Snyder County Children and Youth Services (SCCYS) is the County’s public agency mandated by state and federal law to protect children from abuse and neglect.  It provides a wide range of child protective and supportive services – through a network of contracted agencies – to children and families in Snyder County.  It is an agency committed to providing the highest quality of service to the victims of child abuse/neglect and their families.  Above and beyond that commitment is our belief that “prevention efforts” will create the strongest foundation for the future well being of our children, families, and community.  To that end, we continue to embrace and support numerous community efforts to assist children and families before they ever enter official Children and Youth services.

While our overall goal is simple – to protect children from abuse and neglect, accomplishing that goal is much more complex and challenging.  We recognize that successfully meeting our goal can only be accomplished in partnership with families, communities, and other child serving systems.

Clearly caring for our most vulnerable residents, abused and neglected children, is a monumental task.  This task calls for the commitment and enthusiasm found in the Agency’s dedicated, professional staff.  Their caring, selfless support of children and families is the backbone of our efforts.

On a local level, the Agency operates under the direct supervision of the Snyder County Children and Youth Services Administrator and the County Board of Commissioners.  The Snyder County Children & Youth Services advisory board also provides guidance and direction.

On a more global level, the Agency and its staff must follow guidelines/oversight from the Pennsylvania Department of Public Welfare – Office of Children, Youth, and Families (OCYF) and the laws governing child welfare services in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.  OCYF conducts annual inspections of all child welfare agencies in the commonwealth, licensing those found to be in compliance with service expectations. 

Snyder County Children & Youth Services is guided by three goals established by the Commonwealth for all child welfare agencies statewide:

1. To prevent child abuse, neglect, and exploitation
2. To ensure all abused, neglected, or other dependent children are protected from further abuse and neglect through Foster Parenting
3. To provide for the well being of children in substitute care.

Download the Snyder County Children and Youth brochure HERE.

• to protect children by investigating/assessing health, safety, and abuse/neglect concerns
• to strengthen, preserve, and support the families of Snyder County
• to partner with community resources, which provide ongoing support, education, and preventative services
• to provide permanency services for children removed from their home with a primary goal of reunifying the family 

• Ensuring that children reside in safe, permanent, nurturing homes with family or extended family when able by improving the use of preventative services and informal supports within families.
• Reducing the occurrences of child abuse and neglect.
• Improving the involvement of absent parents in the lives of their children.
• Understanding the unique needs of the population we serve.
• Providing education and continuing advocacy for the families of Snyder County to improve quality of service.
• Continually enhance communication between Children and Youth and other agencies.
• Ensuring staff retention and providing training and education opportunities to improve quality of service.

With the exception of the Agency Administrator and Paralegal, all Children and Youth Agency staff members are Civil Service employees.  This means that they must have met State Civil Service education and training guidelines and passed tests appropriate to their respective positions prior to appointment.  County caseworkers must have a Bachelors Degree and at least 12 credit hours in sociology or psychology to qualify to take the examination.  Candidates with a Bachelors Degree in Social Work or a Masters Degree in Social Work qualify, by education and training, for a higher entry classification.

Upon employment, all professional staff members must continue education and training.  The Pennsylvania Child Welfare Training program is the largest of its kind in the United States.  All caseworkers must successfully complete 15 courses, totaling 20 days (120 hours of training), and complete pre and post-training assessments to gain certification.  Twenty (20) hours of continuing education per year is required to maintain certification.

Supervisors must attend a supervisory training series consisting of 10 days (60 hours) to attain certification and attend a minimum of 20 hours of continuing education per year to maintain their certification.

As with professional staff, support staff are all Civil Service employees.  The same procedures apply for non-professional staff positions concerning experience, training, and testing.

The most common position classifications used at Children and Youth are Social Services Aide, Clerk Typist, and Fiscal Technician.

Civil Service Website

To determine if the Civil Service Commission is currently listing for any county positions, it is necessary to either call the Commission at a location near you:  (Harrisburg 717-783-3058, Philadelphia 215-560-2253, Pittsburgh 412-565-7666) or check the Civil Service Website at www.scsc.state.pa.us and look for the appropriate job announcements

Student Internship Opportunities

County Social Casework Intern (local government).

If you are interested in an internship and would like more information, contact Donna Shriver at (570) 374-4570.  You will need to have criminal and child abuse clearances prior to being approved as an intern.  You will also be interviewed for this position.  All internships are non-paid positions. 

Children and Youth Agencies Legal Mandates (federal/state laws and regulations)

• Complies with the following laws requiring that child abuse and neglect be investigated and safe permanent homes be secured for dependent children:

-   Juvenile Act (Act 333) and amendments

-   Child Protective Services Law (Act 124) and amendments

-   The regulations governing County children and youth agencies

-   Child protective services regulations

-   Domestic Relations Title 33

• Also complies with all applicable Federal legislation, including the:

-   Adoption and Safe Families Act of 1997

-   Adoption Assistance and Child Welfare Act of 1980

-   Multi-ethnic Placement Act of 1994

-   Indian Child Welfare Act of 1978

• When needed, provides protective custody, emergency shelter care, medical and mental health services, foster care and adoptive services
• Provides a family service plan with goals for establishing a safe child environment
• Supervises any temporary placement of children
• Ensures a permanent home for every child