Category: State Government Actions

Invitation to Apply to the 2027 Pediatric Capacity Building Institute (Year 4) (September 9, 2026)

The Pennsylvania Department of Human Services is excited to announce the Fourth Annual Pediatric Capacity Building Institute (PCBI). PCBI is geared toward professionals across child- serving systems that are interested in learning more about how to support young people with complex needs and their families in PA and in initiating system change.

The PCBI offers a unique nine month, in person, multi-disciplinary, interactive learning opportunity across the entire service partnership. The Institute’s overall goal is to increase the administrative and clinical capacity across all systems to better support these youth and their families. The PCBI curriculum will accomplish this by promoting and strengthening:

  • clinical knowledge and understanding among participants from local, regional, and state government,
  • clinical expertise of providers – specific to individuals with both mental/behavioral health and developmental disabilities,
  • engagement of those with lived experience,
  • local, regional, and state understanding of complex needs planning, (organizing/facilitating/philosophy of approach),
  • each system’s understanding of other system’s available resources, processes, setting/service types, rules, and funding, and networking across systems and regions.

The Institute will also encourage participants to explore ways to improve and change their local systems of support for children and their families. Individuals who have completed prior institutes have used this new knowledge to strengthen existing programs and create fresh approaches that achieve the best results.

PCBI will approach these objectives from an individual and systemic perspective through training, integration of knowledge into practice, and opportunities to build a statewide cohort to work together to effect change and build capacity.

Discussion: 
PCBI will be facilitated by:

  • Jonathan McVey, Special Assistant, Office of the Secretary, PA DHS – PCBI Director
  • Emily Burger, Clinical Director, Office of the Secretary, PA DHS – PCBI Faculty
  • Amy Kabiru, Clinical Director, Office of the Secretary, PA DHS – PCBI Faculty
  • Shaye Erhard, OMHSAS Division of Operations and Service Delivery Director – PCBI Faculty
  • Michele Walsh, Executive Assistant, PA DHS – OCYF – PCBI Faculty

PCBI participants will hear from a variety of seasoned and successful speakers and practitioners who are implementing practical approaches to complex situations. The format of all sessions is designed to be highly interactive.

PCBI also strives to incorporate the lived experience of these children and families to ensure that the supports and services offered are meeting the needs of families across PA. Finally, PCBI participants will join a growing network of individuals who are exploring fresh pathways to supporting children and families who are attempting to manage highly complicated situations.

The curriculum includes topics such as:

  • Infant Mental Health & Child Development
  • Trauma / Resiliency
  • Cross System Knowledge & Multisystem Planning
  • Change Management
  • Education in Non-educational Settings / Early Intervention
  • Psychiatric Diagnosis / Psychopharmacology
  • Communication / Sensory Needs
  • Diversity and Culturally Competent Support
  • Therapies / Services / Programming / Evaluation / Assessment
  • Understanding the Child and Family – Biopsychosocial Approach
  • Relational Health and Permanency
  • Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD)
  • LGBTQIA+ Supports

Session Information, Requirements, and Confirming Attendance:
PCBI will accept 50 participants for the Year 4 Cohort. As such, each interested person must submit an Interest Survey by , 2026. Participants will be notified of their selection status by , 2026.

PCBI will meet once a month for nine months between and , with one backup session reserved in . Each month, there are consecutive two-day sessions. There will be five in-person sessions held at PaTTAN Central in Harrisburg and four virtual sessions conducted via Zoom. The specific dates, times, and location are provided below.

Participants who are selected will be required to register and submit a registration fee. The registration fee for the Pediatric Capacity Building Institute will be $400, which must be paid prior to the first session in . As a part of your paid tuition, you will be provided with coffee and a breakfast snack each morning, lunch, and an afternoon coffee break with snacks for all in-person sessions. Dinner will be on your own.

2027 Session Dates:

  • 3/24 – 3/25 – PaTTAN Central, Harrisburg
  • 4/14 – 4/15 – PaTTAN Central, Harrisburg
  • 5/19 – 5/20 – Virtual
  • 6/23 – 6/24 – Virtual
  • 7/14 – 7/15 – PaTTAN Central, Harrisburg
  • 8/4 – 8/5 – Virtual
  • 9/8 – 9/9 – Virtual
  • 10/6 – 10/7 – PaTTAN Central, Harrisburg
  • 11/3 – 11/4 – PaTTAN Central, Harrisburg
  • 12/8 – 12/9 – Back up

Session Start and End Times:
Live, in-person sessions in Harrisburg – Day 1 (10 am to 4:30 pm), Day 2 (9:00 am – 2:30 pm)
Live, virtual session held in Zoom – Both days (9:00 am – 3:00 pm)

Location:
Weather permitting, the In-Person sessions are held at the Pennsylvania Training and Technical Assistance Network (PaTTAN) at 6340 Flank Drive Harrisburg, PA 17112. In the event of inclement weather affecting a session, a virtual option will be made available.

Hotel Reservations:
Participants can reserve a room using the list of local hotels found on PaTTAN’s website here: PaTTAN – PaTTAN – CENTRAL. No group rate is available.

Requirements:
The Pediatric Capacity Building Institute emphasizes the participation and collaboration of all participants. Structured group work participation and 100% attendance are required. Only the confirmed participant can attend PCBI; no substitutions are permitted after confirming attendance.

Interest Survey:
To be considered for participation in Year 4 PCBI, please complete and submit this Interest Survey by , 2026. Participants will be notified of their status by , 2026, via email.

Please email ra-secretaryoffice@pa.gov if you have any questions.

How PA’s Migrant Education Program and MSIX Can Support LEAs & Migratory Students Webinar (September 8, 2026)

The Pennsylvania Migrant Education Program (PA MEP) invites LEA administrators, student services staff, counselors, registrars, and other school professionals to learn how the program can help identify and support migratory students. Held on Monday, October 5 from 10:00am – 11:00am, the session is designed both for LEAs that already serve migratory students and for those that have limited familiarity or no current relationship with the PA MEP.

Participants will receive a practical overview of the PA MEP, including how the program helps LEAs identify potentially eligible students, connect families with educational and community resources, reduce barriers to school participation, and support student engagement and attendance. Migratory students face unique challenges, such as frequent moves, interrupted schooling, and other circumstances due to the culture of migrancy, and the PA MEP can serve as an important partner in helping LEAs address attendance concerns and promote educational continuity.

A central focus of the session will be the Migrant Student Information eXchange (MSIX), a national information-sharing database that gives authorized users access to important educational and enrollment information for eligible migratory students who may have attended schools in multiple states. Participants will learn how MSIX can support timely enrollment, improve records coordination, help identify gaps, reduce delays caused by missing information, and provide school staff with a clearer picture of a student’s educational history. By attending, LEA personnel will gain practical tools, resources, contacts, and a better understanding of how PA MEP and MSIX can work together with LEAs to support student attendance, academic progress, and successful transitions between schools.

To register, please visit the How Pennsylvania’s Migrant Education Program and MSIX Can Support LEAs and Migratory Students Webinar webpage.

PDE Provides September 11 Resource Toolkit (September 3, 2026)

Pennsylvania’s September 11 Resource Toolkit provides educators with clear, age‑appropriate resources to teach the history, impact, and legacy of 9/11. Designed to support thoughtful, accurate instruction, the toolkit includes lesson plans, primary sources, and classroom activities that help students understand the significance of 9/11 and its lasting effects on our nation and world.

The toolkit provides access to educational materials on the events of 9/11, including videos, lesson plans, and classroom resources adaptable for virtual or in-person learning. It’s a ready‑to‑use guide that strengthens civic learning and supports meaningful classroom conversations.

All materials in this toolkit are cited as vetted resources and are not necessarily a comprehensive collection.  Per Act 25, this model curriculum covers the events of 9/11, the historical context of terrorism, the terrorist attacks on the World Trade Center, the Pentagon and United Airlines Flight 93 which crashed in Shanksville, Pennsylvania, the American recovery and response to the attacks, Global challenges and consequences in a post-September 11 world.

PDH Provides Statewide Update on Measles Outbreak as Cases Reach 540 in 36 Counties (September 3, 2026)

On September 3, 2026, the Pennsylvania Department of Health (PDH) announced that 540 measles cases have been confirmed across 36 counties in Pennsylvania so far in 2026. PDH continues its robust response to the ongoing measles outbreak and provides Pennsylvanians with updated information on cases, hospitalizations, and deaths.

While daily numbers fluctuate, tracking these trends provides Pennsylvanians and health care providers with visibility into community transmission across the Commonwealth and helps inform the Department’s ongoing response.

Key updates include:

  • New Positive Cases (since August 31, 2026): 43
  • Total Counties: 36
  • Total Cumulative Cases: 540
  • Total Hospitalizations: 91
  • Total Cumulative Measles-Associated Deaths: 2

Pennsylvanians can stay up to date on confirmed measles cases, hospitalizations, deaths, community transmission, and vaccination efforts on PDH’s dashboard: pa.gov/measles.

PDH is proactively working with residents, community organizations and health care providers to combat the measles outbreak in the Commonwealth through access to fact-based information and to the measles, mumps, and rubella (MMR) vaccine — and since the outbreak began in late April, state health officials have administered more than 3,700 MMR vaccinations at more than 100 pop-up clinics in affected communities.

Getting vaccinated is the best protection against the measles virus; the vaccine is 97 percent effective at preventing measles after two doses.  

DHS Releases 2025 Annual Child Protective Services Report (September 2, 2026)

On September 2, 2026, the Pennsylvania Department of Human Services (DHS)  released the 2025 Annual Child Protective Services Report, which provides statewide and county-level data on the Commonwealth’s efforts to protect and help children who were reported as victims of suspected abuse and neglect. 

The report provides an annual look into trends in Pennsylvania’s county-administered, state-supervised child welfare system. PA DHS has been using this data to identify opportunities to strengthen PA DHS’ work with county partners and further support organizations working with families to give children safe, healthy childhoods.  

Pennsylvania’s Child Welfare System
The child welfare system in Pennsylvania is state-supervised and county-administered, which means day-to-day operations are the responsibility of each county with state oversight. PA DHS, through its Office of Children, Youth, and Families (OCYF), oversees this system; all parts of the child welfare system play vital roles in the protection of children.  

Counties in Pennsylvania are generally responsible for all day-to-day child welfare functions. Nearly 3,000 county-employed caseworkers and case supervisors across Pennsylvania’s 67 counties dedicate themselves to ensuring the safety and well-being of the Commonwealth’s children, youth, and families. PA DHS licenses county agencies to provide essential child welfare operations, which includes investigations of potential abuse and neglect, case management services, foster care coordination and monitoring, and other supportive services. County children and youth agencies are responsible for staffing these operations.   

At the state level, PA DHS is responsible for oversight and enforcement of laws, regulations, and policies that guide the provision of child welfare services by each of the 67 counties in Pennsylvania. This includes the Child Protective Services Law (CPSL), which defines child abuse and incidents in which Child Protective Services reports are necessary. PA DHS also provides funding, oversight, and technical assistance to each county children and youth agency.

Report Summary   
Under the CPSL, PA DHS must submit an annual report to the Governor and General Assembly on child abuse in the Commonwealth. The report provides information on the efforts to protect and help children who were reported as victims of suspected abuse and neglect. 

In 2025, there were a total of 39,486 reports of suspected child abuse, compared to 41,070 reports in 2024. However, the percent of reports of suspected child abuse that were substantiated was 11.6 percent in both 2025 and 2024. In the 2019 Annual Child Abuse Report, prior to Pennsylvania experiencing the impacts of the pandemic, the total number of suspected child abuse reports had been 42,252. 

The 2025 report found that:   
-There were a total of 45 substantiated fatalities in 2025, compared to 60 substantiated in 2024;
-There were a total of 95 substantiated near fatalities in 2025 compared with 82 reported in 2024. 

Addressing Pennsylvania’s Overburdened Child Welfare System 
Pennsylvania’s child welfare system was established to keep our kids safe from abuse and neglect, but it has been overburdened. One especially noteworthy trend was the length of time taken by counties to complete an investigation of alleged child abuse; the number of child protective service (CPS) investigations that took more than 60 days to complete had been increasing at an alarming rate following the COVID-19 pandemic. In 2021 there were 254 CPS reports investigated in more than 60 days; this increased to 358 reports in 2022 and to 661 reports in 2023. These increases were largely attributed to staffing shortages at the counties.

As a result, the Shapiro Administration focused on two initiatives to support counties and address this workforce challenge. In 2024, PA DHS launched a ‘Recruitment and Retention Workgroup’ and invited the PA Council of Children and Youth Administrators (PCYA) to co-chair the efforts to identify and implement workforce strategies. In 2025, the Shapiro Administration convened workgroups focused on the intergovernmental structure of child welfare as well as on investigations into child fatalities and near-fatalities. The groups identified that Pennsylvania’s child welfare system could be strengthened by connecting parents who have fallen on hard times and need extra help with support services.

At this point in time, overdue outcomes have declined significantly. In 2024, 310 investigations took more than 60 days, and the 2025 report confirmed this trend, with 72 investigations taking more than 60 days. PA DHS will continue to monitor this trend to ensure this number continues to fall. 

In addition the 2026-27 PA budget invests: 
-$658,000 to enhance ChildLine staffing and provide more training to all workers, which will allow caseworkers more time and resources to effectively triage calls before referring them to the counties or appropriate agency. 
-$50 million into the county child welfare system so counties have the resources they need to hold abusers accountable and keep our kids safe. 

Report Child Abuse  
PA DHS operates ChildLine, a 24/7 hotline available to anyone concerned about the welfare of a child to report suspected child abuse; it can be reached at 1-800-932-0313. Mandated reporters can also report to ChildLine electronically.  
Anyone can make a report to ChildLine, and anyone who is not a mandated reporter can make a report to ChildLine anonymously. 
PA DHS encourages all Pennsylvanians to learn more about the signs of potential abuse or neglect and make a report to ChildLine if they begin to suspect abuse or neglect. Signs of potential abuse or neglect can include:   
-Numerous and/or unexplained injuries or bruises;   
-Chronic, pronounced anxiety and expressed feelings of inadequacy;   
-Flinching or an avoidance to being touched;   
-Poor impulse control;  
-Demonstrating abusive behavior or talk;   
-Cruelty to animals or others; and,   
-Fear of parent or caregiver, among others.

Every allegation of child abuse  reported to ChildLine is investigated. ChildLine caseworkers are trained to collect all helpful information from anyone reporting concern for a child’s well-being and to properly refer reports to the appropriate investigating agencies for review, assessment and follow-up, if necessary. Investigating agencies can be county child welfare offices or regional PA DHS offices and, when appropriate, ChildLine also refers reports to local law enforcement agencies.

Pennsylvanians can learn more about the signs of potential abuse at www.keepkidssafe.pa.gov. To report suspected  child abuse, call ChildLine at 1-800-932-0313. 

Click to read the full 2025 Annual Child Protective Services Report on the PA DHS website.