A woman holding and kissing a child

Pennsylvania Supreme Court Limits Power of Child Welfare Agencies to Search Family Homes

In a landmark ruling, the Pennsylvania Supreme Court has held that Fourth Amendment protections extend to home inspections conducted by child welfare agencies investigating anonymous hotline calls, and that child welfare agencies may not search family homes without first demonstrating probable cause under the law. This case has broad-ranging racial justice implications for Black and…

Youth Justice Project

The Youth Justice Project can connect young people ages 16-24 to free legal help at Community Legal Services and Philadelphia Legal Assistance. We can help with: Criminal & Juvenile Records, including expungement, bench warrants, impact on employment, and court debt Family & Kids, including Childline Records (child abuse registry), DHS involvement, protection from abuse, and…

IMPACT: Public Benefits for Children and Families

Community Legal Services has a proven track record of helping low-income families access significant public benefits that help them feed, house and get medical care for their children. Regulations regarding the receipt of public benefits are often so complex and difficult that a lawyer is required to correctly interpret and apply them. While a social worker can help a family fill out an application for benefits, it usually takes an attorney to appeal an incorrectly denied application, or to interpret how to access the appropriate level of benefits. For instance, a family may appear to be over the income level for a benefit, but they may not have used the appropriate deductions that would allow them to qualify for it. Because of CLS’ in-depth knowledge and our ability to advocate with public agencies, CLS often obtains successful outcomes for our clients.

Transition Memo on Philadelphia Department of Human Services

For over three decades, the Family Advocacy Unit at Community Legal Services has represented thousands of low-income parents in child welfare cases. We have a unique interdisciplinary practice model and a demonstrated commitment to holistic, high-quality parent representation. In addition to individual representation, Community Legal Services engages in systemic advocacy at the local, state and…