Mission & Guiding Principles
The ultimate goal of “Families 4 Children” is to ensure that every child grows up in a safe, nurturing and permanent family.
This goal will be accomplished through the following four mission priorities: protecting children; promoting strong families; promoting child well-being and providing timely permanency. Embedding these mission priorities into all aspects of the child dependency system will lead to better outcomes for our children and a brighter future for our communities.
These principles represent the fundamental beliefs that should guide the overall operation of the child dependency system in Pennsylvania. They should be reflected in the delivery of all services to children and families within that system. These beliefs should also guide court and policy decisions at all levels within the system and the relationships among all participants in the system. Adherence to these principles should increase child safety and well-being while reducing the number of dependent children in Pennsylvania and the length of time that any one child remains dependent.
To accomplish this mission and redefine, refocus and redirect the goals, actions and operation of the child dependency system in Pennsylvania, the Supreme Court of Pennsylvania, through its Office of Children & Families in the Courts and the Children’s Roundtable Initiative, presents the Guiding Principles outlined above.
Mission and Guiding Principles
This document, created by the Pennsylvania Children’s Roundtable and supported by the Pennsylvania Juvenile Court Judge’s Commission, the Pennsylvania Department of Human Services- Office of Children, Youth and Families, the Supreme Court of Pennsylvania – Administrative Office of Pennsylvania Courts and the Pennsylvania County Commissioner’s Association was adopted by the State Roundtable on May 29, 2009. The document provides an overview of the purpose, mission and principles that should govern Pennsylvania’s Dependency system under the overarching statement “Families 4 Children”. The ultimate goal of this effort is to ensure permanent, safe, loving and stable homes for all dependent children.
To view the booklet, please click the picture to the right. To obtain hard copies of the Mission & Guiding Principles booklet, please submit the order form to the Administrative Office of Pennsylvania Courts, Office of Children & Families in the Courts, 601 Commonwealth Avenue, P.O. Box 61260, Harrisburg, PA 17106-1260.
