Department of Human Services
| Philadelphia Department of Human Services | |
|---|---|
| Type | City department; county children and youth agency |
| Led by | Commissioner Kimberly Ali (as of April 2026) |
| Budget | FY2027 proposed all-funds appropriation about $926.7 million in the General/Grants summary |
| Staffing | 1,830 budgeted positions requested for FY2027 |
| Parent office | Office of Children and Families |
| Website | phila.gov/departments/department-of-human-services |
The Department of Human Services (DHS) is the Philadelphia city department responsible for child welfare, juvenile justice services and related prevention programs. In Pennsylvania, county governments run children and youth agencies under state law; because Philadelphia is a consolidated city-county, DHS serves as the county agency, subject to oversight by the Pennsylvania Department of Human Services. Its stated mission is to serve the city's children, youth, families and communities by building on their strengths and advancing safe and supportive environments.[1]
1 Structure and leadership
DHS is headed by a commissioner, Kimberly Ali, who presented the department's FY2027 budget testimony to City Council on April 1, 2026.[1] The department sits within the Office of Children and Families, which supervises DHS along with out-of-school time, Career Connected Learning, PHLpreK and other programs.[2] Divisions include child welfare operations, Juvenile Justice Services and administrative functions.
2 Child welfare and Community Umbrella Agencies
When a report of suspected child abuse or neglect is made, the state's ChildLine system and DHS screen and investigate. Ongoing case management for many families is delivered by Community Umbrella Agencies (CUAs), nonprofit contractors that each serve designated regions of the city. Six organizations operate CUAs across ten regions, and DHS publishes annual CUA scorecards on performance.[3] The CUA model is part of the city's Improving Outcomes for Children reform effort.
DHS reported in its FY2027 testimony that the number of children and youth in out-of-home placement fell 52 percent, from 4,690 in December 2020 to 2,269, and that 43 percent of those in placement in December 2025 were in kinship care. It also reported that 7 percent of youth in placement were in residential settings, below the 9 percent national average it cited.[1]
3 Juvenile justice and prevention
Juvenile Justice Services runs the Philadelphia Juvenile Justice Services Center and works with Family Court, Juvenile Probation, the District Attorney's Office and the Defender Association. DHS testified that the center has been at or below its licensed capacity of 184 youth since June 2024. It operates six Community Evening Resource Centers for youth and, since January 2025, a citywide police diversion program; as of December 31, 2025, 1,537 youth were arrested and 769 diverted, according to the testimony.[1] Community-based prevention services served 2,337 families across FY2025 and the first quarter of FY2026.[1]
4 Budget and staffing
The FY2027 proposed General/Grants summary totals $926,657,093, up about $9.7 million from FY2026 estimated obligations, with most spending on purchased services (about $703 million) such as CUAs, placement providers and prevention contractors. The department requested 1,830 budgeted positions, 25 fewer than FY2026.[1] Because large shares of funding come from state and federal sources, the city budget shows only part of the picture.
5 Oversight and controversy
DHS has been the subject of recurring public scrutiny, including a critical report on the city's child welfare system that drew a City Council hearing, as covered by WHYY.[4] Critics and officials disagree about caseloads, placement stability and agency capacity; this article reports only that such scrutiny has occurred and refers readers to the cited coverage. Family Court judges in the First Judicial District decide dependency cases. Residents with concerns can contact DHS directly or use complaint routes; this is general information, not legal advice.
See also: Office of Children and Families, Office of Homeless Services, DBHIDS, Court of Common Pleas and Municipal Court.
References
- Philadelphia Department of Human Services, Fiscal Year 2027 Budget Testimony, April 1, 2026 (phlcouncil.com).
- City of Philadelphia, Office of Children and Families, department page, phila.gov.
- Philadelphia DHS, 2025 CUA Scorecard (phila.gov, February 2026).
- WHYY, "After scathing report on Philly's child welfare system, DHS head describes efforts to improve," whyy.org.