About Our Office

Montour County Children and Youth Services (MCCYS) is a county-administered, state-mandated, social service agency that is charged with the responsibility of evaluating situations in which children are alleged to be neglected and/or abused. Our purpose is to assess and assure the safety and well-being of children and ensure that they have the opportunity for healthy development and permanency in a timely manner.  One of our goals is to provide a continuum of care and services for children and their families to preserve the family unit as well as provide educational opportunities and preventative programs to improve communication and the skills necessary to assure the safety, permanency, and well-being of children.

MONTOUR COUNTY CHILDREN AND YOUTH SERVICES

FAMILY GROUP DECISION MAKING: A process where families can develop a plan that will ensure children are cared for and protected from future harm in ways befitting their culture and lifestyle. FGDM extends on-going responsibility for child safety, well-being, and permanence to families, communities, and natural support systems. Families are directly involved in the planning and protection of their children.

FAMILY CENTER/RESOURCE WORK STAFF: Develop and facilitate curriculum for parenting courses held at the Family Center, Empower families with knowledge and skills to manage their own lives by providing parenting and budgeting education and to provide much-needed transportation services for families requiring help with transportation to medical and other necessary services. Services are provided in-home and at the Family Center.

CHILD PROTECTIVE SERVICES: Investigate state-registered reports of suspected abuse and/or neglect; referrals to appropriate services/community resources; assessment of non-registered (intake) referrals which may need to be registered as CPS investigation; CPS 24-hour courtesy interviews/contact for other counties; placement casework through court adjudication; acceptance of cases for services, develop Family Service Plans (FSPs), and refer and/or transfer for on-going services.

INTAKE:  Accept phone-in and/or walk-in referrals for the agency; investigate non-registered reports of suspected child abuse and/or neglect; referrals to appropriate services/community resources; placement casework through court adjudication; acceptance of cases for services, develop FSPs and refer and/or transfer for on-going services.

GENERAL PROTECTIVE SERVICES: Assist parents, caretakers, and families in recognizing and remedying conditions harmful to children and in fulfilling their parental duties in a manner that does not put their children at risk; investigate non-registered reports of suspected child abuse and/or neglect; referrals to appropriate services/community resources; placement casework through court adjudication; and acceptance of cases for services, develop FSPs, and monitor cases through 6 month reviews.

FOSTER CARE/ADOPTION: Work with families and children who have been adjudicated dependent and are in out of home placement; provide and coordinate services based on families court order and CPP; monitor children in their resource home to assure compliance with state regulations; facilitate, transport, and supervise visitation; act as liaison between schools, medical, dental, and other service providers; schedule and attend all court proceedings involving the families; make recommendations and inform the court of families’ progress regarding court ordered services; investigate non-registered reports of suspected child abuse and/or neglect; referrals to appropriate services/community resources; provide children with a permanent home through adoption; terminate parental rights so a child can be free for adoption; provide and coordinate services for children and their adoptive resource based on the child’s CPP; monitor the children in their adoptive placement; provide all legal documentation to the courts and attorneys; attend all court proceedings leading to the adoption; attend SWAN regional and quarterly meetings; and maintain and report information on CY890’s and PAE.

INDEPENDENT LIVING:  Provide youth who are in care or involved in the aftercare program with services to assist them with gaining independence. Facilitate youth in group settings; assist with driving, housing, employment, and education options; works with service providers to advocate for youth; facilitate informal family conferences to assure life connections for youth; and assures Chafee Grant funding is fully utilized.   

RESOURCE HOME COORDINATION: Conduct and approve home studies for appropriate resource families; provide training to the resource families; assures compliance with state regulations; and monitor and provide support to resource families on an ongoing basis. Resource Homes included both foster and kinship homes.

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