Pennsylvania Council Of Children, Youth & Family Services Sues State To Force Foster Care Payments During Budget Impasse

Pennsylvania Council Of Children, Youth & Family Services Sues State To Force Foster Care Payments During Budget Impasse

On September 15, 2015, the Pennsylvania Council of Children, Youth and Family Services (PCCYFS) sued the state to force the Department of Human Services (DHS) to release funds for non-Medicaid child welfare and juvenile justice services. Since July 1, 2015, Pennsylvania has been without a signed budget. During this period, DHS has lacked authority to pay certain contractors. This includes organizations that have contracts with county children and youth offices to provide a range of non-Medicaid interventions for children and families involved with the child welfare and juvenile justice systems. The interventions include prevention, community-based and in-home services, foster and kinship family care, and community- and campus-based residential services. During the budget impasse, DHS has not disbursed state general funds to the counties or federal Title IV-E foster care maintenance funds.