June 2017
In this month's edition:
  • Child Welfare Leadership Fellows make strides and create change
  • DHS implements PCIT to support families
  • "Boutique" at NRO supplies comforts for foster youth
  • Elder Abuse Awareness Day
  • Kudos: Erin Burzynski
  • Kudos: James Hamilton
  • Photo: AmeriCorps swearing in ceremony
  • Photos: Pittsburgh Pride 
  • New report: Allegheny County YOUth Count 2016
News articles are uploaded to the DHS website as soon as they become available. For the most up-to-date news, visit DHS News online . 

Child Welfare Leadership Fellows make strides and create change

On Thursday, June 8, five teams of Child Welfare Leadership Fellows gathered at the Children’s Museum to present the final phase of their project work focused on the challenge of serving babies and their families. 

DHS implements PCIT to support families

For caregivers of young, disruptive children, opportunities for outside assistance often seem limited; however, DHS is now encouraging families to use a unique therapy to decrease problem behaviors, enhance parenting skills and disrupt the cycle of abuse.

"Boutique" at NRO supplies comforts for foster youth

While efforts are made to ensure that children entering foster homes have all necessary belongings, emergency situations can lead to unexpected needs. For those times, an Office of Children, Youth and Families (CYF) volunteer has created a “boutique” designed to fill the gaps.

Elder Abuse Awareness Day

Since 2006, June 15 has been nationally designated as Elder Abuse Awareness Day, an opportunity to focus on the safety and security of older Americans. 

Kudos: Erin Burzynski

Erin Burzynski, caseworker 3 in the North Regional Office (NRO), was selected as the 2017 recipient of  the Georgia Hernandez Award for Excellence in Child Welfare Practice. 
Kudos: James Hamilton

James Hamilton, caseworker in the North Regional Office, received the Committed Caseworker of the Year Award at the Foster Goodness Awards Ceremony.

AmeriCorps Swearing In

On Friday, June 2, AmeriCorps KEYS held a ceremony to swear in its summer members. Allegheny County Executive Rich Fitzgerald welcomed the new members and led them in the AmeriCorps pledge. This is KEYS' largest ever class with a total of 112 AmeriCorps members serving at 25 agencies. 

Pittsburgh Pride

DHS staff and volunteers gathered downtown on June 11th to participate in 2017 Pittsburgh Pride. Volunteers marched in the EQT Equity March and staffed a table at Pridefest and at the Mayor’s Advisory Board Block Party in Market Square. 
New Report: Allegheny County YOUth Count 2016

A new report is featured on the DHS Research and Reports site, www.alleghenycountyanalytics.us.

The Allegheny County YOUth Count survey was initiated in 2015 to gain a more accurate count of youth experiencing housing instability. Data gathered was meant to enhance yearly HUD-required Point-in-Time (PIT) homelessness counts to determine how best to connect this population with the services they need. This data brief outlines key findings of the 2016 survey and explains the County’s ultimate decision to conduct two PIT counts next year and enlist the help of youth-serving providers to collect data rather than designing a separate survey.  

We welcome your story ideas, employee news and comments. If you’ve got news you’d like to see in DHS News, please contact Mark Bertolet at mark.bertolet@alleghenycounty.us or 412-350-3439.