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About Us

Purpose

Beaver County Children and Youth Services is a state-mandated agency that was created by the County Commissioners in April 1941 to discharge their legal responsibilities on behalf of dependent, neglected and abused children. The Agency is a child-centered service dedicated to protecting children from abuse and neglect, while at the same time working to preserve the family unit.

Mission

  • Children have a right to be protected.
     
  • Children have a right to be raised by their biological family.
     
  • Parents have the right to change and/or alter their condition in order to meet the safety and
    other needs of their children.
     
  • Children have a right to permanency.
     
  • Children and their families have the right to expect the Agency to provide reasonable efforts to:
    • maintain family stability;
    • reunify families when separation is necessary, and;
    • seek a permanent safe home when needed.

Legal Notice

The County Code Act of August 9, 1955, P.L. 323 as amended, Section 2168 provided as follows:

"The County Commissioners of any county of the fourth, fifth, sixth, seventh or eighth class shall have the power, and for the purpose of protecting and promoting the welfare of children and youth, it shall be their duty to provide those child welfare services designed to keep children in their own homes, prevent neglect, abuse and exploitation, help overcome problems that result in dependency, neglect or delinquency, to provide in foster family homes and child caring institutions adequate substitutive care for any child in need of care for children and youth who have been adjudicated dependent, neglected or delinquent."

The State Department of Public Welfare is also involved in the delivery system at the local level. The nature and degree of such involvement is outlined in the Public welfare Code, Act 21 of June 13, 1967. The law assigns to the State Department of Public Welfare the power and duty:

  • To assure within the Commonwealth the availability and equitable provision of adequate public welfare services for all children who need them regardless of religion, race, settlement, residence, or economic or social status.
     
  • To make and enforce all rules and regulations necessary and appropriate to the proper accomplishment of the child welfare duties and functions vested by law in the county institutions districts, or their successors.
     
  • All rules and regulations, which the Department is authorized to make with respect to the duties and functions of the county institution districts or their successors shall be binding upon them.
     
  • To consult with and assist each county institution, district, or its successor, in carrying out child welfare duties and functions as authorized by law.

Advisory Board

The Agency is governed by State and Federal Laws and Department of Public Welfare regulations. One regulation mandates that the Executive Officers appoint an Advisory Committee to review and make recommendations that pertain to the social service program and the operation of the County Children and Youth Agency. The committee is composed of concerned individuals of the community dedicated to the needs of the children of Beaver County.

The Advisory Board meets monthly to be updated on current issues pertaining to the Agency. Each year the Beaver County Festival of Trees is co-sponsored by the Advisory Board. This is the sole fundraiser held by the Board. Money raised is used to purchase winter coats and school shoes for children involved with the agency, assist with specific requests from casework staff on behalf of children, send children to summer camp, and other needs deemed necessary by the Agency. In addition, the Advisory Board provides $200.00 cash grants to youth in agency care who graduate from high school and $1,000 to each child who pursues higher education.

The Advisory Board offers up to $1,000 scholarships to children involved with the Agency who are planning to pursue post-high school education/training.

How to Report Suspected Child Abuse or Neglect

Anyone may call the agency on behalf of a child. This would include, but not be limited to, the child's parents, relatives, neighbors, school officials, police officers, the child him/herself, concerned citizens or generally anyone who comes into contact with a child and has reason to believe that the child is unsafe.

Beaver County Children and Youth Services Office:
(724) 891-5800 or (800) 615-7743
Daytime business hours:
8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday - Friday

Suspected Child Abuse Toll Free Hotline: (800) 932-0313

Outside of daytime business hours, weekends and holidays, call either number listed above. Your call to report suspected abuse or neglect will be relayed to an on-call caseworker via the Beaver County Emergency Services Center for rapid assessment. If possible please provide a contact phone number for the responding caseworker to contact you for additional specific information regarding your report.

Notice of Nondiscrimination Policy

Beaver County Children & Youth Services complies with applicable Federal civil rights laws and does not discriminate
on the basis of race, color, national origin, age, disability, or sex.