23 Pa.C.S. § 6303 (relating to definitions)

Includes definitions of bodily injury, child abuse, substantiated child abuse, parent, child, protective services, child protective services, general protective services, county agency, department, recent act or failure to act, serious mental injury, physical neglect, sexual abuse, or exploitation.

23 Pa.C.S. § 6362 (relating to responsibilities of county agency for child protective services)

Includes preliminary provisions, provisions and responsibilities for reporting suspected child abuse, powers and duties of department, students in public and private schools (repealed), background checks for employment in schools (repealed), organization and responsibilities of child protective service, and miscellaneous provisions.

23 Pa.C.S. § 6372 (relating to protecting well-being of children maintained outside home)

The county agency shall be as equally vigilant of the status, well-being, and conditions under which a child is living and being maintained in a facility other than that of a parent, custodian, or guardian from which the child has been removed as the service is of the conditions in the dwelling of the parent, custodian or guardian. Where the county agency finds that the placement for any temporary or permanent custody, care or treatment is for any reason inappropriate or harmful in any way to the physical or mental well-being of the child, it shall take immediate steps to remedy these conditions including petitioning the court.

23 Pa.C.S. § 6373 (relating to general protective services responsibilities of county agency)

Each county agency is responsible for administering a program of general protective services to children and youth that is consistent with the agency's objectives to:

• Keep children in their own homes, whenever possible.
• Prevent abuse, neglect, and exploitation.
• Overcome problems that result in dependency.
• Provide temporary, substitute placement in a foster family home or residential child-care facility for a child in need of care.
• Reunite children and their families whenever possible when children are in temporary, substitute placement.
• Provide a permanent, legally assured family for a child in temporary, substitute care who cannot be returned to his own home.
• Provide services and care ordered by the court for children who have been adjudicated dependent.

23 Pa.C.S. § 6374 (relating to principles and goals of general protective services)

The primary purpose of general protective services is to protect the rights and welfare of children so that they have an opportunity for healthy growth and development.

Implicit in the county agency’s protection of children is assistance to parents in recognizing and remedying conditions harmful to their children and in fulfilling their parental duties more adequately.

23 Pa.C.S. § 6375 (relating to county agency requirements for general protective services)

Describes the requirements for general protective services:

• Duties and organization of the county agency
• Assessment for services
• Receiving and assessing reports
• Preparing a family service plan
• Types of services
• Monitoring, evaluating, and assessing
• Emergency coverage
• Protective custody
• Court action
• Adjudication of dependency
• Assistance to court
• Weekly face-to-face contacts
• Transfer of files between agencies
• Availability of information

55 Pa. Code § 3490.223 (relating to definitions)

Assessment—An evaluation by the county agency to determine whether or not a child needs general protective services.

Custodial parent—The parent responsible for the day-to-day care and supervision of the child.

General protective services—Services to prevent the potential for harm to a child who meets one of the following conditions:

1. Is without proper parental care or control, subsistence, education as required by law, or other care or control necessary for his physical, mental, or emotional health, or morals.
2. Has been placed for care or adoption in violation of law.
3. Has been abandoned by his parents, guardian or other custodian.
4. Is without a parent, guardian or legal custodian.
5. Is habitually and without justification truant from school while subject to compulsory school attendance.
6. Has committed a specific act of habitual disobedience of the reasonable and lawful commands of his parent, guardian or other custodian and who is ungovernable and found to be in need of care, treatment or supervision.
7. Is under 10 years of age and has committed a delinquent act.
8. Has been formerly adjudicated dependent under section 6341 of the Juvenile Act (relating to adjudication), and is under the jurisdiction of the court, subject to its conditions or placements and who commits an act which is defined as ungovernable in subparagraph (vi).
9. Has been referred under section 6323 of the Juvenile Act (relating to informal adjustment), and who commits an act which is defined as ungovernable in subparagraph (vi).

Parent—A biological parent, adoptive parent, legal guardian or primary person responsible for a child.

Potential for harm—

1. Likely, if permitted to continue, to have a detrimental effect on the child’s health, development or functioning.
2. The term does not include imminent risk as defined in the definition of ‘‘child abuse’’ in §  3490.4.

Primary person who is responsible for the care of a child—A person who provides or arranges ongoing care and supervision to a child in lieu of parental care and supervision.

Report—A verbal or written statement to the county agency from someone alleging that a child needs general protective services.

Section 103 of the Trafficking Victims Protection Act of 2000 (key Legislation, definitions, and updates)

Defines severe forms of trafficking in persons and sex trafficking.

42 Pa.C.S. § 6323 (relating to informal adjustment)

Defines rules related to informal adjustment:

• General rules
• Counsel and advice
• Limitations on duration of counsel and advice
• No detention authorized
• Privileged statements
• Terms and conditions

42 Pa.C.S. § 6341 (relating to adjudication)

After hearing the evidence on the petition, the court shall make and file its findings as to whether the child is a dependent child. If the petition alleges that the child is delinquent, within seven days of hearing the evidence on the petition, the court shall make and file its findings whether the acts ascribed to the child were committed by him. This rule describes:

• Finding of delinquency
• Finding of dependency
• Evidence on issue of deposition
• Continued hearings