth House – Adolescents Achieving Independence (AAI)
The program provides youth with a liaison for the transition from adolescence to adulthood. The liaison provides connections that support success after graduation.

Youth Fostering Change (YFC)
YFC is an advocacy program developed through the Juvenile Justice Center, for youth who are currently or formerly involved in the child welfare system.

Region 2

Berks County

CASA of Berks County
CASA volunteers advocate for children who were once abused and/or neglected and are now placed into the foster care system through the Dependency Court.

The Kindness Project’s Foster Closet
The Kindness Project provides clothing, furniture, equipment, school supplies, and any other necessities for foster families and children.

Chester County

Chester County’s Children
Chester County’s Children works in conjunction with the Chester County Department of Children, Youth, and Families (DCYF). The program provides financial aid for families in crisis and children up to age 21 being served by DCYF or living in foster care by offering short-term assistance with housing, utilities, clothing, or furnishings.

Fostering Hope
Fostering Hope, Chester County serves foster families and children in Southeastern Pennsylvania. The program provides foster children with new duffle bags to use for their belongings when moving from one home to another.

Mazi Adoption and Family Services
Mazi Adoption and Family Services offers a resource for foster families called Mazi’s Connection Collective. Families can sign up on their website to shop for certain items (hygiene/personal use products, clothing, outerwear, luggage, bags, newborn/infant equipment, and more).

Dauphin County

Dauphin County CASA
CASA volunteers advocate for children who were once abused and/or neglected and are now placed into the foster care system through the Dependency Court.

Sevita
Sevita offers foster care services including counseling, nursing care, skill building, transition support, and more.

The Bair Foundation
The Bair Foundation provides foster families with evidence-based trainings that teach relationship-building, trauma-informed practices, and behavior management strategies. This program also offers support groups and planned parties or events for foster families throughout the year.

Lancaster County

CASA of Lancaster and Lebanon Counties
CASA volunteers advocate for children who were once abused and/or neglected and are now placed into the foster care system through the Dependency Court.

COBYS Family Services
COBYS Family Services provides foster care, adoption, counseling, family life education, and permanency services for children and families at risk in Lancaster and Lebanon counties. The program also supports foster children and their resource families through regular visits, advice, encouragement, and 24-hour emergency access to a caseworker.

Junior League of Lancaster
The Junior League of Lancaster offers a Welcome Home Kit program which was established to provide household items to youth who have recently aged out and are facing the daunting task of equipping their first home.

Lebanon County

Adoption Swaption
Adoption Swaption serves adoptive, foster, custodial, kinship, and guardianship families in Central Pennsylvania. Currently, there is a building and storage unit with clothing, shoes, bedding, car seats, cribs, toys, playpens, walkers, highchairs, bedding, and more.

Schuylkill County

Bridge 127
Bridge 127 supplies high-risk youth with clothing and personal care items, as well as furniture and other household items for the youth aging out of the system. The program also offers a store where parents and children can shop for free.

Schuylkill County Children and Youth Agency (SCCYA)
SCCYA offers counseling services and assistance with independent living skills for teens in foster care aside from placement services.

Region 3

Cumberland County

Bethany House
Bethany House is a home for young women who are aging out of the foster care system or facing homelessness. Activities include transitional housing for women ages 18-23.

Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA) Program
Provides trained volunteers who independently investigate facts of the case for the court. Attend all meetings and court proceedings. Make recommendations to the court based on case facts and information gathered.

Launch Pad
The Launch Pad provides semi-supervised apartments, independent living services, and trauma-informed care to young adults (males) ages 18-23 years. We provide evidence-based solutions that make a softer landing for transitioning young adults.

York County

Bikers Against Child Abuse (BACA)
BACA offers a biker buddy program, which includes group rides to child’s home and court buddy appearances.

Children’s Advocacy Center
The York County Children’s Advocacy Center strives to minimize the number of times a child has to give his or her statement regarding allegations of abuse, and we work with the multidisciplinary investigative team to schedule a single interview with a Forensic Interviewer at our Center.

Covenant House Pennsylvania
Covenant House Pennsylvania (CHPA) is a program for young people in desperate situations aged 21 and under. Our goal is to help young people facing homelessness become healthy, happy, responsible, productive, and independent adults. CHPA has two locations in Pennsylvania: Philadelphia and York, where we serve a total of about 3,200 youth annually, and all our services are free.

The Lehman Center
The Lehman Center offers a crisis nursery, art therapy, and parent support groups.

Valley Youth House
Valley Youth House is the catalyst for youth to achieve their desired future through genuine relationships that support families, ensure safe places, and build community connections.

Franklin County

Children’s Aid Society
The Children’s Aid Society aims to provide quality social services to children and youth in Residential Care, Shelter Care, Adoption, Foster Care, and Diagnostic Services.

Huntingdon, Juniata, and Mifflin Counties

Pathways of PA – The Family Preservation and Reunification Program
This program offers support to families with a child at risk for or currently placed out of the home. The program provides intensive services in the home, working in cooperation with the family, and Children and Youth Services, to determine risk factors.

Region 4

Allegheny County

412 Youth Zone
The 412 Youth Zone welcomes young adults, 16-23, that are transitioning out of the foster care system and are eligible for independent living services or are experiencing housing instability.

Families United Network
Families United Network provides pregnancy support services, adoption services, child care services including infant, young toddler, older toddler, preschool, before and after school care, and summer programming (Fun Academy). They also provide foster and residential care.

Foster Love Project
Foster Love Project is a nonprofit dedicated to providing love in action to kids in foster care as well as support to the families who are providing care for them.

KidsVoice
KidsVoice offers an expansive resource hub for clients, caregivers, and all those who want to learn about organizations, programs, and benefits that can help provide a safety net of care, stability, and support for youth in Allegheny County.

Pennsylvania Child Welfare Resource
The Pennsylvania Child Welfare Resource, offered by the University of Pittsburgh’s School of Social Work, offers resources for practitioners working with children in foster care. Some offerings include training events and curricula.

The Children’s Institute
The Children’s Institute focuses on family support. Support is provided through the following: In-Home Family Services, Visit Coaching, Care Coordination, SWAN Service, and Infant Parent Empowerment Program.

Region 5

Clarion County

Clarion County Promise
Clarion County’s Promise offers parenting support from birth to 18 through individual parenting programs and referral services. The program also offers car seat help, safe sleep, and more.

Clarion County Independent Living
Clarion County Independent Living provides assistance, guidance, and support to youth between the ages of 14 to 22 years old who qualify for the program. The goal is to help each youth achieve their own successes and meet their own goals.

Keystone Family Alliance
Keystone Family Alliance, with resources throughout the state, is a Christian organization. The organization seeks to connect children and caregivers to resources and counseling.

Crawford County

Crawford County Family Peer Support Programs (CHAPS)
The Crawford County Family Peer Support Program offers skill-building for caretakers that enhances resilience, communication, advocacy, and other areas affecting the ability to support a child/young adult, with mental health challenges in the home, school, and community.

Crawford County CASA
Crawford County CASA trains and provides quality volunteer advocates for children involved in juvenile court proceedings due to abuse and/or neglect. Crawford County CASA envisions that all children have a safe, permanent and nurturing home in the shortest time frame possible.

Erie County

Foster Erie
Foster Erie (DBA Erie County Resource Family Organization) is a non-profit organization that aims to bring foster care awareness to the Erie community. Foster Erie works with the children, foster families, and the Erie community to provide opportunities for support and encouragement.

NAMI Erie
The families and members of NAMI Erie County PA offer understanding to anyone concerned about mental illnesses and the treatment of mental illness.

Lawrence County

Cray Youth & Family Services
Cray’s Foster Care services provide safe and nurturing homes for children (infants through age 18+) who have been removed from their homes due to parental abuse, neglect, or a lack of parental control. Children in need of substitute care are referred through the Lawrence County Children and Youth Services agency.

Children’s Advocacy Center of Lawrence County
The Children’s Advocacy Center (CAC) of Lawrence County is a multi-purpose, kid- and family-friendly, private nonprofit agency. The CAC’s main goal is to stop child abuse through intervention, prevention, education, and community outreach

Mercer County

Children’s Aide Society – Mercer County
CAS offers a number of programs to support children and youth in foster care and caregivers. Some of the programs include adoption and permanency support, youth mentoring programs, foster parent training and support, and mental health services.

Transition Age Services for Youth – Mercer County
The Mercer County Transition Age Work Group (TAWG) is a team of parents and professionals that have a goal to help all children and young adults to be successful, this includes but is not limited to postsecondary education, employment and independent living.

Warren County

CASA of Warren and Forest Counties
Gives a voice to children, under the protection of the Juvenile Court, seeking safety and permanency. CASA best interest advocacy is driven by the guiding principle that children grow and develop best with their family of origin if that can safely be achieved.

Venango County

Welcome Every Child
Welcome Every Child home-delivers baskets of infant resources and supplies for newborns. The organization provides resources for newborns and their families to promote the health and well-being of children and connect families to an agency that can assist and support them, if needed.

Transitions – Venango County
The purpose of the Transitions program is to bridge the gap from adolescence to adulthood, providing service linkage, therapy, support, and empowering young people to gain skills to achieve independence.

Region 6

Blair County

Family Services Inc.
Family Services Inc. provides family services, victim services, RK Agarwal MD and Family/Teen Center and Shelter, Center for Child Justice, and intellectual disabilities counseling. They also host a Men Helping Men program.

Catholic Charities
Catholic Charities provides adoption services, counseling services, pregnancy support services, and opioid info.

Cambria County

Foster Grandparents Program
The Foster Grandparent Program aims to place lower-income seniors as mentors, tutors, and friends to local children in the community schools and daycares that could benefit from the extra love and encouragement that seniors have to offer.

The Bair Foundation
The Bair Foundation provides foster care, behavioral health services, adoption services, family services, structured treatment centers, and kinship services in various counties in Pennsylvania.

Professional Family Care
Professional Family Care provides Foster Care and Adoption services. They also provide Early Head Start services. pfcs.org

Merakey
Merakey provides foster and adoption services, Autism services, intellectual and disability services, addiction recovery services, and mental health services.

Pressley Ridge
Pressley Ridge provides foster and adoption services, community-based and in-home services, outpatient services, autism services, and residential and transition-age services, in various counties in Pennsylvania.

The Christian Home of Johnstown
The Christian Home provides Independent Living programs and services for at-risk adolescent youth ages 14-23 and an unsupervised Independent Living Shelter (Lacey House) for older youth aged 18-23 yrs.

Centre County

Family Alliance
Formerly known as the Centre County Orphan Care Alliance, the Keystone Family Alliance provides foster care community wrap-around support, mentoring, prayer email, REAL moms support group, international sponsorship, and church representative adoption.

Family Intervention Crisis Services
Family Intervention Crisis Services offers a reunification program, independent living program, custody mentoring, permanency planning, and family preservation.

State of Hope Foundation
The State of Hope Foundation reaches over 500 children through programs in our community. Collaborating with Penns Valley Youth Center, Centre County Children and Youth Services, Park Forest Preschool, and other organizations, we work to imagine and provide new opportunities for disadvantaged youth.

Clearfield County

Bethany Christian Services
Bethany Christian Services provides foster care services including adoption from foster care, local foster care, global family-based services, and long and short-term immigrant foster care.

Pentz Run
Pentz Run Is a residential program for at-risk and disadvantaged youth. The program operates out of DuBois, Pennsylvania, a small city with a rural feel in the heart of West Central Pennsylvania. The area affords its residents educational and vocational opportunities and the ability to access a variety of professional services all with the goal of helping youth become their own very best.

Region 7

Bradford County

Communities that Care (CTC) of Bradford County
CTC is a coalition-based prevention operating system that uses public health approaches to prevent youth problems such as violence, delinquency, school drop-out, teen pregnancy, and substance abuse.

Carbon County

PA Families Inc.
PA Families Inc. works with families directly and coordinates services with community resources to improve family conditions. It is an in-home program consisting primarily of activities, tutoring, and individual counseling provided by a professional advisor.

Luzerne County

Brandon’s Forever Home
Brandon’s Forever Home is in the heart of downtown Hazleton, Pennsylvania. The organization raises awareness about children in foster care and their need for permanent loving homes. Activities include clothing, school supplies, activities, support groups, and Q&A sessions.

Family Service Association of NEPA
Family Services Association of NEPA is a collaborative effort with Luzerne C & Y to implement brief, intensive family-focused prevention and reunification services for families who have children placed in foster care or kinship care or who are at risk of placement in Luzerne County. Designed to prevent or reduce time in out-of-home placement.

Region 8

Montgomery County

Fostering Hope
Foster Hope serves foster families and children in Southeastern Pennsylvania (Chester, Montgomery, Delaware, Bucks, Northampton, and York County). They provide resources to foster children such as “Dignity Duffles” to use for their belongings when moving, “Bags of Hope” which contain necessities needed when entering a new home, and the “Foster Share” Closet which is a place where foster parents and children can “shop” for items.

Bucks County

Bucks County Grandfamilies Support Group
The Bucks County Grandfamilies Support Group is run by grandparents for grandparents and other relatives raising the children of loved ones. Build support, discuss topics related to challenges, and offer resources and speakers to educate others through lived experiences.

Bucks for Kids
Bucks for Kids provides funding for foster care kids’ unmet needs. They have an alliance with Bucks County Children and Youth Social Services Agency as they raise money to meet the extra needs of children and teens in the care of BCCY, i.e., summer camps, athletics, music and art classes, scholarships, vocational development, etc.

The Fiaria Project
The Fiaria Project is based in Bucks County and is dedicated to supporting foster families. They provide “Transition Kits”, Wellness Kits’’ that include yoga mats, meditation timers, mindfulness coloring books, and more. Also, access to local wellness classes (yoga) and mental health professionals.